Dear Members of the University Community,
I would like first of all to thank you sincerely for your valuable comments and suggestions on the process and criteria for the appointment of the next Vice-Chancellor.
Since the Council's formation of the Ad Hoc Group on November 7, 2011, elections of members to fill the membership categories of the Group had taken place in the ensuing weeks. The Group held its first meeting on December 13, 2011, met a total of five times and conducted extensive consultation with the University community. A letter was issued by the Group on December 21, 2011 to the University community and the University Grants Committee, inviting them to submit views and suggestions. A confidential email account was set up to facilitate the submission of views and suggestions. Four consultation sessions were held in January and February 2012. Members of the Group also met with students on February 27, 2012, and the Senate at its meeting held on March 6, 2012. The subject matter was raised and discussed at various Faculty Board meetings. In addition, the Group received written submissions from the Faculty Deans, Convocation, HKU Students' Union session 2011 and two staff associations.
On the basis of the feedback received and after careful deliberation, the Ad Hoc Group has formulated seven recommendations and submitted a report to the Council. At its meeting held on March 20, 2012, the Council discussed the Ad Hoc Group's report and approved all of its seven recommendations, which are summarised below for your easy reference. Further details, inclusive of the detailed membership categories of the Search Committee and the Selection Committee, can be obtained at the website on the search and selection of the next Vice-Chancellor (http://www.hku.hk/vcsearch/).
1) The adoption of a two-tier search and selection mechanism to facilitate the appointment of the next Vice-Chancellor, under which a Search Committee and a Selection Committee are formed
2) The setting up of a 4-member Search Committee with the crucial role of identifying and securing outstanding candidates to come forward for the Vice-Chancellorship. The Search Committee comprises a lay member of the Council and three full-time senior professorial teachers at Chair Professor level (comprising Chair Professors and Professors with Chair title),with one from each of the 3 cognate Faculty groupings as defined in the relevant election procedures of the Senate
3) The setting up of an 11-member Selection Committee to review and assess the suitability of the candidates presented by the Search Committee, interview the shortlisted candidates and agree on a finalist for recommendation to the Council. The Selection Committee comprises:
a) The Chairman of the Council
b) 2 other lay members of the Council
c) A Faculty Dean
d) 3 full-time professorial Teachers(with one from each of the 3 cognate Faculty groupings as defined in the relevant election procedures of the Senate)
e) A full-time non-professorial Teacher or academic-related staff member
f) An alumnus/alumna
g) A full-time non-academic staff member
h) A full-time student
Membership categories c) and h) above are newly added in this exercise, to provide for representation of executive Faculty Deans and students respectively.
4) The appointment of an international headhunting agency by the Search Committee to provide administrative and logistical support to the search and selection processes
5) The signing of a confidentiality agreement by all members of the Search and Selection Committees
6) The adoption of five selection criteria for the appointment of the next Vice-Chancellor, viz.
a) Excellent academic standing and leadership: The next Vice-Chancellor should have excellent academic standing internationally, with significant contributions to teaching and learning, research and service,and possess the necessary intellectual qualities inclusive of a strong aspiration and commitment to leading the Universityin its pursuit of academic excellence that is recognized globally, and taking it to new heights
b) Integrity: He/She should be a widely respected person of high ideals and principles, and be able to uphold the University's core values and safeguard its interests
c) Vision: He/She should be innovative and have a solid knowledge of worldwide trends and developments in higher education, as well as a strong vision of the University's role, commitment and future development in the region and globally
d) Demonstrated Management Capability: He/She should be able to lead a cross-cultural, complex academic community with diversified interests, and be good at team building, conflict resolution and crisis management, and possess a proven track record of resource development and fund-raising
e) Effective interpersonal and communication skills: He/She should be willing to consult and engage students, staff and other relevant stakeholders in promoting the vision and mission of the University, and be able to project the University's image and enhance its reputation
7) The adoption of the two-tier search and selection process and the five selection criteria as set out above, as the standard protocol for the appointment of futureVice-Chancellors.
With the approval of the two-tier search and selection mechanism and the selection criteria by the Council, the University will proceed forthwith with the formation of the Search Committee and the Selection Committee, and a global search for the next Vice-Chancellor.
On behalf of the Ad Hoc Group, I would like to thank all of you once again for your important participation in the consultation process. Your kind support and wise counsel is indeed very much appreciated.
Yours sincerely,
Paul M.Y. Chow
Convenor
Council's Ad Hoc Group
