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Role and Functions

The UGC is the independent body which advises the Government of the HKSAR on the funding and strategic development of higher education in Hong Kong. In this role, the UGC works with Institutions, the Government and the Community to promote excellence in the higher education sector, with a view to establishing Hong Kong as the education hub of the region and to nurturing high quality people to promote the economic, cultural and social development of Hong Kong. While without statutory powers, the UGC will:

(a) oversee the deployment of funds for the strategic development of the higher education sector;

(b)  support the continuous development of the higher education sector to achieve greater impact and recognition, and as a source of innovation and ideas for the community;

(c) give steering advice to the higher education sector from a system perspective and facilitate institutions to fulfill their distinctive roles;

(d)  enhance the student experience and advance the international competitiveness in teaching, research and knowledge transfer by institutions in accordance with their agreed roles;

(e) facilitate the sustainable development of higher education to meet the demands of the changing times; 

(f) encourage deep collaboration among institutions to develop an interlocking system to increase international competitiveness of the sector; and 

(g) safeguard quality and promote efficiency, cost-effectiveness and accountability in the activities of institutions. 

In carrying out the above activities, UGC seeks to preserve institutional autonomy and academic freedom, in the context of appropriate financial and public accountability.

Committee Structure (as at 31 March 2011)

The UGC has under its aegis two semi-autonomous bodies: the Research Grants Council (RGC) is responsible for advising the needs of higher education institutions in academic research, and considering applications for disbursement of project-based research funding; and the Quality Assurance Council (QAC) is responsible for advising on quality assurance matters in the higher education sector, including specifically the conduct of quality audits of the UGC-funded institutions.


The terms of reference of the UGC, RGC, QAC and its Sub-Committees/Groups are provided at Annex I.

UGC-Funded Institutions

There are eight higher education institutions in Hong Kong funded through the UGC:

City University of Hong Kong (CityU)

Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU)

Lingnan University (LU)

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)

The Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd)

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)

The University of Hong Kong (HKU)

Each of the UGC-funded institutions is an autonomous body with its own Ordinance and Governing Council. The institutions have substantial freedom in the control of curricula and academic standards, the selection of students, conduct of research, staff recruitment and their terms of employment, and the internal allocation of resources.

 

The 8 UGC-funded Institution

 
 
Membership of the University Grants Committee

 Chairman


The Hon Laura CHA May-lung,
GBS, JP

The Hon Laura CHA May-lung,  GBS, JP
(Appointed on 1 April 2007)

Independent Non-executive Director,
HSBC Holdings plc

Mrs Cha is a non-official Member, Executive Council, HKSAR Government. She is also the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Corruption of the Independent Commission Against Corruption in Hong Kong, and served as a Nominated Member at the Council of HKUST (1996-2006). She was the Vice Chairman of China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) (2001-2004). Mrs Cha was with the Securities and Futures Commission in Hong Kong (1991-2001), she headed the Corporate Finance Division for five years before being appointed as Deputy Chairman in 1998.


UGC Group Photo

 

 Local members


Mrs Pamela CHAN WONG Shui,
BBS, JP

Mrs Pamela CHAN WONG Shui, BBS, JP
(Appointed on 1 April 2007)

Chairman, Hong Kong Deposit Protection Board

Mrs Chan is a Member of the Standing Committee on Legal Education and Training, the HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund Steering Committee, Law Reform Commission and Travel Industry Council. She was Council member of PolyU (1987-1992) and has served on a number of advisory committees and academic boards in, CityU, CUHK, HKU, LU and PolyU. She was Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Consumer Council; Council and Executive Member of Consumers International (CI) (1985-2007) and President of CI (1997-2000); now CI's Patron. Mrs. Chan is also Vice-Patron of the Community Chest.


Mr Edward CHENG Wai-sun,
SBS, JP

Mr Edward CHENG Wai-sun, SBS, JP
(
Appointed on 1 April 2009)

Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive of Wing Tai Properties Limited and
Director of Winsor Properties Holdings Limited, Television Broadcasts Limited and Orient Overseas (International) Limited

Mr Cheng was the former Chairman of the Urban Renewal Authority (2004-2007). He has served on the Advisory Committee on Corruption of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (2004-2009), the Steering Committee on Innovation & Technology (2004-2008), the Commission on Strategic Development (2005-2007), the Securities and Futures Commission's Takeovers and Mergers Panel and the Takeovers Appeal Committee (1994-2005), the Executive Committee of HK Housing Society (2000-2004), the Councils of the PolyU (2006-2009), CityU (2003-2007), HKIEd (2000-2002) and HK Institute of Certified Public Accountants (2004-2005). Mr Cheng was also a part-time member of the Central Policy Unit (1994-1995).


