The College of Business of City University of Hong Kong (CityU) held the inauguration ceremony of its College International Advisory Board on 22 October. The establishment of the board marked another big step forward for the College’s internationalisation drive since it became the only business school in Greater China to be triple accredited by AACSB International, EQUIS and the Association of MBAs in 2008.

The board will be chaired by Dr Liu Changle, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Phoenix Satellite Television Company and CityU Honorary Doctor of Letters.

Members include world renowned economist Professor Gregory C. Chow, Nobel Laureate Professor James Mirrlees, Mr Alfred Chuang, founder of BEA Systems, Professor Christopher Tang, Edward W. Carter Chair in Business Administration of the University of California, Los Angeles, and Mr James Thompson, founder and chairman of Crown Worldwide Group. They will join Dr Liu in providing advice to the College Dean on matters pertinent to the development of the College as a globally-oriented business school.

Professor Way Kuo, CityU President, and Professor Chan Chi-hou, Acting Provost, joined College Dean Professor Wei Kwok-kee and fellow college members at the ceremony.

“The College of Business has come a long way in the last 25 years to become one of the premier business schools in Asia accredited by three leading international organisations,” Professor Kuo said. “But past success is never a guarantee for future excellence. Our colleagues are well aware of this as they strive to build the College into a globally-oriented business school.”

Professor Wei thanked the board chairman and members who stand ready to support the College as it enters a new era of internationalisation. “The College relies on the board members’ vision, understanding of the global education market, and of the competencies required to excel in this globalised environment.”

“The board brings together an array of distinguished leaders from both the private and public sectors, who are top-tier leaders in their respective fields from China and around the world,” Professor Wei said.

The College International Advisory Board members will advise on matters affecting policy, goals and strategies for internationalisation within the College. They will consider strategic opportunities in the international education market, such as identifying suitable overseas academic institutions and business corporations as strategic partners, and make policy direction recommendations for the development of international programmes within the College.

“As a member of the media, I fully understand the importance of keeping abreast of international trends. Our generation is privileged and grateful to have witnessed results of economic reform and open-door policy in China as well as our progress towards internationalisation,” Dr Liu said.

“Professor Wei and the College are perfectly aware of the keen competition and challenges confronting tertiary educational institutes around the world. The College aims at providing the best education to its students so that they will excel after graduation in their chosen professions. I believe the setting up of this Board is an insightful decision with potentially profound impact on the development of the College and CityU as a whole,” Dr Liu added.

The board held its first meeting immediately after the ceremony. Faculty members also took the opportunity to meet the board members to exchange ideas on global higher education and industry.