A review panel consisting of four overseas and local experts visited the College of Science and Engineering (CSE) of City University of Hong Kong (CityU) from 19 to 20 March to offer expert advice for the enhancement of its academic and research programmes.

After meeting with senior management, the review panel was escorted to CSE where they met faculty members from all departments, alumni and students. At the end of the two-day visit, the experts reached a consensus and presented a recommendation report to CityU outlining the strengths and areas for potential improvement for CSE.

The review panel was chaired by Professor William A “Bud” Baeslack III, Provost and Executive Vice President, Case Western Reserve University. Other panel members included Dr York Liao, Managing

Director, Winbridge Company; Professor Jeff Wu, Coca-Cola Chair in Engineering Statistics, H Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, College of Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology; and Professor Frank C P Yin, The Stephen F and Camilla T Brauer Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis.

The panel members were first greeted by Professor Way Kuo, the President, and the University’s senior management, including Professor Richard Ho Yan-ki, Provost, Professor Roderick Wong Sue-cheun, Vice-President (Research and Technology), and Professor Paul Lam Kwan-sing, Vice-President (Student Affairs) and Associate Provost (Academic Planning and Undergraduate Education). They were briefed on CityU’s strategic direction and latest developments.

Professor Kuo briefly introduced Hong Kong’s tertiary education framework and CityU’s rankings, strategic goals and challenges. “We now rank 147 according to The Times Higher Education Supplement survey. I hope the experts will give us forward-looking recommendations on how to excel and scale new heights,” Professor Kuo said.

The experts later met Professor Chan Chi-hou, Dean of CSE, and other faculty members. Professor Chan gave a presentation on the college, describing its mission, management structure, programmes, and staff and student achievements. CSE staff also briefed the experts on the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, and showed them the college’s research facilities on a tour to its centres.

The experts then met with some CSE students and alumni to learn about their reasons for studying at CityU, their campus life, support from the University and college and comments on academic staff. The students also talked about their expectations and offered suggestions on areas for the college to further improve