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No. 122 21 October 2008
 

 

Ranking improves
CityU has now ranked among the top 200 universities in the world for five consecutive years, securing 147th place in The Times Higher Education Supplement 2008 survey. CityU broke into the world's top 200 universities in 2004 (ranked 198th) and has continued its ranking ascent ever since, surging more than 50 places in the past five years.

 

Senior posting
CityU has announced the appointment of Professor Richard Ho Yan-ki as Provost, a newly established position that oversees matters relating to academic development of the University, with immediate effect for a period of three years. Announcing the senior appointment, Professor Way Kuo, University President, said the new position was established in response to the fact the University is at the important stage of preparing for the four-year undergraduate structure. The Provost will fulfil the role of a senior academic officer overseeing all academic and associated development of the University, including faculty appointments, retention and promotion.


Key laboratory opened
Professor Way Kuo, CityU President, attended the 10th Annual Assembly of Shenzhen Virtual University Park (SZVUP) and the University Forum on 13 October. He also presided over the opening ceremony of CityU's State Key Laboratory of Millimeter Waves, which is located in the SZVUP.


Nobel visitor
As part of an exchange agreement signed recently between CityU and College de France, Nobel Prize-winning chemist Professor Jean-Marie Lehn will visit CityU as Chair Professor-at-Large of the University. He will deliver lectures to Department of Biology and Chemistry staff and students on 29 October. The agreement aims to promote academic exchange and develop relations between the two institutions.


Lecture series
Two high profile lecture series are to be held at CityU in coming weeks. The France Hong Kong Distinguished Lecture Series, held under the auspices of the French Academy of Sciences, will be held on 5 November at 5pm in LT15 and will feature a lecture by 1994 Fields Medallist Professor Jean-Christophe Yoccoz on Random Behaviour of Deterministic Systems. On 7 November, as part of the CityU Distinguished Lecture Series, Professor Sir Michael Berry will deliver a lecture on Hamilton's Conical Refraction: A Diabolical Singularity in the Physics of Light, in the SCOPE Lecture Theatre.


Well-judged donation
CityU has received a donation of $4.4 million from Fu Tak Iam Foundation as full sponsorship for the tuition and living expenses of 30 mainland judges taking the Master of Laws (LLM) programme provided by the School of Law. The School will admit 30 mainland judges to its LLM programme each year so as to help train more legal professionals for the country.


Meritorious research
The Centre for Marine Environmental Research and Innovative Technology (MERIT), led by CityU, has been designated by a United Nations body as the first Regional Centre of Excellence in Marine Pollution, underpinning its leadership position in the field of marine pollution research, monitoring, assessment and management. The designation was awarded, for the first time, by the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia, under the United Nations Development Programme, and officially endorsed by its 11 national partners.


Cultural month
CityU has designated an entire month towards the exploration of minority cultures in the southern mainland province of Guizhou. October's Guizhou Cultural Month will see photo exhibitions and a range of seminars capitalise on ties forged during recent visits by CityU departmental representatives to villages in the province. Four seminars on conservation and promotion of Dong culture in Dimen Village will be held from 24 to 28 October and
30 Guizhou ethnic minority members will be invited to stage a dance and music performance to offer a glimpse at Guizhou's cultural heritage.


Innovative grant scheme
The Synergistic Innovation Scheme is now open for application for undergraduate students from the Faculty of Science and Engineering. Students are welcome to form groups and propose creative yet applicable scientific ideas to compete for the Faculty's grant. Projects accepted to stage 1 will receive a $5,000 grant to further develop their research or ideas. Outstanding projects that have shown satisfactory progress after stage 1 will be accepted into Stage 2 or 3 and receive higher grant amounts. The application deadline is 31 January 2009.

 

Student scholarships
Fourteen CityU students received scholarships from Hang Seng Bank and the Li & Fung Group respectively in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements and leadership. Five were awarded the Hang Seng Bank Scholarship for local students, namely Chan Wai-fun, Chau Kwok-leung, Cheng Chik-fat, Chin Mei-kei and Tsang Tsz-man, who received a scholarship of HK$18,000 each. The other winner, Wu Jiajing received a scholarship for mainland students of HK$60,000. In addition, eight students were awarded Li & Fung Scholarships, namely Au Yeung Tsz-yau, Lau Chau-lin, Lo Siu-yuk, Ma Sze-ting, Ng Cheuk-yin, Wong Hiu-shan, Woo Po-kuen and Yeung Tin-ping.

 

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