The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) announced today the appointment of Prof. PONG Ting-Chuen to succeed Mr. Mark HODGSON as the Vice-President for Administration and Business (VPAB), starting from July 1, 2021.
Prof. Pong is a founding faculty member of HKUST, he has served in many senior administrative positions both within the University and in the external tertiary education sector. He is currently Senior Advisor to the Provost and Acting Director of Center for Education Innovation at HKUST, as well as a member of the Research Assessment Exercise Group and the Quality Assurance Council of the University Grants Committee. Prof. Pong is a Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, his research interests span computer vision, artificial intelligence and e-learning. His latest appointment is the result of a rigorous global search.
The Vice-President for Administration and Business is responsible for planning and management of manpower, financial, physical and other resources to ensure delivery of services in support of the academic and research activities of the University, as well as providing oversight of administrative resources at HKUST.
Mr. Andrew LIAO Cheung-Sing, Chairman of HKUST Council, was pleased about the new appointment, “Prof. Pong possesses a good understanding and knowledge of HKUST’s operations as well as the opportunities and challenges facing the University. With his broad and extensive experience, his strong passion and dedication towards the University and students, I am certain that Prof. Pong has the vision, capacity and commitment for leading the University to go forward.”
Prof. Wei SHYY, President of the HKUST, added, “Prof. Pong has deep, first-hand experiences and has contributed substantially to both academic and numerous administrative matters within HKUST as well as in Hong Kong. As HKUST is actively pursuing multiple major endeavors, I am confident that Prof. Pong will bring his insight, proactive and pragmatic approaches, and dedication to lead the University’s administrative operation.” The University also takes the opportunity to thank Mr. Hodgson for his dedicated leadership, comprehensive efforts and contributions to the University in the past years.
Prof. Pong received his BS degree in Mathematics & Physics from the University of Wisconsin in 1978 and obtained his MS and PhD degrees in Computer Science at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1981 and 1984 respectively. Prof. Pong was an Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota before joining HKUST in 1991.
About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) () is a world-class research intensive university that focuses on science, technology and business as well as humanities and social science. HKUST offers an international campus, and a holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy to nurture well-rounded graduates with global vision, a strong entrepreneurial spirit and innovative thinking. HKUST attained the highest proportion of internationally excellent research work in the Research Assessment Exercise 2014 of Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee, and is ranked as the world’s best young university in Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings 2020. Its graduates were ranked 10th worldwide and top in Greater China in Global University Employability Survey 2019.
