Class of 2021 Graduates Celebrate Their Precious Moments at the 90th Congregation for the Conferment of Degrees

The 90th Congregation for the Conferment of Degrees of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) was held on 4-6 November 2021.

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    This year’s graduation ceremonies were divided into 17 sessions and hosted by colleges and faculties. The nine colleges of CUHK conferred the Bachelor’s Degrees on 4 November, while CUHK Business School, along with the other seven faculties, held the Doctoral and Master’s Degrees Graduation Ceremonies on 5 and 6 November.

    A total of 568 doctoral degrees, 6,235 master’s degrees and 5,046 bachelor’s degrees were conferred at the Congregation. Among them, there were 14 Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Philosophy, 1,112 Bachelor of Business Administration, 95 Master of Accountancy, 280 Master of Business Administration and Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration, 82 Master of Professional Accountancy and 476 Master of Science degrees.

    Cally Chan (EMBA 2007)

    At the Master’s and Doctoral Degrees Graduation Ceremony on 6 November, Cally Chan (EMBA 2007), General Manager, Microsoft Hong Kong and Macau delivered a speech to all the CUHK Business School graduates as the Guest of Honour. Cally encouraged them to “enjoy every moment no matter it’s tough or not; be grateful that we have the opportunities to grow and be stronger every day.”

    Berrin Birsen Oenguen (MAcc 2021)

    Berrin Birsen Oenguen, a Class of 2021 graduate from the Master of Accountancy (MAcc) programme, also represented all the graduates to deliver a speech. “One thing I have learnt in my short career so far is that it pays off to be flexible and to find solutions to make things work in difficult situations. This class of graduates has had an excellent education on that.” She concluded with a quote from the famous German poet and philosopher, Friedrich von Schiller: “Those who do not dare, dare not hope”, advising her fellow classmates to be daring and be courageous for the challenges ahead.

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    Here are some of the quotes from our graduates on their precious moment:

    “… Time management is by far the greatest lesson learnt at CUHK. With my curiosity about various opportunities on campus, I actively participated in different extracurricular activities. Managing my time well is crucial for getting the best performance across all disciplines. Moving on from studying in CUHK to working in a financial institution, time management ability becomes more significant as I have to meet multiple deadlines in a limited time.”

    – Johnny Tsun-lai Ho [Global Business Studies (GBS) 2021]

    • Click here to read the full sharing.
      The GBS Programme is a fruitful and amazing 4-year journey. First and foremost, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to Dr. Raymond Wong, our Programme Co-Director, who provided continued support and guidance. Not only did we interact closely for organising GBS events, but also communicated a lot for my personal growth and career development. With thoughtfulness and care, he is indeed a mentor, teacher and friend of mine at CUHK.
       
      The two exchange opportunities at the University of North Carolina and Copenhagen Business School are the highlights of the programme. Gaining international exposure, sharpening my people skills and elevating my cultural literacy are the key takeaways I cherish the most.
       
      Time management is by far the greatest lesson learnt at CUHK. With my curiosity about various opportunities on campus, I actively participated in different extracurricular activities. Managing my time well is crucial for getting the best performance across all disciplines. Moving on from studying in CUHK to working in a financial institution, time management ability becomes more significant as I have to meet multiple deadlines in a limited time.

    “In my four-year journey at CUHK, I have met people from all walks of life. Each impacted my life in various ways and shaped me into the person I am today. But the people who influenced me the most in my undergraduate journey are definitely the professors at the School of Hotel and Tourism Management… The diverse and inclusive environment in CUHK prompted me to step out of my comfort zone. With the different societies, committees and activities all year round, it was easy and comforting to me to reach out and mingle with different people…”

    – Sabrina Wong Hoi Ching (Hospitality and Real Estate 2021)

    • Click here to read the full sharing.
      Is there anyone (i.e. teachers, classmates, alumni, etc.) who influenced you the most at CUHK?
      In my four-year journey at CUHK, I have met people from all walks of life. Each impacted my life in various ways and shaped me into the person I am today. But the people who influenced me the most in my undergraduate journey are definitely the professors at the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM).
       
      Approaching the end of Year 2, I felt like being caught between a rock and a hard place as I had to make the difficult choice between the hospitality stream and real estate stream. It was a tough call as both industries have their own lure and qualities that fit my personality and goals.
       
      My professors who saw me struggling offered not only valuable advice but also pure empathy and support. They gave me bountiful information to read up on and let me take control over my future instead of driving me to a certain direction. Professors with substantial experiences in both industries were more than willing to give up their free time and discuss this issue with me. Because of the clarity and honesty that I was offered, I was able to make up my mind.
       
      In the two years that followed after I chose the real estate stream, other challenges came such as academic difficulties and which real estate firms I should go for. Throughout all that, my professors never abandoned me and offered continued support and advice which gave me confidence and motivation to discover what I truly want and follow my dreams.
       
      I cannot imagine what would have happened if the professors did not offer a helping hand or if I wasn’t given the opportunity to freely connect with them. It was definitely life changing and I’m glad things turned out the way I hoped.
       
      What’s the most unforgettable experience in your CUHK learning journey?
      I could go on and on when asked about my memorable experiences in my CUHK learning journey, but the most unforgettable one would be the study tour that I joined in Year 1 summer. That year, SHTM has organised a study tour to Sydney with the focus on sustainability and what the hospitality industry can do in that regards.
       
      This trip is the definition of active learning, we did not have long lectures or courses to attend but in each destination, we explored different elements of what it means to be sustainable and gained other knowledge such as how similar or dissimilar Sydney operates their commercial properties. We also visited heritage centres that preserve and promote the importance of indigenous culture that is often overlooked when talking about sustainability. We were also extremely lucky to visit Qantas headquarters to get an exclusive look into one of the largest airlines in the world.
       
      During this trip, not only was I able to gain a lot of knowledge, but I also had a lot of fun with my peers from different years. Coincidentally, the study tour was made up of a group of girls and we had a lot of fun shopping and ate lots of good food. We were able to bond with each other thanks to the extremely flexible itinerary.
       
      What did you learn from CUHK that you think it made an impact on your career?
      My biggest takeaway from CUHK is definitely interpersonal skills. As I was in the same primary and secondary school for 12 years prior to my undergraduate studies, I was immersed in my comfort zone all the time and at first, I was extremely reluctant and even resistant to meeting new people in university.
       
      However, the diverse and inclusive environment in CUHK prompted me to step out of my comfort zone. With the different societies, committees and activities all year round, it was easy and comforting to me to reach out and mingle with different people.
       
      It was a slow and gradual change that I did not even take notice of. But now, as I stepped into the working world, I realise how important this skill is. Every minute of the day, even if you’re not facing clients, you are developing different relationships with your colleagues, peers and seniors. Without this essential skill, it is close to impossible to grow and develop one’s career.

    “The well-rounded journey at CUHK has enabled me to explore my true interests and new fields. Over the past years, CUHK granted me numerous opportunities for gaining international exposure… To me, what university has taught me the most is the importance of networking. I would like to thank all the professors that have guided me along the way and helped me set my career goal.”

    – Fang-yu Guu [Professional Accountancy (PACC) 2021]

    • Click here to read the full sharing.
      The well-rounded journey at CUHK has enabled me to explore my true interests and new fields. Over the past years, CUHK granted me numerous opportunities for gaining international exposure, including the experience of studying at University of Oxford and taking a summer internship in Melbourne. What’s more, I was impressed by the curriculum offered by CUHK Business School. During the lectures, we were able to interact with practitioners from relevant fields as well as deal with real-life cases to keep up with the market trends. The most memorable project was the one we cooperated with Cathay Pacific to design a new marketing campaign, which was led by Prof. Tingting Fan.
       
      To me, what university has taught me the most is the importance of networking. I would like to thank all the professors that have guided me along the way and helped me set my career goal, in particular Mr. Eric Leung, Dr. YY Butt and Dr. Anthony Law. Besides, I have learnt a lot from my friends and classmates, who are talented, diligent and warm-hearted. The people I met, and the experience I went through at CUHK have cultivated me to become a better person.

