CUHK’s new V-C

Students passive about vice-chancellor selection

By Gladys Leung

Local university students are passive in the selection of their vice- chancellors.

While the schools provide chances for students to participate, student responses are disappointing.

On 13 October 2003, Prof. Lawrence J. Lau was appointed the next vice-chancellor of The Chinese University of Hong Kong. His term starts on 1 July 2004.

Lina Yan, member of the search committee, said, “We spent a lot of time consulting students and the student union about the criteria for an ideal vice-chancellor.”

Ms. Yan said that the current channels for students to express their ideas are adequate. All members of the school can send their opinions to the school administrative body.

She added, “Prof. Lau met students as many times as possible.
“He was willing to arrange the meetings immediately after he arrived in Hong Kong on 8 October.”

Prof. Daniel Law, another member of the search committee, also said the school has started to provide more opportunities for students to deal with school administration.

He said, “There are posts for students in colleges, departments and the senate, which didn’t exist before.”

But students are passive.

The Chinese University’s Student Union said that less than 500 students attended the meetings with Prof. Lau.

Wayne Tsang, president of the University’s Student Union, said, “Only 10 students attended the forum held before the nomination of the new vice-chancellor.

“No student passed their suggestions to the committee or the University Council after meeting with Prof. Lau because the consultation period was too short, only five days.”

Louis Leung, president of Chinese University’s Chung Chi College Student Union, said, “Very few students asked questions during the meetings.

“It seems that only members of the Student Union were actively involved.”

Prof. Daniel Law, member of the search committee, expressed his feeling on this situation.

“I’m disappointed because the ratio of students attending the meetings to the total number of students enrolled in the university is relatively small.”

This problem of low student participation was recognized in 2002, and steps were taken to encourage student involvement.

A committee was set up by Vice-Chancellor Ambrose King and three other faculty and college heads to discuss the possibility of more student participation in the vice-chancellor selection process.

Three student representatives, chosen by the Student Union, were also on this committee. They included presidents of student unions of the Chinese University, Shaw College and Chung Chi College.

The students were asked to prepare a proposal on how much students wanted to be involved in the vice-chancellor’s selection.

The proposal was presented, but Prof. King and the three other staff members felt it was not substantial enough.

The student representatives confessed the proposal was not perfect.

The indifferent attitudes of students are not unique to Chinese University. Students at other local universities are also passive about the selection of their vice-chancellors.

Elisa Leung, external vice-president of The University of Hong Kong’s Student Union, said, “Many students do not care about the selection.

“This is because there are no announcements about the selection process and no chance for students to take part in the issue or express their opinions.”

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has a similar situation.

Enrico Lee, external vice-president of the Student Union of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, said,

“Although there were public consultations and meetings with the candidate, students are still not familiar with the selection process because there was no direct student participation.”

Ms. Yan of the search committee at the Chinese University, said, “Students are apathetic not only about the selection processes, but also in other school affairs.

“The current undergraduate program lasts only 3 years,” she explained. “Students spend most of their time on their studies. Thus, they do not have extra time to join school activities.”

The universities as well as students must make an effort, says Prof. Law, if they want to improve the situation.

He added, “On one hand, universities should provide more chances for students to participate in their affairs.

“On the other hand, students should give more support to the student representatives, such as the student unions.”

Wayne Tsang (Fung Ying)

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