Five distinguished experts visited the School of Law (SLW) of City University of Hong Kong (CityU) on 4-5 December to provide expert advice on the strategic direction of the School. The feedback is aimed at enhancing the quality of SLW's academic programmes and focusing its research agenda, with a view to achieving global leadership and local pre-eminence.

During the two-day visit, the experts reviewed the strengths of the School and areas for improvement, the international competitiveness of its education and research programmes, and examined areas for potential new programmes.

The review panel has submitted a written report to CityU, providing recommendations on SLW's strategic direction over the next five years. The report encompassed education and executive development programmes, research, globalisation and the management structure of the School.

The review panel is headed by Professor E Thomas Sullivan, Senior Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Provost, University of Minnesota. The other experts are Professor Barry Carter, Director, International and Transnational Programmes, Georgetown University Law Centre; Ms Meredith McQuaid, Associate Vice-President and Dean, International Programmes, University of Minnesota; Professor Kent Syverud, Dean, School of Law and Ethan A. H. Shepley University Professor, Washington University in St. Louis; and Mr Martin Liao Cheung-kong, JP, Barrister.

The panel first met with CityU senior management on 4 December. Professor Way Kuo, University President, Professor Richard Ho Yan-ki, Provost, Professor Roderick Wong Sue-cheun, Vice-President (Research) and Dean of Graduate Studies, and Professor Paul Lam Kwan-sing, Acting Vice-President (Undergraduate Education), briefed the team on current developments at CityU and within SLW.

Professor Kuo said CityU strived towards excellence in all academic programmes and had set itself the goal of becoming one of the top universities, and its programmes being the best in Asia-Pacific. "I hope the experts will provide forward-looking recommendations for SLW to help set a framework for its future goals," Professor Kuo said.

After the meeting the panel visited SLW, where representatives were greeted by Professor Wang Guiguo, Dean of SLW, and academic staff. Professor Wang gave a presentation on the School, describing its mission, management structure, academic staff line-up, programme strengths, admissions, student activities, overseas exchange programmes and legal placements, participation in legal conferences and seminars, use of video conferencing during lectures and ties with institutions and the judiciary in mainland China and overseas.

SLW staff also briefed the visiting experts on the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, together with the latest research and teaching developments at the School.

The panel visited the Moot Court and the Centre of Chinese and Comparative Law, and met with a number of current students to learn about their expectations and the learning process. The students said they chose to study at SLW because of the good reputation of its programmes, and the part-time study mode that suited the students' differing needs. Moreover, the University provided opportunities for students to take part in exchange programmes on the mainland and overseas. The students also gave suggestions to the experts regarding the School's programmes.