    “Looking back at my CUHK journey, Mr. Eric Leung, our programme director influenced me the most… He encouraged me to grab every opportunity and be bold for not following the norms. Seeking advice from experienced and generous mentors like him really helped me a lot in starting off my career…”

    – Sharie Kong Cheuk Yi (PACC 2021)

    • Click here to read the full sharing.
      Looking back at my CUHK journey, Mr. Eric Leung, our programme director influenced me the most. I participated in PACC’s admission talk in the last year of my secondary school life. At that time, I was confused and not sure which subject I should study at university. It was Eric who told us at the talk that “accounting is the cornerstone of the business world which can help you excel in various industries”. I am open to possibilities, and hence I chose PACC. During my days at CUHK, I got numerous chances to speak to and learn from him, including my participation in the accounting society and the admission process of the Global Accounting Stream, etc. He encouraged me to grab every opportunity and be bold for not following the norms. Seeking advice from experienced and generous mentors like him really helped me a lot in starting off my career.
       
      The most unforgettable experience at CUHK would be my tenure at the accounting society. Being an external vice president with the experience of working with 14 talented young people have pushed me to grow and learn. I tried many new things and developed various skills during my tenure, including organising a large-scale orientation camp and networking with prominent business professionals. These experiences have also trained me to become a better member of the society, and I have learnt a lot about team collaboration, working attitudes and communications skills. This is the most precious takeaway from my university life.

    “Over the past year, my learning journey in CUHK was unforgettable and filled with joy. I’d like to thank Dr. Joyce Wang, Ellen Lin, Joyce Lee and all the MAcc faculty members for their meticulous care and support, giving me the feeling of home … I’m deeply thankful and blessed for meeting every faculty member and alumnus in MAcc. I hope to follow their examples, learn from them, and become an expert in the field of accounting.”

    – Changmei Jin (MAcc 2021)

    • Click here to read the full sharing.
      Over the past year, my learning journey in CUHK was unforgettable and filled with joy. I’d like to thank Dr. Joyce Wang, Ellen Lin, Joyce Lee and all the MAcc faculty members for their meticulous care and support, giving me the feeling of home.
       
      My academic advisor Dr. YY Butt must be the one who influenced me the most at CUHK. In his class, he used vivid examples to make the study of tax law no longer boring, not only leading us to explore the magical mysteries of the taxation world but also revealing the importance of tax planning for a company. It cultivated my curiosity and enthusiasm towards a career in tax. Meanwhile, Dr. Butt inspired us with his own legendary experience and personal charisma, motivating us to become successful business leaders of the future.
       
      Inspired by Dr. Butt, I chose to start my career in the tax department of a Big Four accounting firm. The curriculum of Dr. Butt’s elective course “International Taxation Planning and Management” is very relevant to my current job scope. For example, the course taught me about international taxation, such as OECD Model Tax Treaties and transfer pricing rules. I was excited that my learnings could be applied from the course to my work. In addition, course activities such as role play, research project and group presentation have also enhanced the general level of my tax literacy in various aspects.
       
      I’m deeply thankful and blessed for meeting every faculty member and alumnus in MAcc. I hope to follow their examples, learn from them, and become an expert in the field of accounting.

    “…The MAcc programme taught me the importance of developing my own professional network. MAcc provided ample opportunities for its students to build relationships with alumni which I think would be very helpful for my career development.”

    – Jenny Shao Zibing (MAcc 2021)

    • Click here to read the full sharing.
      Our class committee president, Nira Xi (MAcc 2021) influenced me the most in my studies at CUHK. She’s a girl who is full of positive energy and is so warm-hearted to try her best to help other classmates in need. I truly enjoyed every precious moment to get along with my fellow classmates during the epidemic time, whether we took classes together in the classroom, or we had dinner in the canteen. The programme taught me the importance of developing my own professional network. MAcc provided ample opportunities for its students to build relationships with alumni which I think would be very helpful for my career development.

    “… It was a bittersweet goodbye, and I must also thank those who beat the COVID blues together with us in the past year. It’s been a pleasure to learn from you all, and I do believe our paths will cross again in the future.”

    – Rachael Ho [MSc in Management (MiM) 2021]

    • Click here to read the full sharing.
      “Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” I know I’m not Martin Luther King, nor do my dreams warrant any grandiosity, but my CUHK MiM journey is for sure a leap of faith. Without strong textbook knowledge on business and management, I envisioned a tough year ahead when I started my studies at CUHK. Fortunately, I have attained much more than what I could expect in terms of self-discovery and improvement.
       
      There are many people I want to thank. Prof. Tina Choi and Dr. John Lai are the two in particular I want to express my gratitude. Thanks Prof. Choi for having faith in me and being such a practical mentor to me. I can’t stress to her how much I appreciate her selfless sharing of experience that has guided me in the right direction. Thanks Dr. Lai for always being with the students. It was always comforting to know that your programme director was one message away from a coffee chat. Thank you for your patience and giving me a confidence boost when I first started the MiM journey.
       
      The most unforgettable experience was our cohort’s BBQ party, along with the MiM Team. It was a bittersweet goodbye, and I must also thank those who beat the COVID blues together with us in the past year. It’s been a pleasure to learn from you all, and I do believe our paths will cross again in the future.

    “… Every dedicated professor and talented classmate in MiM has not only taught me professional knowledge but also inspired me with life insights to forge ahead!”

    – Hazel Yeung (MiM 2021)

    • Click here to read the full sharing.
      Time flies. The MiM journey is one of my most rewarding life memories that is worth cherishing. Every professor I know at MiM has commendable qualities. I admire every one of them who is able to give me guidance systematically and teach students patiently and professionally. Among them, our Programme Director Dr. John Lai always taught us by precept and example, while Prof. Tina Choi adopted a unique teaching style which often delivered thought-provoking lectures to her students. Every dedicated professor and talented classmate in MiM has not only taught me professional knowledge but also inspired me with life insights to forge ahead!

    “At CUHK, I learnt three important things. The first is marketing knowledge, including all the theories, analysis methods and professional skills … Second, I practised my teamwork skills in various group projects in our programme … Third, I am grateful to all the professors, who not only taught us practical knowledge, but also passed on their passion and belief in marketing to us …”

    – Yaning Chen [MSc in Marketing (MScMKT) 2021]

    • Click here to read the full sharing.
      Is there anyone (i.e. teachers, classmates, alumni, etc.) who influenced you the most at CUHK?
      I am deeply influenced by Prof. Howard Lam. I knew him when he was a guest speaker at CUHK-Shenzhen, and I chose MSc in Marketing at CUHK because of his strong recommendation. In my postgraduate study at CUHK, he was the lecturer of my favourite course, Marketing Research. I learnt a lot from his lectures, from product concept design to multiple research methods. What’s more, I am deeply moved by his passion and insistence in marketing, and also decide to be a successful marketer in FMCG like him. Upon graduation, I appreciated his suggestions and teaching these years.
       
      What’s the most unforgettable experience in your CUHK learning journey?
      The most unforgettable experience in my CUHK learning journey was a business competition that I took part in with my fellow classmates. I, along with other two classmates and a student from the University of Hong Kong, participated in the P&G CEO Challenge this year and entered the Top 30 in China Division. I still remembered the meetings that we had in Cheng Yu Tung Building, and the creative ideas we came up with. I learnt a lot from my classmates, and I enjoyed the feelings of cooperating with excellent fellows and achieving meaningful results.
       
      What did you learn from CUHK that you think it made an impact on your career?
      At CUHK, I learnt three important things. The first is marketing knowledge, including all the theories, analysis methods and professional skills. The content in our curriculum are quite practical and useful in my current career. Second, I practised my teamwork skills in various group projects in our programme. I got chances to cooperate with excellent fellow students from different backgrounds and learn from their brilliant ideas. Third, I am grateful to all the professors, who not only taught us practical knowledge, but also passed on their passion and belief in marketing to us. As a student who did not major in business in undergraduate, I appreciate CUHK for training and cultivating me as a more qualified and confident person to propel my marketing career.

