In a bold and audacious stroke that cuts a wide swathe across the whole institution, the President Professor H K Chang announced on 25 October a reshuffle of the University's senior management structure and line-up, effective from 1 December.

The most outstanding feature of the reform, said the President (from left, pictures below), is "to enhance the academic value in managing the University." A new vice-president for academic affairs, a "deputy president equivalent" post, has been added. Professor David Tong, Chair Professor of Physics in the Department of

Physics and Materials Science, will take up a huge portfolio. He will be overseeing the whole "academic apparatus" of the University-meaning teaching and research activities in all faculties and schools and the College. He will also help plan, develop, implement and monitor all academic policies and matters. "This new post underlines how the structure reflects our commitment to teaching and research as th e core activities of a university," said Professor Chang.

Professor Tong will be assisted by the incumbent Vice-President (Education), Professor Edmond Ko, whose title sports a slight change to Vice-President (Undergraduate Education). Professor Ko will continue to be the Dean of Students. Meanwhile, Professor Y S Wong, currently Vice-President (Institutional Advancement), will assume a new portfolio as Vice-President (Administration), overseeing all the human,

physical and financial resources in support of the University's academic development.

The previous line-up of five vice-presidents has been trimmed to three. Streamlining the management structure is one of the four priorities in the next phase of University development, now summarized in the University's new strategic plan 2003D08: Meeting the Challenge of Change.

The University's external environment-the budgetary crisis in Hong Kong and the threat of imminent cuts in government funding for local universities-has compelled us to act quickly and decisively. "We should install a more responsive mechanism to address new needs," said the President, such as improving the quality of student intakes through coordinated efforts of recruitment and admissions. This is another priority mentioned in the strategic plan, which also stresses the importance of quality teaching and a better image-building programme.