Prof Jack CHENG Chun-yiu

Prof Jack CHENG Chun-yiu
(Appointed on 1 January 2008)

Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Professor Cheng is Professor of Orthopaedics and Traumatology of CUHK. He is also a fellow member of over 20 local and international professional and medical organisations. He was the President of the Hong Kong Society for Surgery of the Hand (1990-1992) and the President of the Hong Kong Orthopaedic Association (1995-1996). He was also a Member of the Licentiate Committee of Hong Kong Medical Council (1999-2001) and the Supplementary Medical Professions Council of Department of Health, HKSAR Government (1999-2002).


Prof Roland CHIN Tai-hong, JP

Prof Roland CHIN Tai-hong, JP
(Appointed on 1 April 2004)

Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost,
The University of Hong Kong

Professor Chin is Chair Professor of Computer Science at HKU. He is currently Chairman of the Research Grants Council, the Board of HKEdCity and the Science Museum Advisory Panel of Leisures and Cultural Services Department, HKSAR Government. He is also a Trustee of the Croucher Foundation, and a Member of the Steering Committee on Innovation & Technology and the Commission on Strategic Development of the HKSAR Government. Prior to joining HKU in 2010, he was Vice-President for Research and Development (2003-2006) and Vice-President for Academic Affairs (Deputy to the President) (2007-2010) at HKUST. He worked at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, US (1979-1981), and was Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1981-1995). He also served on the Applied Research Council under Innovation and Technology Commission, the The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, the Cyberport Board and the Employees Retraining Board in Hong Kong.


Mr Clifton CHIU Chi-cheong

Mr Clifton CHIU Chi-cheong
(Appointed on 1 January 2008)

Chairman, Harvester (Holdings) Co. Limited

Mr Chiu is the Deputy Chairperson of the Council on Human Reproductive Technology of the HKSAR Government. He is also a Member of the Process Review Panel for the Securities and Futures Commission and the Investment Committee of the HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund. He was the Deputy Chairman of the Takeovers and Mergers Panel of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (1996-2008) and the Vice Chairman of the Listing Committee of the Growth Enterprise Market of the Stock Exchange (1999-2002).


Prof Richard HO Yan-ki

 

Prof Richard HO Yan-ki
(Appointed on 1 August 2009)

Professor (Chair) of Finance,
City University of Hong Kong

Professor Ho was the Acting President of CityU for one year from May 2007. He was appointed as Special Advisor to the President and then Provost during the period from May 2008 to June 2009. He is a Member of The Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications, a Panel Member of the Securities and Futures Appeals Tribunal and a Member of the Energy Advisory Committee. He is also a Member of the Quality Assurance Council (QAC) and an Independent Non-Executive Director of Citibank (Hong Kong) Limited. 


Mrs Stella LAU KUN Lai-kuen, JP

Mrs Stella LAU KUN Lai-kuen, JP
(Appointed on 1 January 2008)

Headmistress,
Diocesan Girls' School

Mrs Lau is a member of the ICAC Complaints Committee, the Committee on Performing Arts, the Community Sports Committee, the Board of Directors of The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education Limited and the Women's Commission and the Chairlady of the Board of the Hong Kong Schools Sports Federation. She is also a Member of the Language Proficiency Assessment for Teachers Appeals Committee of the Hong Kong Examination and Assessment Authority. She served as a Member of the Council of CityU (2001-2007) and the Broadcasting Authority (2003-2009) and the Committee on Performing Arts(2004-2010).


Mr Tim LUI Tim-leung, BBS, JP

Mr Tim LUI Tim-leung, BBS, JP
(Appointed on 1 January 2008)

Partner,
PricewaterhouseCoopers Limited

Mr Lui is a senior tax partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers in Hong Kong as well as a member of its Global Board. Mr Lui is the Chairman of the Appeal Boards Panel (Education) and the Standing Committee on Directorate Salaries and Conditions of Service of the HKSAR Government. He served as a Member of the Council of HKUST (1999-2007) and an ex-officio Member of the Court of HKUST (2001-2007). Mr Lui is a Deputy of the 11th National People's Congress of the PRC.