    “… CUHK has prepared me well for my future career in different aspects. I studied various industries and business lines in group projects and was clearer about my future career goals. Also, I enhanced my data analysis skills, and this filled my knowledge gap. I became more sensitive to data, and this helps me deal with tasks in my work more easily …”

    – Cailing Lin (MScMKT 2021)

    • Click here to read the full sharing.
      Is there anyone (i.e. teachers, classmates, alumni, etc.) who influenced you the most at CUHK?
      It’s definitely Prof. Hao Shen who influenced me the most at CUHK! He taught us the most fundamental and practical marketing knowledge in the very beginning of our programme. He encouraged and gave us the confidence to overcome difficulties that helped me achieve good results in the coming year. Prof. Shen gave me the chance to be a class representative, so that I could hone my interpersonal skills and make friends with many fellow classmates and learn from them. He also gave me many valuable recommendations about study, career and life. He is not only a good teacher, but also an excellent mentor and friend of mine!
       
      What’s the most unforgettable experience in your CUHK learning journey?
      The most unforgettable experience in my CUHK learning journey was a project conducted by my team in the Marketing Research course. I, along with five other classmates, completed the project and got the highest grade in class. In this project, we have learnt the method of product concept development and new product testing, which is the unique part of this course. I enjoyed the experience of doing project with my best friends and achieving remarkable results together.
       
      What did you learn from CUHK that you think it made an impact on your career?
      CUHK has prepared me well for my future career in different aspects. I studied various industries and business lines in group projects and was clearer about my future career goals. Also, I enhanced my data analysis skills, and this filled my knowledge gap. I became more sensitive to data, and this help me deal with tasks in my work more easily. As the class representative, I got many chances to improve my interpersonal, problem-solving and leadership skills, which are highly valued by my current leader. I really appreciate CUHK for giving me a perfect place to explore the world and think about myself.

    “… Choosing to study at CUHK is not just about pursuing a master’s degree, but experiencing a different way of life. The slogan of “The Imaginist”: Imagine Other Possibilities reflects my thoughts. CUHK Business School provided us with vast opportunities and a perfect platform to see the world through a wider perspective, from which we could meet friends with diverse backgrounds, realise and improve our own shortcomings, as well as strive for better career opportunities …”

    – Jony Jin [MSc in Real Estate (MScRE) 2021]

    • Click here to read the full sharing.
      I am honoured to have joined CUHK as a student of MScRE. Over the past year, I not only met top-notch professors with cutting-edge industry insights, but also gained professional industry knowledge and friendships with a group of lovely and outstanding classmates.
       
      My year-long study in CUHK MScRE helped me identify my career direction and laid a solid foundation of professional knowledge for my future career development. The most unforgettable experience at CUHK was about taking Dr. Ervi Liusman’s course. Through Augmented Reality (AR) technology and field trips, we have deepened our understanding and application of professional knowledge. I would also like to thank Dr. Jenny Tian and Mr. Hugh Huang for their meticulous care and support during my learning journey, giving me the feeling of home.
       
      Choosing to study at CUHK is not just about pursuing a master’s degree, but experiencing a different way of life. The slogan of “The Imaginist”: Imagine Other Possibilities reflects my thoughts. CUHK Business School provided us with vast opportunities and a perfect platform to see the world through a wider perspective, from which we could meet friends with diverse backgrounds, realise and improve our own shortcomings, as well as strive for better career opportunities. MScRE’s professional curriculum has further stimulated my enthusiasm for the real estate industry and boosted my confidence for future career advancement in the industry.

    “In my studies at CUHK, the most impressive thing was that I could learn from many outstanding teachers who have strong industry experience and are kind to offer their rigorous guidance to us. My most unforgettable experience was the course taught by Dr. Ervi Liusman, who applied Virtual Reality technology for the first time to assist the explanation of theories …”

    – Alyssa Liu (MScRE 2021)

    • Click here to read the full sharing.
      In my studies at CUHK, the most impressive thing was that I could learn from many outstanding teachers who have strong industry experience and are kind to offer their rigorous guidance to us. My most unforgettable experience was the course taught by Dr. Ervi Liusman, who applied Virtual Reality technology for the first time to assist the explanation of theories. I also appreciated the offline discussion about career planning with Zhaoxin Jiang, an honorary research fellow from CUHK’s Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies. During my CUHK learning journey, I met many humble and talented alumni who had fully utilised the learning resources of CUHK and left vivid and unforgettable memories of studying and living in Hong Kong.
       
      Dr. Liusman’s course was so eye-opening that students could explore potential career directions based on their interests, such as consulting, internet strategy, product manager and more. For example, I switched from a Big 5 Real Estate Consultancy Firm (CBRE, Colliers International, Cushman & Wakefield, Jones Lang LaSalle and Savills) to BAT (Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent). My most valuable takeaway from studying in Hong Kong is the prudent attitude towards work and study, the innovative business mindset, and the spirit of constantly seeking new experiences.

    CUHK Business School Welcomes 24 New Faculty Members in the Academic Year 2021-22

    In the academic year 2021-22, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Business School welcomes 24 new faculty members. They are all distinguished scholars and experts in their respective fields with solid research, industry and teaching experiences.

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      Following a successful worldwide recruitment campaign, CUHK Business School has appointed one professor, one associate professor, one visiting scholar, 18 assistant professors, one senior lecturer and two lecturers. Their broad range of experiences and expertise will strengthen the School’s research and teaching capabilities. These new joiners have been/will be on board between June 2021 and January 2022.

      The new faculty members and the institutions from which they obtained their PhD are listed below:

      School of Accountancy

      Janja Brendel (The Humboldt University of Berlin) – Assistant Professor

      Expertise: Disclosure Regulation in Capital Markets; Financial Institutions and Fintechs; Firms’ Financial Transparency; and Short-sellers

      Ruoxi Rosy Xu (The University of Miami) – Assistant Professor

      Expertise: Corporate Disclosure; Corporate Governance; Media Economics; and Networks & Social Interactions
       
       
      Yucheng (John) Yang (The University of Rochester) – Assistant Professor
      Expertise: Corporate Disclosure; Financial Intermediaries; Financial Market Regulation; and Macroeconomic Implications of Accounting Numbers

      Yanling Guan (London Business School) – Senior Lecturer

      Expertise: Executive Compensation; Financial Reporting; and Pension Accounting
       
       
      Dixon Lok-kan So (The University of London) – Lecturer

      Expertise: Business Law; Insurance Law; International Trade Law; Maritime Law; and Public and Private International Law

      Department of Decision Sciences and Managerial Economics

      Philip Renyu Zhang (Washington University in St. Louis) – Visiting Scholar

      Expertise:
      Methodologies
      Econometrics and Causal Inference; Game Theory; Matching; Mechanism Design; Optimisation; Randomised Experiment and Reinforcement Learning

      Applications
      Advertising; Inventory; Online Platforms and Marketplaces; Recommender Systems; Revenue Management and Pricing; Sharing Economy; Social Networks; and Supply Chain Management

      Tim Tianyi Li (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) – Assistant Professor

      Expertise: Industrial Engineering; Management Algorithms; Mathematical Modelling; Network Sciences and System Dynamics

      Yingzhi Liang (The University of Michigan) – Assistant Professor

      Expertise: Analytics; Collective Intelligence and Organisational Technology; Data Science; and Visualisation and Information Economics
       
       
      Shixin Wang (New York University) – Assistant Professor

      Expertise: Online Optimisation and Robust Optimisation
       

      Department of Finance

      Chanik Jo (The University of Toronto) – Assistant Professor

      Expertise: Asset Pricing; Chinese Economy; and Household Finance
       
       
       
      Jangwoo Lee (The University of Texas at Austin) – Assistant Professor

      Expertise: Financial Arrangements under Asymmetric Information
       
       
       
