HKU Business School, together with The HKU Business School Alumni Association and HKU iCube, was pleased and honored to host the distinguished Dr. Weijian Shan for a captivating “Meet the Author” book talk on the evening of December 1. Dr. Shan discussed his latest book, “Money Machine – A Trailblazing American Venture in China”, which provides an intriguing insider’s perspective on one of the most significant private equity deals in the industry’s history: the first and only foreign acquisition of a Chinese national bank. His other well-received previous books include “Out of Gobi: My Story of China and America” and “Money Games: The Inside Story of How American Dealmakers Saved Korea’s Most Iconic Bank”. Dr. Shan, who transformed from a barefoot doctor in the Gobi during the Cultural Revolution to a world-leading private equity titan, delivered an enlightening presentation. He was also a former professor at the Wharton School. The event also featured a captivating fireside chat moderated by our Dean, Professor Cai Hongbin. It was particularly exciting to see the attendance of numerous Wharton alumni, who had the opportunity to connect with our own students and graduates. Will this be Dr. Shan’s final book? We surely hope not and eagerly await to hear what’s in store for Dr. Shan’s next chapter. We express our gratitude for the support from the Wharton Club of Hong Kong.
Delivering quality education to nurture future leaders is an integral part of the Faculty’s mission. Every year, the Faculty recognises teachers with outstanding achievements and significant contributions in teaching and student learning through the Faculty Teaching Award Scheme. The award-winners for the academic year 2022-23 are:
Faculty Outstanding Teacher Award (Undergraduate Teaching)
“Every student is a distinctive individual learner. They have their own strengths and needs in their learning journey. I do my best to recognize individual students and understand their individual learning progress and needs. A good understanding about individual students is the basic for a teacher to effectively provide appropriate personalized support and encouragement to individual students to enhance their learning interests and commitment. Building relationships with students based on good understanding, mutual respect and trust are the foundation for me to develop an effective teaching and learning environment to guide my students to experience their rewarding learning journeys.”
“I am grateful to receive the Faculty Outstanding Teaching Award for Undergraduate Teaching this year. As someone who has benefited from the transformative power of education and experienced diverse classrooms across different institutions, I have a strong commitment to facilitating equally transformative learning experiences for my students. In teaching Principles of Management, I strive to integrate science-based insights that both build upon and challenge conventional wisdom. I enjoy translating academic research to resonate with a business-minded audience and have found that incorporating real-world business scenarios and cases encourages students to think critically and move beyond the seemingly “obvious” takeaways.”
“Teaching remains an immense privilege in my life. Though active learning and authentic student engagement are a core aspect of my teaching practice, recent events ranging from pandemic to economic volatility to armed conflict have reinforced to me the important project we are all engaged in at educational institutions. Through the informational, and more importantly, the transformational learning that occurs in our classrooms and on our campus, we are preparing our students to navigate and lead amidst the uncertainty that they will likely encounter. This profound responsibility requires us to foster connectedness and meaning in our learning spaces. This is the challenge and the hope of what we do as teachers.”
“I am honoured to receive the Faculty Outstanding Teacher Award (Undergraduate Teaching) again for the academic year 2022/23. This is the second time that I have received this accolade from HKU, and I am grateful for the Faculty’s continual recognition of my dedication to and enthusiasm for teachings.
It has been my privilege to teach and share my experience with my students who are from the top business programmes in Hong Kong. Working in academia for almost 30 years, it has always been rewarding and motivating to witness my students to grow and succeed in the legal, business, accounting and other industries. I will adhere to my teaching philosophy and continue with my quality teachings.”
Faculty Outstanding Teacher Award (Postgraduate Teaching)
“Teaching has been an immensely rewarding experience. I believe that every student is a capable learner; my role is to spark their curiosity. I engage students in role-play activities and group projects that simulate complex business challenges. This learner-centered teaching approach empowers students to benefit from one another’s experiences and areas of expertise. I am honored to receive the Faculty Outstanding Teacher Award, which reflects the collective efforts of our dedicated students and supportive colleagues, and I am committed to working alongside them to continually improve students’ learning outcomes.”
“Teaching excellence, to me, is a journey of dedication to students’ growth. By fostering a student-centered environment and embracing experiential learning, I aim to empower my students with skills and real-world cases. The invaluable feedback from my students not only fuels my commitment but also highlights the impact of a relaxed yet engaging teaching style. With a focus on patience and attentiveness, I strive to create a supportive atmosphere. This award reflects the collective efforts of students, mentors, and peers who have shaped my teaching philosophy. I am deeply honored to be recognized and am excited to continue on this journey.”
“I am honored to have been awarded the Teaching Excellence Award. My approach to teaching excellence, particularly in Master of Accounting courses, centers around connecting theoretical concepts with practical scenarios. Given that many master’s students lack working experience, I have found that using examples from HKU operations proves particularly effective. For instance, I illustrate resource allocation issues by optimizing the use of classroom resources, and I address goal congruence issues by reconciling program-level goals with school-level goals. When discussing the design of transfer pricing mechanisms within the organization, I utilize a similar scenario of cross-program course enrollment schemes to explain how accounting students’ selection of elective courses offered by other programs impacts internal transfer pricing within our HKU Business School. By leveraging practical examples and scenarios, I aim to equip students with the skills and insights necessary for their future careers in accounting. I firmly believe that by mapping course content to real-world incentive issues, students can better understand the relevance and applicability of their learning.”