Prof John MALPAS

Prof John MALPAS
(Appointed on 1 January 2008)

Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Infrastructure),
The University of Hong Kong

Professor Malpas is the Chair Professor of Earth Sciences of HKU. He was appointed as the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for planning and resources in 2000. Since 2004, he has also taken up responsibility for university infrastructure and development. Before joining HKU in 1995, he was Professor and Dean of Graduate Studies at Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada. He served as the President of the Geological Association of Canada in 1995. He has also been a Member of the Canadian Institute For Advanced Research and the National Research Council of Canada Committee on International Science, Engineering and Technology.


Mr TAI Hay-lap, BBS, JP

Mr TAI Hay-lap, BBS, JP
(Appointed on 1 August 2009)

Principal, 
Yan Oi Tong Tin Ka Ping Secondary School

Mr Tai is a Member of the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education and the Council for Sustainable Development. He served on a number of governmental advisory boards/committees in the educational field, including Board of Education (1995-2002), Education Commission (1995-2006), the Councils of CUHK (2000-2004) and HKIEd (2004-2009) and the Quality Education Fund Investment Committee (2003-2006). He was also the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on School Administration and Finance (1993-1998) and the Quality Education Fund Steering Committee (2003-2006).


Mr Carlson Tong, JP

Mr Carlson Tong, JP
(Appointed on 1 January 2011)

Chairman, KPMG Asia Pacific and
KPMG China (Until 31 March 2011)

Mr Tong currently serves as the Chairman of the Employees’ Compensation Insurance Levies Management Board, an advisor to the Accounting Standards Committee under the Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China, and Members of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Appeal Board, the Exchange Fund Advisory Committee and the Financial Reporting Review Panel. He was the former Chairman of the Main Board and the (Listing Committee) Growth Enterprise Market of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Ltd. (2006- 2008) and the former Vice President of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accounts (2005-2006).


Prof Judy TSUI LAM Sin-lai

Prof Judy TSUI LAM Sin-lai
(Appointed on 1 January 2008)

Vice President (International and Executive Education), 
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Professor Tsui is concurrently Director of Graduate School of Business and Chair Professor of Accounting at PolyU. She holds positions as Honorary Professor and Visiting Professor at several top mainland universities, and is the first professor in accounting to be awarded the Cheung Kong Chair Professorship by the Ministry of Education in the Mainland China. She has also been appointed Visiting Scholar at MIT's Sloan School of Management in the US. She served on the Council of PolyU (2005, 2007-2010) and the Council of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (2000-2004), and is a member of the Research Grants Council.


Prof WONG Yuk-shan, PhD, FSB, FHKIS, BBS, JP

Prof WONG Yuk-shan, PhD, FSB, FHKIS, BBS, JP
(Appointed on 1 April 2005)

Vice-President for Administration and Business, and Professor of Biology,
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Professor Wong is the President of the Society of Hong Kong Scholars and an Executive Board Member of the Hong Kong Institution of Science. In 1990, he joined HKUST as a founding faculty member of Biology and later took office as Associate Vice President for Research and Development in 1997. He was the Chairman of the Curriculum Development Council (2000-2006), a Member of the Education Commission, HKSAR Government (2000-2006), and a Member of the Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation (2003-2007). He is also a Deputy of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China.


Prof YEOH Eng-kiong, GBS, JP

Prof YEOH Eng-kiong, GBS, JP
(Appointed on 1 April 2006)

Professor of Public Health, School of Public Health and Primary Care, 
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Professor Yeoh is the Head of Division of Health System, Policy and Management at the School of Public Health and Primary Care of CUHK. His research is in health systems, services and policy with an interest in applying systems thinking. Professor Yeoh also works collaboratively with the Association of Pacific Rim Universities World Institute, the Asia Network for Capacity Building in Health Systems Strengthening, and the World Bank Institute in international studies on health systems and policy. He was the former Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food of the HKSAR Government (2002-2004), Head of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority (1990-1999).