      Anthony Rice (Arizona State University) – Assistant Professor

      Expertise: Corporate Finance; Environmental Finance; and Political Economy
       
       
      Kailei Ye (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) – Assistant Professor

      Expertise: Corporate Finance; Entrepreneurial Finance; Labour and Finance

      Chao Ying (The University of Minnesota) – Assistant Professor

      Expertise: Asset Pricing; Macro-finance and Dynamic Corporate Theory
       

      School of Hotel and Tourism Management

      Desmond Tsang (University of California, Berkeley) – Associate Professor

      Expertise: Corporate Governance; Earnings Management; Financial Reporting Fraud; Geographic Strategy; and Real Estate Investment Trusts

      Elisa Ka-yan Chan (Cornell University) – Assistant Professor

      Expertise: Consumer Behaviour; Co-production; and Experiential Marketing

      Department of Management

      Haibin Yang (The University of Texas at Dallas) – Professor

      Expertise: Competition in Transition Economy; Entrepreneurship; Mergers & Acquisitions; and Strategic Networks
       
       
      Hoonie KangSanghoon (Hoonie) Kang (Rutgers University) – Assistant Professor

      Expertise: Defensiveness and Behavioural Change; Expert Decision-Making; Negotiations; and Overconfidence and Cognitive Biases
       
       
      Leo Huiyao Liao (The University of Iowa) – Assistant Professor

      Expertise: Family/Prosocial Motivation; Social Network Analysis; Leadership and Teams; and Interpersonal Relationships
       
       
      Lisa Ya Lin (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) – Assistant Professor

      Expertise: Entrepreneurship; Innovation; Interfirm Networks; International Business; and Strategic Management

      Cathy Chang Liu (Indiana University) – Assistant Professor

      Expertise: International Business and Strategic Management
       
       
       
      Willow You Wu (Stanford University) – Assistant Professor

      Expertise: Intersection of Technology Entrepreneurship and Strategy
       
       
       
      Irene Kin-yan Ho (University of Durham) – Lecturer

      Expertise: Brand-Customer Relationships; Consumer Behaviour; and Emotions

      Department of Marketing

      Jingbo (Jimbo) Wang (The University of Southern Carolina) – Assistant Professor

      Expertise: Applied Microeconomics; Causal Inference; Industrial Organisation; and Machine Learning

      The Chinese University of Hong Kong Business School Announces Five Business Sustainability Indices to Promote Responsible Business Practices in Hong Kong and Greater China

      The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Business School’s Centre for Business Sustainability (CBS) announces today results of the 6th Hong Kong Business Sustainability Index (HKBSI), the 2nd Greater Bay Area Business Sustainability Index (GBABSI) and the 6th Hong Kong SME Business Sustainability Index (HKSMEBSI), as well as launches the 1st Greater China Business Sustainability Index (GCBSI) and the 1st Greater China Hotel Business Sustainability Index (Hotel BSI).

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        The unique “Values – Process – Impact” (VPI) model, which was developed and launched in 2015 by CBS, is used in the assessment of all the five Business Sustainability Indices (BSI). Each index company was assessed in three major areas, namely Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Values, CSR Process (comprising CSR Management and Practice) and CSR Impact against seven stakeholder groups (Community, Consumer, Employee, Environment, Government, Investor and Supplier), as well as the company’s contributions to economic, social and environmental sustainability. As the Technical Partner of the projects, SGS Hong Kong Limited conducted sample check and verification of the information provided by individual companies. The Sinyi School of NCCU College of Commerce in Taiwan also helped compile the data of Taiwan companies in the GCBSI.

        The 6th HKBSI

        HKBSI is aimed at charting the ongoing development and performance of Hang Seng Index constituent companies on business sustainability. Compared to the results of the 5th HKBSI released last August, the overall average score of the 50 Hang Seng Index (HSI) constituent companies as at 31 July 2020 was 58.66 (out of 100 points), up by 1.95 percent.

        Within the VPI model, the average score of “Values” and “Process-Practice” remained stable compared with that of the 5th HKBSI, while “Process-Management” improved slightly with a 7.33 percent rise but “Impact” dropped by 2.43 percent. In terms of stakeholder analysis, companies showed improvement in Practices such as Employee (5.14 percent rise), Government (up by 2.75 percent), Investor (3.44 percent increase) and Supplier (4.03 percent rise).

        Currently, more than half (52 percent) of HSI constituent companies are non-Hong Kong based companies, comprising of H-shares, red chips and other mainland Chinese firms listed in Hong Kong. The overall average score of these non-Hong Kong based companies in the 6th HKBSI recorded a 2.89 percent rise to 50.96 (out of 100 points) when compared to a rise of just 1.18 percent to 67 points for Hong Kong based companies, showing that non-Hong Kong based companies exhibited a bigger performance improvement in business sustainability, especially in CSR management, which was up by 9.39 percent.

        Prof. Carlos Lo, Director of CBS at CUHK Business School

        Prof. Carlos Lo, Director of CBS, explained, “A salient trend can be observed in the stakeholder analysis is a significant increase of the CSR practices over three out of the four value chain stakeholder groups, namely, Employee (up 5.14 percent), Supplier (up 4.03 percent) and Investor (up 3.14 percent) in comparing with the results in the last round. Still Customer records a slightly increase of 0.45 percent. This indicates the positive development of continuous integration of CSR into corporate core business.”

        The 2nd GBABSI

        CBS extended its sustainability index project to cover Hong Kong listed companies with operations in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area that are eligible for southbound trading under the Stock Connect scheme last year. A total of 66 constituent companies of the Hang Seng Stock Connect Hong Kong Greater Bay Area Index as at 31 July 2020 were invited to complete an online assessment questionnaire for the 2nd GBABSI with the same scope as HKBSI.

        Benchmarking against the 6th HKBSI results (58.66 points), the overall average score (52.86 points) of the GBABSI companies was still lower, but the performance gap was narrowing with a significant improvement in all the four aspects (Values, Process-Management, Process-Practice and Impact) from 10.70 percent, 12.80 percent, 15.80 percent to 26.27 percent respectively.

        GCBSI – the First-of-its-Kind Sustainability Performance Measurement for Listed Companies in Greater China

        To encourage and motivate companies in the Greater China region to integrate CSR initiatives into everyday business, CBS rolls out the GCBSI to cover 200 listed companies from HSI, FTSE TWSE Taiwan 50 Index, Shenzhen 100 Index and Shanghai Stock Exchange SSE 50 A Share Index.

        In the inaugural GCBSI, the overall average score is 43.11 with an extremely high standard deviation. Specifically, listed companies from Taiwan outperformed those from Hong Kong and mainland China with an average score of 66.05, which is followed by listed companies in Hong Kong (58.66 points), Shanghai (36.56 points) and Shenzhen (26.73 points). Six out of the Top 10 in the 1st GCBSI were Hong Kong companies, and half of the Top 20 companies were from Taiwan. The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited and BOC Hong Kong (Holdings) Limited held the top and the second spots, respectively, in the GCBSI, GBABSI and HKBSI. In terms of stakeholder analysis, Taiwan companies maintained a balanced performance in all the seven stakeholder practices, while Shanghai and Shenzhen companies put a relatively stronger emphasis on government and investor.

        “These results provide strong evidence to show the comparable standard between companies listed in Hong Kong and Taiwan in performing CSR for achieving sustainability among the Top 20 performers, while those listed in Shanghai and Shenzhen are on the whole in the catching up stage. There is a lot for Mainland-listed companies to learn from their Hong Kong and Taiwan counterparts in sustainability management,” explained Prof. Lo.

        Hotel BSI – the First Business Sustainability Index for Listed Hotel Companies in Greater China

        In a collaboration with Centre for Hospitality and Real Estate Research (CHRER) at CUHK Business School’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management, results of the inaugural Hotel BSI were also announced today, showing that leading international hotel chains and companies listed in Greater China are showing increasing concern for CSR and business sustainability.

