What brought you to City University of
Hong Kong (CityU)?
CityU is my third university in Hong Kong. When I was
at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
and then Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK),
I witnessed the remarkable development of CityU
especially over the last decade, which made joining
CityU look like a very attractive prospect. CB's strong
research output and prominent, sometimes unique,
programmes are another big draw. This is a chance
for me to explore new avenues and contribute my
experience and administrative expertise to further the
growth of CB.
You've previously served as Dean at CUHK.
What does the role at CB mean to you?
As the Dean, I see my role as pivotal in setting the
direction and strategy of the College. This involves
coordinating and improving academic programmes,
bridging the gap between the University and the
College, and serving as an ambassador to external communities, whether that be corporate, alumni or
student community. I envision myself as a unifying
force, aligning faculty members, mobilising resources,
and fostering collaboration. As an ambassador, I aim to
promote CB, gain support, and enhance our reputation.
How can CB project itself as a centre of
thought leadership?
We have a wealth of talented faculty members,
some very well known in their various fields, who can
contribute to thought leadership by working with a wide
range of business issues. I will encourage our faculty
to stay abreast of current developments, understand
important trends, and share their knowledge with the
wider community. I think that we need to develop some
kind of a support or encouragement for our faculty
who really try to get into this thought leadership. I hope
that we can form a group of experts who can share
a lot of their knowledge and opinions with the wider
community and then build on CB as a centre of business
knowledge.
What has been the main focus of your own
research over recent years?
My research primarily centres on understanding financial
markets, their efficiency in reflecting information, and
the drivers of trading that affect market efficiency. While
finance remains my core focus, research areas evolve
over time. Recently, I have explored the interrelationship
between the Mainland Chinese and Hong Kong financial
markets and the declining trading volumes in the Hong
Kong stock market.
Which areas of interdisciplinary research
would you like to see develop at CB?
Research areas should be triggered by faculty members'
own interests. I would encourage our faculty to think
critically about their research projects and support crossdisciplinary
collaborations. The traditional disciplinary
research focus may have limitations, and interdisciplinary
research can provide a broader understanding of
complex issues. I aim to facilitate collaborations with
faculty outside their departments, even beyond CB, to
create platforms for interdisciplinary research.
But if you ask me are there any particular research areas
where I would like to do more research, that would
be Sustainable Finance or Environment, Social, and
Governance (ESG) which has been one of my main
teaching focuses over the last 2 or 3 years. It definitely
goes beyond the business discipline involving the
environment, energy, economics, and the law, so it's
truly an interdisciplinary area.
Do you view AI as a blessing or a curse for
educators?
Personally, I view AI as a blessing for educators. The
traditional teaching methods which focused on
memorization are outdated. Instead, I would encourage
students to apply what they have learned through
research or experiential projects. With the internet,
students have vast access to information, and AI makes
it easier for them to find relevant materials. However,
it is important to emphasise the importance of critical
thinking, verifying the accuracy of information, and
analysing its implications. Regarding assessment, again
I believe we should focus on getting students to apply what they have learned on an issue rather than rote
learning.
Is there a future for the traditional academic
skills?
AI has tremendous computational power and
can provide quick answers based on aggregated
knowledge. However, I think that there are certain skills
AI cannot fully replace. Once more, critical thinking,
argumentation, and reflection are all vital aspects of
education that require human engagement. While AI
can assist in organizing information, it is the students
themselves who must adapt and apply that knowledge
to real-world situations.
How do you incorporate sustainability into
your teaching?
Sustainability is a critical topic that should be integrated
into business education, a reflection of its importance
in the wider world. I encourage students to analyse
and compare real-life cases, allowing them to
critically evaluate how different companies approach
sustainability and how their performance influences
communication strategies. This level of engagement
and analysis cannot be replicated by AI, especially when
dealing with current and localised business issues.
Is education making a broad enough impact
in society?
In general, I think we could do more. Of course,
academic research should not only focus on publications,
but also strive to be impactful. In evaluating academic
proposals, the University Grants Committee and
Research Grants Council consider societal impact as
an evaluation criterion. Then if we look at the student
learning side, experiential learning and practical projects
can bridge the gap between academia and the real
world, allowing students to work on meaningful
projects that benefit both themselves and collaborating
companies.
One of the reasons I came to CityU is because there is
quite a good DNA for commercialisation and innovation
here, and I hope that the College can also play a role.
Patents may mainly come from the engineering and
science schools, but business-oriented mindsets are
essential in leveraging to create commercial value. By
collaborating closely with other colleges and schools within
the University, CB can infuse business knowledge into
practical applications and programmes, thus contributing
to the commercialisation and innovation process.
How important is diversity and how can it
be promoted within the College of Business?
Diversity is not limited to gender and ethnicity.
Importantly, it also means diversity of ideas. CityU has
made progress in terms of faculty recruitment, but we
need to put more effort into promoting diversity within
the student body. It is crucial to market and promote
CityU as a welcoming institution that embraces diversity,
attracting students from diverse backgrounds and
fostering creativity, innovation, and intellectual discourse.
The University is gaining a lot of reputation now. I think
that if we can we do more promotional marketing and
then try to get some more students from outside Hong
Kong and the Mainland to join, that would be really
fantastic. Of course, we need to provide some kind
of support in the way of scholarships. Something as
basic as people having different ideas and mindsets is
important, because if everyone thinks alike it is really not
conducive to creativity or innovation. So, yes, diversity is
really important.
Beyond academia, what are your personal
interests and hobbies?
Outside of work, I am passionate about maintaining a
healthy lifestyle and staying active. I enjoy hiking, jogging
and following sports, particularly soccer. As an avid
Arsenal fan, I watch the English Premier League, and
despite the near miss last season, I am rooting for them
again this time around.
Finally, what message would you like to give
to the CB community?
I would like to encourage the College of Business
community to believe in continuous improvement. The
sky's the limit! Instead of comparing ourselves to others
or fixating on rankings, let's focus on personal growth
and strive for excellence in teaching, research impact,
and all aspects of our work. Together, we can reinforce
City University's reputation as a centre of academic and
practical excellence.
