Professor Way Kuo, President of City University of Hong Kong (CityU), met the media on 17 March to provide updates about recent developments at the University, before inviting the press to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Hong Kong Centre for Maritime and Transportation Law on 18 March.

Professor Paul Lam Kwan-sing, Vice President (Student Affairs), Professor Horace Ip Ho-shing, Acting Vice-President (Research and Technology) and Acting Dean of Graduate Studies, Professor Julia Tao Lai Po-wah, Chief-of-Staff, and Professor Johnny Chan Chung-leung, Dean of the School of Energy and Environment, also joined the occasion.

When asked about the establishment of a School of Veterinary Medicine, Professor Lam said CityU had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine (Cornell) to establish a School of Veterinary Medicine (publicly known as the vet school) and would seek international accreditation in Hong Kong.

“According to the MOU, Cornell will assist CityU in designing the curriculum, facilities and teaching faculty,” said Professor Lam. “Meanwhile, Cornell will also be responsible for quality assurance, as well as providing opportunities for student attachment with Cornell and other preceptor sites in the United States. Where appropriate, CityU will seek the help of Cornell in seconding faculty members to help the initial operation of the new School.”

Professor Lam also disclosed that a large animal ambulatory programme is envisioned in Shenzhen to provide training for students in food animal and regulatory medicine. A formal proposal was submitted to the University Grants Committee in August last year. CityU is also seeking donations from the community.

Professor Chan introduced the School of Energy and Environment (SEE) to the media and outlined the latest developments. “The School will locate its campus at the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, and will set up four laboratories there,” said Professor Chan. “Since its establishment, SEE has organised many academic conferences and signed a MOU in January with Edinburgh Napier University, UK, to establish the first biofuel research centre in Hong Kong to undertake research into sustainable alternatives to fossil-based fuels. SEE is now in the process of recruiting faculty members and research personnel to set up the laboratory and study how organic waste can be converted into fuel for transportation.”

SEE is also in discussion with a nanomaterials laboratory at the University of New South Wales in Australia to set up a joint laboratory at SEE, aimed at applying nanotechnology to the harnessing of solar energy and cleaning the environment (air and water).

SEE will offer a Master of Science degree programme in energy and environment from September, and a Minor Programme in Atmospheric and Climate Science and General Education course in Climate Change and Extreme Events to all existing undergraduate students at CityU.