        The 1st Hotel BSI shows the annual business sustainability performance for the financial year ended in 2019-20, based on publicly available information of the 30 listed hotel companies in Greater China and six large international hotel chains. It aims at engaging hotel companies in continuous optimisation of CSR hotel practices, and thereby achieve sustainable development and concurrent growth to the benefit of both businesses and society.

        Half of the hotel companies achieved over 50 points and reached the “Performer” level, which is comparable to internationally recognised standards of excellence in CSR. Currently, 61 percent of the Hotel BSI constituent companies are Hong Kong and Macau based companies or one of six international hotel chains, and 22 percent are Taiwan based and 17 percent are mainland China based. The Top 10 performers were mostly international hotel chains or Hong Kong listed companies, and only one non-Hong Kong based company entered the Top 10.

        The 6th HKSMEBSI

        Compiled and announced biannually since 2015, HKSMEBSI aims at inspiring small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Hong Kong to adopt CSR as a management model to enable them to achieve business sustainability. A total of 27 SMEs with proven track records in CSR performance, namely, winners of major CSR related awards, were invited to complete an assessment questionnaire pertaining to their CSR performance for the preceding two years. For the 6th HKSMEBSI, the assessment was based on the 2020 data provided by the companies.

        The overall average score of the index companies in the 6th HKSMEBSI is 78.73 (out of 100 points), a slight improvement compared with that of the 5th HKSMEBSI announced in 2019. Among the seven stakeholder practices, in comparison with the results of the 5th HKSMEBSI, community, customer and government saw improvement. Unlike the listed companies evaluated in the 6th HKBSI, the scores in Investor and Supplier practices decreased by 16.94 percent and 15.22 percent respectively.

        Prof. Lo said, “It is very encouraging to see SMEs sustaining their high level of CSR performance, despite the difficult year of 2020, particularly in the delivery of their CSR initiatives. The stakeholder analysis has indicated that Customer remains the most important stakeholder group in the value chain than Investor and Supplier that received the greatest SMEs’ sustainability management attention. It is understandable that business survival is the top priority for SMEs of. At the same time, it is pleased to see their continuous and active pursuit of community engagement.”

        The Inaugural Hotel BSI lays a good foundation for the compilation of a Global Hotel BSI. In 2022, CBS will continue to work with CHRER to introduce a BSI covering 80 listed hotel companies worldwide. This can not only encourage companies in the hotel industry to adopt CSR as a progressive business model to achieve business sustainability, but also serve as a robust indicator for ESG investors in selecting companies with socially responsible corporate behaviour. Furthermore, CBS will work closely with the Asia-Pacific Institute of Business, the executive education arm of CUHK Business School, on designing more training programmes and workshops on CSR applications and communication for the business community. Understand that business sustainability is an unended quest that requires companies to build management capacity on a continuous basis, CBS has set its future endeavour on cultivating sustainability talents by developing sustainability management into a knowledge-based profession. This includes the formulation of a qualification framework for the sustainability profession, the support of setting up of a sustainability professional association, and the organisation of sustainability management programme.

        Mr. Christopher Hui Ching-yu, JP, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the Hong Kong Government (middle); Prof. Rocky Tuan, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK (7th from the right); and Prof. Lin Zhou, Dean of CUHK Business School (2nd from the right), presented recognition certificates to representatives from the Top 10 companies of the five business sustainability indices.

        Appendix

        The 6th HKBSI

        Overall VPI Scores

        Stakeholder Analysis

        Overall Scores – HK vs. Non-HK Based Companies

        The Top 10 HKBSI Company Ranking
        1. Hong Kong and China Gas Co. Ltd.
        2. BOC Hong Kong (Holdings) Ltd.
        3. HSBC Holdings plc
        4. Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd.
        5. Hang Seng Bank Ltd.
        6. MTR Corporation Limited
        7. New World Development Co. Ltd.
        8. CLP Holdings Ltd.
        9. Sands China Ltd.
        10. Sino Land Co. Ltd.
         

        The 2nd GBABSI

        Overall VPI Scores

        The Top 10 GBABSI Company Ranking
        1. Hong Kong and China Gas Co, Ltd.
        2. BOC Hong Kong (Holdings) Ltd.
        3. Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd.
        4. Hang Seng Bank Ltd.
        5. MTR Corporation Limited
        6. New World Development Co, Ltd.
        7. China Resource Power Holdings Co., Ltd.
        8. Sands China Ltd.
        9. Sino Land Co, Ltd.
        10. Kerry Properties Ltd.
         

        The 1st GCBSI

        Overall VPI Scores

        Stakeholder Analysis

        The Top 10 GCBSI Company Ranking
        1. Hong Kong and China Gas Co. Ltd. (Hong Kong)
        2. BOC Hong Kong (Holdings) Ltd. (Hong Kong)
        3. HSBC Holdings plc (Hong Kong)
        4. Ctbc Financial Holding Co., Ltd. (Taiwan)
        5. Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd. (Hong Kong)
        6. Hang Seng Bank Ltd. (Hong Kong)
        7. Lite-On Technology Corporation (Taiwan)
        8. Taiwan Mobile Co., Ltd. (Taiwan)
        9. MTR Corporation Limited (Hong Kong)
        10. Far Eastern New Century Corporation (Taiwan)

        The Top 20 GCBSI Companies (in alphabetical order)
        • Asustek Computer Inc. (Taiwan)
        • Cathay Financial Holding Co., Ltd. (Taiwan)
        • Chunghwa Telecom (Taiwan)
        • CLP Holdings Ltd. (Hong Kong)
        • Fubon Financial. (Taiwan)
        • New World Development Co. Ltd. (Hong Kong)
        • Sands China Ltd. (Hong Kong)
        • Sino Land Co. Ltd. (Hong Kong)
        • Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (Taiwan)
        • United Microelectronics Corp. (Taiwan)
         

        The 1st Hotel BSI

        Overall Performance Level

        The Top 10 Hotel BSI Performers (in alphabetical order)
        • Accor SA
        • FDC International Hotels Corporation
        • Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
        • Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels Limited
        • InterContinental Hotels Group PLC
        • Marriott International Inc.
        • MGM China Holdings Limited
        • Miramar Hotel & Investment Company Limited
        • Sands China Limited
        • Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Inc.
         

        The 6th HKSMEBSI

        Overall VPI Scores

        Stakeholder Analysis

        The Top 10 HKSMEBSI Company Ranking
        1. Meiriki Japan Company Limited
        2. Richform Holdings Ltd.
        3. Jenston Technology Corporation Limited
        4. Ultra Active Technology Limited
        5. Diving Adventure Limited
        6. City Cut Hair & Beauty Salon
        7. Sunta Chemical Limited
        8. Dunwell Enviro-Tech (Holdings) Ltd.
        9. MYLAMSTUDIO
        10. Intimex Business Solutions Company Limited

        Participating HKSMEBSI Companies (in alphabetical order)
        • Appetizup Co Ltd.
        • Arredamenti Company Ltd.
        • CITYRAY TECHNOLOGY (CHINA) LIMITED
        • EcoSage Limited
        • Ensec Solutions Hong Kong Limited
        • Fast Base Enterprises Ltd.
        • Future Lighting Collection Limited
        • Happy Star Travel Service Ltd.
        • Kennic Ltd.
        • KL Home Care Limited
        • Milton Holdings International Limited
        • OKIA Optical Co. Ltd.
        • Projexasia Limited
        • Sailing Boat Catering Group Limited
        • Silver Printing Company Limited
        • Sze Wo Chaan Gas Co, Ltd.
        • Venture Global Limited

        CUHK Business School Develops a Corporate Innovation Index to Empower Hong Kong’s Economy through Innovation

        The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Business School today announces the development of a Corporate Innovation Index (CII) that will serve as a management and assessment tool to cultivate an innovation culture and to enhance capabilities and achievements in technology adoption among large corporations and SMEs in Hong Kong.