 Overseas members


Prof CHUNG Yip-wah, BBS

Prof CHUNG Yip-wah, BBS
(Appointed on 1 January 2008)

Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, U.S.

Professor Chung is a Fellow of the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers, AVS and ASM International. He is currently Director of the NSF Summer Institute on Nanomechanics, Nanomaterials, and Micro/Nanomanufacturing. He was the Director of NSF Center for Engineering Tribology (1987-1992), AVS Board of Directors (1998-1999), Chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University (1992-1998) and Chair of AVS Advanced Surface Engineering Division (2004). He served as NSF Program Officer in Surface Engineering and Materials Design from 2003 to 2005. He was a Member of the Research Grants Council from 1993 to 2005.


Prof Glyn DAVIS, AC

Prof Glyn DAVIS, AC
(Appointed on 1 January 2008)

Vice-Chancellor,
The University of Melbourne (UoM), Australia

Professor Davis has been the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UoM since 2005. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia and a Companion in the Order of Australia. Professor Davis previously held a number of leadership positions in the Queensland public sector, and served as Vice-Chancellor of Griffith University. He was the Foundation Chair (2002) of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government, headquartered at the University of Melbourne, and serves on a range of boards, including the Grattan Institute and Universitas 21.


Prof David EASTWOOD

Prof David EASTWOOD
(Appointed on 1 January 2011)

Vice-Chancellor,
University of Birmingham, UK

Professor Eastwood is the Chair of the University and College Admissions Service and a Director of the Universities Superannuation Scheme. Between 2006-2009 he was Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England; prior to that he was Fellow and Senior Tutor of Pembroke College, Oxford; Professor and Pro- Vice Chancellor at the University of Swansea; Chief Executive of the Arts and Humanities Research Board; and Vice Chancellor of the University of East Anglia. A modern historian, he was Literary Director of the Royal Historical Society (1994-2000). Professor Eastwood has served on numerous national bodies, including the Quality Assurance Agency, the Tomlinson Review of 14-19
Qualification, the Westminster Education Commission, and the Browne Review of University Fees and Funding in 2008-2009.



Prof Willard FEE

Prof Willard FEE
(Appointed on 1 January 2007)

Edward C and Amy H Sewall Professor of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University Medical Centre, U.S.

Professor Fee joined the Stanford faculty in 1974 and was named Chairman in 1980. He was appointed the Edward C and Amy H Sewall Professor in Otorhinolaryngology in 1995. He was the President of California Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery Society (1995-1999), the American Society for Head and Neck Surgery (1989-1990), and Director of the American Board of Otolaryngology from 1985-2003. He has also serves on the editorial board of many national and international medical journals, such as the Hong Kong Medical Journal and Annals of the College of Surgeons of Hong Kong.


Prof Malcolm GRANT, CBE

Prof Malcolm GRANT, CBE
(Appointed on 1 April 2007)

President and Provost,
University College London, UK

Professor Grant is a barrister and environmental lawyer, and Bencher of Middle Temple. He is a member of the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the Economic and Social Science Research Council. He is also a Governor of the London Business School and the Ditchley Foundation. He was appointed by the Prime Minister in 2008 as a UK Business Ambassador. He has also served as Chairman of the Russell Group of the UK's research-intensive universities, the Local Government Commission for England, the UK Agriculture and Biotechnology Commission and the Standards Committee of the Greater London Authority.


Prof William KIRBY

Prof William KIRBY
(Appointed on 1 August 2009)

T M Chang Professor of China Studies and Spangler Family Professor of Business Administration, Harvard University, U.S.

Professor Kirby is a Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor. He serves as the Director of the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies and Chairman of the Harvard China Fund. He is the Honorary Visiting Professor at Peking University, Nanjing University, Chongqing University and Fudan University. He has also held appointments as Visiting Professor at the University of Heidelberg and the Free University of Berlin. Before joining Harvard in 1992, he was Professor of History, Director of Asian Studies, and Dean of University College at Washington University in St. Louis. At Harvard, he has served as Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (2002-2006).


