A new chapter in CityU's development was opened on 25 November, when Council endorsed the University's 2003 to 2008 strategic plan: Meeting the Challenge of Change.

The strategic plan identifies the core task of the University as preparing our undergraduates for the fast-changing world of work, by paying special attention to the mix of technical skills and creativity. The University also sees the changes in the structure of post-secondary education as an opportunity. These changes have led to the development of the College of Higher Vocational Studies into a financially viable unit that provides a bridge between secondary school and advanced qualifications. CityU will also focus on the development of high-value, advanced, professional qualifications-a move that will increase the number of fee-paying courses.

As far as research is concerned, over the next five years, CityU aims to focus our resources on priority areas of applied research, while continuing to support community development and underpinning our teaching. The University will continue to collaborate with business partners to commercialize research results and use our expertise for the good of the community.

Scholarship and learning depend on the physical ambiance of a university and CityU is no exception. Over the coming five years, we aim to dramatically improve campus life through the completion of a major building programme. We also recognize the importance of IT in teaching, research and administration and intend to further enrich the student learning environment by making best use of new technologies bringing more services to staff and students on-line and in real time.

Continuing our commitment to community goals, CityU will continue to review its systems for governance and planning, as well as focusing on developing new sources of income without compromising our publicly-funded operations. The new strategic plan aims to enhance the links between professional education and applied research and the synergies between research and education and among disciplines and professional areas. Focusing clearly on our key goals will enable the University to increase its links to the knowledge-based global community and thus contribute to the development of Hong Kong as one of China's great cities.