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          Funded by Innovation and Technology Commission of the Hong Kong Government under the General Support Programme, CUHK Business School’s Asia-Pacific Institute of Business (APIB) will take charge of the CII project. It plans to establish a conceptual framework of corporate innovation that best fits the Hong Kong business community under the digital age, as well as to develop a set of measurement matrices. CUHK APIB will work together with The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC), the project’s strategic partner, to invite around 100 corporations and 200 SMEs from six categories – including trading, manufacturing, distribution, services, franchising and investment – for a survey. Online assessment tools, guidebooks and a series of seminars/workshops will also be available to help companies rev up their technology innovation. Details of the inaugural CII will be announced in the second quarter of 2022.

          (From left to right) Dr. David Chung, the Under Secretary for Innovation and Technology of the HKSAR Government; Prof. Lin Zhou, Dean of CUHK Business School; Mr. George Leung, CEO of HKGCC; and Prof. Waiman Cheung, Associate Dean (Graduate Studies) and Co-Executive Director of APIB at CUHK Business School

          Dr. David Chung, the Under Secretary for Innovation and Technology of the Government of the Hong Kong SAR, said: “This research project, supported by Innovation and Technology Fund, dovetails well with the Government’s efforts to address the upcoming challenges facing the business community by means of a conceptual framework constructed from literature review, industrial consultations and communication forum. Other than the most commonly used measures of corporate innovation such as R&D expenditure, patent counts, patent citations and new product announcements, I am sure the Corporate Innovation Index will serve as a reliable tool for the public and business sectors to measure the innovation competence in a scientific and data-driven manner. I would like to thank the Chinese University and the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce for their devotion in making Hong Kong an innovative city.”

          Dr. David Chung, Dean Zhou, Mr. George Leung, Prof. Waiman Cheung and representatives from the sponsoring organisations posed for a group photo in the kickoff ceremony of Corporate Innovation Index.

          Prof. Waiman Cheung, Associate Dean (Graduate Studies) and Co-Executive Director of APIB at CUHK Business School, added: “In response to the Government’s call for developing Hong Kong into a knowledge-based economy and a regional innovation hub, CII will raise awareness about the applications of advanced technologies and foster an innovative mindset among corporations and SMEs in Hong Kong. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, biomedical science, the Internet of Things (IoT) and 5G are changing the Hong Kong economy at warp speed and scale.”

          Mr. George Leung, CEO of HKGCC, said: “Many companies are aware of the importance of innovation, which drives their competitiveness and ultimate success. However, knowing how to upgrade their capabilities or benchmarking their innovation until now has been very challenging. We hope that with the success of the Corporate Innovation Index, not just businesses, but the whole Hong Kong economy and society will be able to benefit and build from this index. This is precisely why we feel it is important to give it our utmost support.”

          MoU Signed Between The Chinese University of Hong Kong Business School and Shenzhen Luohu District People’s Government

          A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Business School and Shenzhen Luohu District People’s Government, on 14 April 2021, for the establishment of CUHK Business School’s satellite campus at Luohu, Shenzhen. Prof. Lin Zhou, Dean of CUHK Business School and Mr. Zhiyong Liu, Deputy Secretary of District Commission and District Mayor of Shenzhen Luohu District People’s Government, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations.

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            CUHK Business School and Shenzhen Luohu District People’s Government signed a MoU for the establishment of CUHK Business School’s satellite campus at Luohu, Shenzhen.

            In recent years, many Hong Kong universities have set up satellite campuses in the Pearl River Delta – including Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Zhuhai and other areas – to provide high quality tertiary education in mainland China. CUHK is a pioneer in establishing a satellite campuse in mainland China with the founding of CUHK-Shenzhen at Longgang, Shenzhen in 2014. CUHK-Shenzhen has admitted students with the highest scores in the Guangdong province for five consecutive years. The establishment of CUHK Business School’s Shenzhen campus is an important next step in the development of higher education in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Prof. Lin Zhou elaborated: “Currently, the satellite campuses of Hong Kong universities in the Pearl River Delta operate independently with their own faculty members and students, and teaching and research activities are undertaken with no synergy with their main campus. As it takes only about half an hour to travel by train between the two campuses at Shatin and Luohu, CUHK Business School at Luohu will thus adopt a new approach in operations. The School can arrange classes in either Shatin or Luohu for faculty members and students from Hong Kong, mainland China and overseas based on the course structure. Teaching and research can also be carried out in parallel at the two campuses. Under this new operating model, our students will get a thorough understanding of different industries in both Hong Kong and Shenzhen, and they can further their careers in these two cities after graduation. By immersing themselves in the business environment of Hong Kong and Shenzhen, and leveraging the resources from both governments and enterprises for research, our faculty members will become experts of both cities. These activities will also foster the integration of economic and business development of Hong Kong and Shenzhen.”

            Prof. Alan Chan, Provost of CUHK (left) and Prof. Lin Zhou, Dean of CUHK Business School

            By signing the MoU, the Shenzhen Luohu District People’s Government will support the establishment of CUHK Business School’s satellite campus at Shenzhen. The new facility not only allows the School to arrange teaching and learning activities for its existing programmes, but also enables the School to meet market demand by launching new programmes and training courses for senior executives. In the future, an internship base and incubation centre will also be set up to provide support to our undergraduate and postgraduate students for career planning and development in Shenzhen and the Greater Bay Area. The Shenzhen campus can serve as a platform through which our faculty members can participate in research projects commissioned by the mainland Chinese government. With the Shenzhen Luohu District People’s Government’s help, the School can reach out to businesses in Luohu and the Greater Bay Area to strengthen our collaboration with a wide range of corporations.

            In his speech, Prof. Alan Chan, Provost of CUHK, noted: “Our thanks go out to Shenzhen Luohu District People’s Government, for their recognition and support to CUHK. We look forward to working together in nurturing business leaders with a global mindset who can help reinforce the socio-economic development of Hong Kong and Shenzhen.”

            Mr. Yude Luo, Secretary of District Commission of the Shenzhen Luohu District People’s Government, echoed: “I hope the two parties will, in accordance with the principle of ‘resource sharing, complementary advantages, and win-win cooperation’, give full play to their respective strengths in fostering the collaboration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong in areas such as higher education. We will work hand in hand to build a centre with global influence for nurturing innovation talents in the financial sector, as well as platforms for international research and advanced academic exchange, cultivating the Greater Bay Area’s talent development and intellectual support.”

            The MoU was signed by Dean Zhou and Mr. Zhiyong Liu (right), Deputy Secretary of District Commission and District Mayor of Shenzhen Luohu District People’s Government.

            The ceremony was witnessed by senior management/senior officials from both sides, including Prof. Tai-fai Fok, Pro-Vice-Chancellor; Prof. Suk-ying Wong, Associate Vice-President; Ms. Wing Wong, Director of Office of Academic Links (China) at CUHK; Prof. Waiman Cheung, Associate Dean (Graduate Studies); Prof. Michael Zhang, Associate Dean (Innovation and Impact); Prof. Seen-Meng Chew, Associate Dean (External Engagement); and Prof. Ming Liu, Director of the CUHK-Tsinghua MBA in Finance Programme at CUHK Business School; Mr. Defan Fan, Standing Committee Member of the District Commission and Executive Deputy District Mayor; Mr. Qiang Song, Deputy District Mayor; Mr. Xiaojian Zhou, Director of Development and Reform Bureau; and Mr. Gang Yin, Director of Education Bureau from the Shenzhen Luohu District People’s Government.

            (From left) Ms. Wing Wong, Director of Office of Academic Links (China); Prof. Suk-ying Wong, Associate Vice-President; Prof. Tai-fai Fok, Pro-Vice-Chancellor; Prof. Alan Chan, Provost at CUHK; Prof. Lin Zhou, Dean; Prof. Waiman Cheung, Associate Dean (Graduate Studies); and Prof. Seen-Meng Chew, Associate Dean (External Engagement) at CUHK Business School posed for a group photo in the MoU signing ceremony.

            Assessing Your Impact Investments with Experts from CUHK and Chicago Booth

            The field of impact investing can add unique value to your investment portfolio, but how can you assess those investments to ensure they are delivering the highest possible returns?