Sir Colin LUCAS

Sir Colin LUCAS
(Appointed on 1 April 2003)

Chairman, 
The British Library, UK

Sir Colin was Professor of History (1990-1994) and then Dean of the Division of the Social Sciences (1993-1994) at the University of Chicago, Master of Balliol College, Oxford (1994-2001) and the Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Oxford (1995-1997). In 2001 he became the first non-US trustee of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. He also held visiting faculty positions at the Indiana University, U.S. (1969-1970), University of Lyon-Lumiere, France (1977-1978) and Cornell University, U.S. (1989). Sir Colin has also served as the Warden of Rhodes House, Oxford (2004-2009) and the Chairman of the British Library (2006-2010). Currently, he is a Member of the Quality Assurance Council.


Prof John NILAND, AC

Prof John NILAND, AC
(
Appointed on 1 April 2003)

President Emeritus,
University of New South Wales, Australia

Professor Niland is the Chairman of Campus Living Villages and is an Independent Director of Macquarie Bank and Macquarie Group Limited. He is also the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Singapore Management University. He served ten years as Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of New South Wales (1992-2002). He has been the President of the Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee (1998-1999) and was a founding member of Universitas 21 (1997) and Australia's Group of Eight research universities (1999). He served a term as President of the International Industrial Relations Association (1989-1992) and was President of the National Trust of Australia (2006-2007).


Prof Mark WAINWRIGHT

Prof Mark WAINWRIGHT
(Appointed on 1 January 2011)

Former Vice-Chancellor and President,
University of New South Wales,

Professor Wainwright is an Honorary Visiting Professor at the University of New South Wales following his retirement from the position of Vice-Chancellor and President of the same university (2004-2006). He currently holds a number of positions in the research and higher education sectors in Australia, including the Chairmanships of the Smart Services Cooperat ive Research Centre, the National Computational Infrastructure Steering Committee at the Australian National University, Intersect Australia Limited and the Higher Education Governing Council of the Technical and Further Education New South Wales. He has also chaired the Australia-China Council since 2006.


Prof YANG Fujia

Prof YANG Fujia
(
Appointed on 1 August 2009)

Chancellor, The University of Nottingham, UK
President, University of Nottingham, Ningbo, China
Vice Chairman, Chinese Association for Science and Technology

Professor Yang is an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is a nuclear physicist and holds visiting professorships at The Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen, Rutgers University in the U.S, the State University of New York in the U.S., and the University of Tokyo. He was the Director of the Shanghai Nuclear Research Institute under Chinese Academy of Science (1987-2001), Chairman of Shanghai Science & Technology Union (1992-1996) and the President of Fudan University (1993-1999). He served as the executive director of the Union of International University Presidents (1996-2003).


Prof YUAN Ming

Prof YUAN Ming
(Appointed on 1 April 2008)

Director of American Studies, 
Peking University, China

Professor Yuan is the Director of the American Studies Center of Peking University. She is also a Member of the Committee of Foreign Relations of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. She was a visiting scholar at University of California Berkeley (1983-1985), a Senior Associate Member at the St. Anthony's College, Oxford (1989-1990) and the Trustee of the Asia Society in New York (1998-2004). In 2007, she was recommended by the Chinese government to join the Board of the United Nations Foundation.

Ex-officio Member: Chairman of the Quality Assurance Council


Mr Philip CHEN Nan-lok, SBS, JP

Mr Philip CHEN Nan-lok, SBS, JP
(Appointed on 1 April 2004)

Managing Director, 
Hang Lung Group Limited and Hang Lung Properties Limited Hong Kong

Mr Chen was the former Chairman of John Swire & Sons (China) Limited and the Chief Executive of Cathay Pacific Airways Limited. He plays an active role in public services. He also serves as a Member of the Advisory Council of the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Trustee of Friends of Tsinghua University Law School Charitable Trust. He was a Council Member of the HKIEd (1996-2002) and HKUST (1996-2001), and the Vice Chairman of the Council of HKUST (2001-2004).

Secretary-General


Mr Michael V STONE, JP

Mr Michael V STONE, JP
(
Appointed since August 2003)

Mr Stone has extensive administrative experience and wide exposure during his civil service career as an Administrative Officer. Before joining the UGC, Mr Stone served in various government offices, including senior postings as Deputy Secretary for the Civil Service, Deputy Representative of the HKSAR to the World Trade Organisation and the E-government Coordinator in the Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau.

 

Copyright © 2011 University Grants Committee. All rights reserved.
Last Revision Date: 1 June 2011