Renowned scientist Professor Zhang Xiang named University of Hong Kong vice chancellor
Appointment comes amid numerous controversies at city’s oldest university
Renowned mainland-born scientist Professor Zhang Xiang was confirmed on Friday as the next vice chancellor of the University of Hong Kong despite concerns from students, staff and alumni about whether he would be able to defend the institution’s autonomy.
There is also no clarity about Zhang’s starting date, because he has to arrange supervision for postgraduate students at his current university.
Speaking to reporters after the institution’s governing council approved Zhang’s appointment, council chairman Arthur Li Kwok-cheung, also the chairman of the 11-member selection committee, said there was an overwhelming decision to select Zhang as the preferred candidate, over three other people.
Li said Zhang, currently a professor of mechanical engineering at University of California, Berkeley in the United States, had warmth, excellent academic standing and experience of managing 900 faculty members, making him suitable for the job.
But the university was still negotiating with the scholar on the starting date, with his contract set to run five years. Li said that Zhang had to make sure his postgraduate students were alright before he could leave his current workplace.