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              Riding on the overwhelming feedback received from the Impact Investment Webinar in March 2020, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the University of Chicago Booth joined hands again on 28 May 2020 to explore further on the topic. Presented by three impact investment experts from the academia and industry,  the webinar attracted over 320 registrations. The speakers took the audience’s impact investment knowledge to the next level by describing the evolution of the field, outlining how investors can best assess the value of their investments, and preparing for potential changes to their investment portfolio.

              During the session, Prof. Kevin Au, Associate Professor of Department of Management and Director of Centre for Entrepreneurship and Centre for Family Business at CUHK Business School, introduced common impact management frameworks in Hong Kong. He named several frameworks such as “BACKs” by Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, B Impact Assessment, SEE Mark, Social Impact Assessment, Social Impact Measurement (SIM), Social Return on Investment (SROI), and other schemes promoted by large consulting firms.

              Matthew Tam, CEO and Co-founder of Social Career Limited, shared his story of setting up a tech start-up. Social Career builds a matching platform for volunteers and NGOs, encouraging “people doing good” to get involved in social causes and service activities. These “people” include different stakeholders such as general public, volunteers, beneficiaries, event participants, donors, corporates, etc. He shared that the platform received funding support from “BACKs” and is currently back by university, secondary schools, and corporate administrators.

              Prof. Priya Parrish, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Strategy at Chicago Booth and Managing Partner at Impact Engine, focused on providing insights in assessing impact in companies. Most investors usually measure the inputs, activities and outputs of an organisation, but they now emphasise more on the possibility of great outcomes and the additionality of capital that creates strategical impacts. She added that investors are also more aware of sustainable development goals adopted by United Nations.

              The webinar was jointly organised by the Asia-Pacific Institute of Business, CUHK Business School and the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. The two hosts are committed to accelerating the knowledge transfer in this field and keen to bridge investors and social entrepreneurs. Stay tuned to the two-day workshop to be held in 2020 Q3 for more in-depth discussion.

              Starting an Impactful Journey with the Webinar on Impact Investment

              Where can investors look for good impact investment deals? How to measure the impact and what are some standard metrics? Is there any definition of a social enterprise? Is there a community of impact funds or impact investors in Hong Kong that we can share deals with?

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                Numerous questions were raised by audience at the Webinar on Impact Investment held on 12 March 2020. The session, as the first one of the webinar/seminar series on impact investment in 2020, was delivered by two respected experts in the field. They included Prof. Kevin Au, Associate Professor of Department of Management and Director of Centre for Entrepreneurship and Centre for Family Business at CUHK Business School, and Ms. Rosa Lee, Chief Investment Officer at Grand Capital Holdings Ltd. Prof. Au and Rosa represented the perspectives from the sell-side and buy-side respectively.

                The webinar received an overwhelming response with over 260 registrations, including CUHK students and graduates, affiliated partners/clients, as well as students and guests affiliated with University of Chicago. They come from a diversified background, ranging from the investment community, NGOs, social sectors to the general public with an interest in starting impact investment. “We are excited to see the increasing interest in impact investment in the Hong Kong business community as compared to previous years. Having said that, there are still lots of rooms to build up a healthy ecosystem that could benefit the society with positive impacts and returns,” said Prof. Au.

                Kevin Au

                “There are different networks or community of impact funds to share deals with and provide a platform of knowledge transfer. People may actively participate to raise the level of knowledge on impact investments. These platforms include Social ventures Hong Kong (SVHK), Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN), Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund (SIE Fund), Hong Kong Business Angels Network, and so on,” said Prof. Au. While there is a growing awareness on impact investment to the investors’ circle and more potential social enterprises or NGOs developing in the region, the bridging between the two is still of a certain level of importance.

                Rosa LeeAs a seasoned investor, Rosa is optimistic about the return of impact investment to investors, “the expected return can be competitive. According to the recent study released by the GSIA (Global Sustainable Investment Alliance), the return can be as good as other asset classes,” said Rosa. She encourages potential investors to find a cause that they are passionate about so as to make the investment portfolio more meaningful. She shared her experience of an investment in an energy conservation project for the Lee Woo Sing College at CUHK where she also sits on the college’s overseeing committee. “The impact that the project generates is impressive, causing approximately 30-40% less electricity consumption as compared to similar residential halls,” said Rosa proudly. The environmental impact is one of the considerations when measuring impact investment return.

                The webinar is jointly organised by the Asia-Pacific Institute of Business, CUHK Business School and the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. The two organisers share the same vision in enhancing the awareness and  level of knowledge in the field of impact investment in Hong Kong and nearby regions. Prior to this webinar, the two partners jointly organised “Building Portfolios with Impact: A Workshop on Creating and Managing Impact Investment Strategies” back in fall 2018, creating a synergy in knowledge transfer to the community that involved both investors and social entrepreneurs. In the year ahead, the organisers will be hosting another webinar session in May and a workshop in Q3 of 2020. To stay tuned, you may visit the website of the Asia-Pacific Institute of Business.

                Prof. Lin Zhou Takes Helm

                Whether it’s tapping into opportunities created in the advent of the “Asian Century” or maintaining its unique status as one of the leading business schools in the world’s gateway to China, the key to expanding on The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Business School’s success is to continue to “look forward” and respond to rapid change, said the school’s new Dean.

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                  In taking up Deanship on 9 December 2019, Prof. Lin Zhou confidently stated his vision for the school. “I want CUHK Business School to be one of the leading business schools not only in Asia, but for the entire world.”

                  This goal is entirely within reach, according to Prof. Zhou, pointing out that the 21st century, being dubbed the Asian Century for the region’s expected resurgence in economics, politics as well as culture, will translate into huge opportunities not only for its people but also for business schools. Rapid growth entails rapid change, and as a leading business school, CUHK Business School is well positioned to help different segments of society – from students to businesses – to navigate it.

                   

                  “We empower young people so they can seize opportunities and benefit from the tremendous growth that will take place,” he said, adding that being in the midst of the great Asian transformation – after spending more than twenty years in the United States at both prestigious institutions such as Princeton University, Yale University, Duke University and a dynamic public university Arizona State University – was what brought him back to the region in the first place.

                  Another advantage that makes CUHK Business School stand out from the pack is the university’s Chinese roots. The traditional Chinese culture has not only buttressed the longest living civilisation, it also has impacted many other Asian societies. Hence, CUHK is able to offer a comprehensive Asian perspective to businesses elsewhere that are eager to look to Asia to replicate business practices and processes that have driven the region’s blistering economic growth.

                  Change will also come to CUHK Business School. “Like any business school, we need to be working with our stakeholders because things are changing rapidly so we need to change as well,” Prof. Zhou added, noting that the school must stay ahead of the curve in the knowledge and content delivered.

                  “I want CUHK Business School to be one of the leading business schools not only in Asia, but for the entire world.” — Prof. Lin Zhou

                  The continued advance of technology also means the school must endeavour to push the envelope in how content is delivered, he said. The School must expand digital learning and experiential learning, figuring out how they could best be adapted to CUHK Business School’s existing curricular to help students learn more efficiently and effectively.

                  While on the programme level the school has been highly successful in maintaining strong ties with stakeholders such as its alumni and corporate partners, Prof. Zhou intends to increase outreach of the School as a whole to seek support and guidance from all sectors of society.

                  This extends to outreach of other CUHK faculties as well. “Business now is more complicated. It’s impacted by forces ranging from politics to social movements and technology,” he said, adding that this meant that CUHK Business School should seek to build its cross-faculty ties – such as in engineering and the social sciences – in order to provide the most comprehensive education to students so they are equipped to address this increasingly complex business world.

                  Prof. Zhou also said he was highly excited by the opportunities posed by the establishment of CUHK-Shenzhen in 2014, and will seek to forge a closer relationship with colleagues there. “We are going to try to see if we can provide joint teaching programmes in addition to the joint research institutes we already have in place,” he said.

                  It also follows that the school should continue to develop closer ties with the business sector, not only to enhance the quality of education provided to students, to help them seek out lucrative job opportunities, but to stay glued to the latest changes in business practices that are relevant to management thought leadership.

                  “Talking to business partners will help us enhance the level of our research both in its rigor and its relevance,” Prof. Zhou said.

                  On the concept of balance, said Prof. Zhou, who spent the bulk of his early career teaching and in research, focusing on fundamental topics in economic theory including game theory, mechanism design as well as social choice and welfare, this applies equally to the divide between education and research.

                  “The primary responsibility of a university is to provide quality education to young people. Teaching is and always will be of the utmost importance, but on the other hand, to be a leading university you have to have research capabilities so you can provide students with the most advanced knowledge in different fields.”

                  “Research is a very important area for a university which aspires to be the very best university in the world, so we must keep a proper balance. With the university well-endowed in both financial and human resources, I am confident we can do both.”

                  “We empower young people so they can seize opportunities and benefit from the tremendous growth that will take place.” — Prof. Lin Zhou

                  Following on the heels of this two-term stint as the Dean of Antai College of Economics and Management at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, where he transformed the school from a domestic name into a global player in business education, Prof. Zhou also said he’s interested in applying the skills and network acquired in his previous job and while sitting on the board of various accreditation boards to help raise the awareness of CUHK Business School on a global level.

                  Strategic planning will be a crucial task for Prof. Zhou, who added he is excited for the opportunity to liaise with the stakeholders to revise the school’s vision and mission for the next five year strategic plan starting in 2021. “Dean Kalok Chan and his team did a great job raising the academic research capability and reputation of the School, we will leverage on that and move the School forward in many directions.”

                  In face of the unprecedented challenges brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, Prof. Zhou said the school seeks to bring its considerable knowledge and skillsets to help society. He believes that with a forward-looking attitude, CUHK members will navigate this historic moment to emerge as a more resilient community. Besides the smooth resumption of classes, he will be busy in the coming year reaching out to students, faculty members and corporate partners to seek views on the way forward for the school.

                  View this video on CUTV.

                  Prof. Kalok Chan is Ready to Pass the Baton

                  Come 3 November, Prof. Kalok Chan will conclude his tenure as the Dean of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Business School, a role in which he has served since 2014. After five years at the helm, what does Prof. Chan consider to be his proudest accomplishments? What are his plans? And what advice would he give to his successor and his colleagues?

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                    CUHK Business School Dean - Prof. Kalok Chan

                    Taking the reins of CUHK Business School has been no easy feat. In this fast-changing and globalised world, knowledge becomes outdated quickly, and the affairs and technologies of the day have the power to upend business practices at the drop of a hat.

                    “As a business school, how do we keep up with the fast-evolving economy and the business needs of multiple stakeholders, including our students, the academia and the industry? How do we navigate the institutional setting, cultures, rules and regulations of the university and Business School and be responsive and agile to the changes? These are big challenges that we have to tackle,” Prof. Chan said.

                    Adding to this is the resurgence of Asia and China, which has boosted the demand for business knowledge by those looking to join the market, to go out, or to come in. Being a connector and gateway to mainland China, Hong Kong sits at the centre of the action. This gives CUHK Business School an opportunity to assert its leadership in business education in the region and for the region.

                    “CUHK is one of Asia’s most established universities, and we have been an active contributor to the socio-economic development of the region. It is our vision to provide a world-class business education to support the region’s growth. We need to nurture business talent for Hong Kong, offer the locals, the mainland Chinese and Asian students a top-notch business education here in Asia, help overseas students and companies learn the ways of doing business in China, and, through our quality research, contribute thought-leadership on regional matters and champion responsible and sustainable business.”

                    To achieve these, we need faculty members who have strong commitments to research and teaching excellence. — Prof. Kalok Chan

                    Since 2015, Prof. Chan has worked with the senior leadership of CUHK Business School and hired more than 60 professoriate faculty members, doubling the professoriate faculty population. More than 60% of them have already achieved tenure track. Prof. Chan described this as crucial for the Business School’s development in the next 5 to 10 years. “Diversifying our faculty with complementing expertise is vital to enriching our curricula. It is also important when helping students develop their global perspectives and adapt to a multicultural environment.”

                    A vibrant faculty is also indispensable to quality research. “During the past five years, our ranking in The UTD Top 100 Business School Research Rankings has risen from the 60s to within the top 50 in the world. In Asia, we are now among the top five. Of course, transforming ideas into top-notch research is a mission of all business schools. It is important to produce research that creates impact and improves market practices. Our newly recruited young faculty members are aware of this shared goal and have the drive to achieve it.‬”

                    The China Business Knowledge @ CUHK Luncheon Series is a case in point. Since offering this knowledge-sharing platform in 2017, faculty, alumni and the general public have engaged in insightful, in-person learning and sharing of our professors’ latest business research. The success of the series prompted the School to incorporate the series into alumni events and to take the series overseas. Faculty members have hosted sessions in Singapore and Shenzhen.

                    Teaching and research aside, the internationalisation of the School is also something close to Prof. Chan’s heart. In the face of complex business, political and social issues in the 21st century, he considers it key that university students receive a broad-based education so that they are informed about global issues, be able to derive innovative solutions, and to face the challenges ahead boldly. ‬‬

                    One of the things we have managed to accomplish is our innovative dual degree programmes, which are among the first to be offered in Hong Kong. — Prof. Kalok Chan

                    “We have partnered with two top business schools – the UK’s Cass Business School of City, University of London, and Spain’s IE Business School, to offer business administration dual degree programmes. Students partaking in these programmes will spend two years studying at Cass or IE to expand their exposure to global business knowledge and to soak up international experiences.”

                    The School’s internationalisation efforts have been reflected in the uptick in international student enrolment, especially from countries along the Belt and Road. Prof. Chan believes that the cultural and knowledge exchange among local and international students will contribute to the students’ whole-person development and socially responsible mindset.

                    One other accomplishment of which Prof. Chan is most proud of is the School’s corporate outreach efforts. A total of eight corporate partnerships have been formed to offer students learning opportunities beyond the classroom. By exposing students to real-world business scenarios and needs, students can hone their innovative and creative thinking, foster entrepreneurial attitudes and develop the right skills and expertise to thrive professionally. In turn, the School can ascertain that the curriculum responds to the competencies demanded by the corporate world.

                    In addition, the partnerships offer enterprises access to the talents and skills of our students and alumni, and to high-quality research and ground-breaking theories in a variety of academic fields. “This can create a mutually benefiting learning community and advance business innovation.”

                    On a lighter note, Prof. Chan also talks about his plans moving forward as the countdown to his final stretch of Deanship begins.

                    “3 November is my official last day, but I will actually only be back from a business trip in the evening of 4 November. I will be taking a sabbatical to recharge. The first thing I would like to start doing and have certainly missed is to catch up and refresh my knowledge of the financial markets, to go more in-depth into the trends that have appeared over the past few years, such as FinTech, sustainable finance and the Hong Kong-China financial markets.”

                    “I definitely hope to continue to serve the School and our colleagues in new capacities and to pick up on my research. I have other community engagements as well. I will continue to be a bridge for the students and the School with the industry and the community; to be a platform that the younger generation can leverage for communication, collaboration and opportunities.”

                    Is there any advice that Prof. Chan would like to offer to his successor and the colleagues?

                    “Hong Kong has a unique role to play as a part of China and as a gateway between mainland China and the international community. For the Business School, I would say we should continue to leverage this distinctive position and differentiate ourselves from other business schools. Our internationalisation efforts must also continue.”

                    As for his colleagues, “The world is changing very rapidly across the board. Stay updated and be innovative when working with students and other stakeholders.”

                    Prof. Chan added that, having served a fruitful tenure as Dean, he will miss working with his dedicated and supportive colleagues.

                    I look forward to serving in other dimensions. I hope our colleagues will continue to collaborate and support future management. — Prof. Kalok Chan

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