“It has been a great honor to receive the award, and I want to express my gratitude to my students for their kind words in the teaching evaluation. I would also like to extend thanks to my colleagues for their shared teaching experiences, and to my teaching assistants and HKU staffs for their dedicated support in ensuring the smooth delivery of the courses. Teaching at HKU has helped me learnt to improve my teaching effectiveness, communication skills and student engagement ability. I hope to continue equipping students with the knowledge and tools they need, who will become future leaders of important institutions worldwide.”
“As a trained educator in the Information Systems discipline, I am a staunch advocate for technology-driven teaching approaches. By utilizing effective tools such as Microsoft Forms, Google Jamboard, and ChatGPT, we can encourage students from diverse backgrounds to engage in class activities, foster various types of interactions, and greatly address fairness concerns. Each course presents its own unique challenges, but embracing innovation and customizing our approach can play a crucial role in overcoming these obstacles and enhancing the overall learning experience.”
“It is my honor to receive this year’s Faculty Special Contribution Teaching Award. As a finance industry practitioner becoming a Professor of Practice, my competence is the knowledge of the industry. My students heard me say: “I don’t want to be just your teacher as you will forget everything I taught as soon as you walk out of the examination hall, but I like to be your coach and your mentor to help you navigate through your journey.”
Yes, we need to be “academic” as we are a university, but we equally need to prepare our students to be ready. It is my goal to equip them to know what they want, to equip them to know what the industry wants and connect them to the industry.
I have witnessed three batches of AMPB graduates seeing their growth and their change over the years from a freshman to where they land on their first job. This is the best reward and award for me.”
AMPB provides students with opportunities to meet senior practitioners from the industry. AMPB held two events in the first semester 2023-2024.
Meeting with the Head of Institutional Sales at FIDELITY
On 31st October, we had the privilege of hosting Ms. Stella Xu, Head of China Institutional Sales and Ms. Alice Wong, Client Director of Institutional Sales at Fidelity.
(From left) Ms. Alice Wong of Fidelity; Prof. Anna Wong of HKU; Ms. Stella Xu of Fidelity
Ms. Xu shared her journey, emphasizing that the starting point of one’s career doesn’t necessarily determine where you settle. Her personal experience serves as a powerful reminder that, with the right attitude, dedication and commitment, it is possible to ascend the career ladder regardless of where one starts.
Ms. Wong, on the other hand, shared a compelling story from her early career days stating how she get her boss’ trust. She highlighted that diligence, persistence and work ethics are important as you grow in your career.
Meeting with the Head of Listed Structured Products at JP MORGAN
On 29th November, Mr. Cedric Cheung, Managing Director and Head of Listed Structured Products Sales for Asia at J.P. Morgan joined us at the second Meeting the Practitioners Series.
(Left) Mr. Cedric Cheung of J.P. Morgan
Mr. Cheung is an outstanding HKU FBE alumnus. He shared with us what is listed warrants and JPM’s positioning in the market. He emphasized the importance of staying informed about the industry, developing a strong network and continuously improving one’s skills. The discussion was very interactive with our students asking thought-provoking questions.
Students at both sessions have learnt a lot from the senior executives. Stay tuned for the next round of Meeting the Practitioners Series in the second semester.
On 24 November 2023, the HKU Business School held its Inaugural ESG Conference, setting the stage for impactful discussions on cutting-edge research findings and recommendations for pressing environmental and social challenges.
It was a remarkable gathering of 75 brilliant academics, including faculty members and PhD students from a range of disciplines such as Accounting, Economics, Finance, IMM, Management, and Marketing, making it a truly interdisciplinary event.
Some of the thought-provoking topics covered included the use of AI as a teaching tool to bridge the gender inequality gap, the impact of institutional investors’ selection of green stocks on portfolio risk and diversification, and the effectiveness of incorporating environmental factors in management compensation to encourage “greener” behaviour.
Thanks to the organizers of this event, Prof. Roni Michaely, Prof. Shipeng Yan, and Prof. Guojun He, as well as all the incredible speakers and attendees, who voluntarily dedicated a whole day to academic discussion and the exchange of knowledge, their contributions have played an integral role in the success of the ESG research and made the event truly inspiring and insightful.
Congratulations to HKU-Fudan IMBA programme for achieving 25 years of academic excellence!
An anniversary celebration was held in HKU campus, with the aim to thank all parties for their support of the programme and to welcome 210 students who joined the IMBA program in 2023. Two main founders of the programme, Professor Y.C. Richard Wong, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and Professor Lipeng Wu delivered speeches at the ceremony. Over the past 25 years, the academic and management staff of HKU Business School and Fudan University School of Management have made significant contributions to the quality of course teaching and operations. Meanwhile, the IMBA alumni have actively provided feedback on the course, which greatly benefits the long-term development of the program.
In collaboration with Fudan University, the top-ranked international programme has empowered nearly 6,000 aspiring business leaders over the years. Proud of our achievements, we look forward to nurturing more game-changers and sparking positive impacts in the evolving business world.
Guests launching the 25th Anniversary celebration ceremony of HKU-Fudan IMBA programme
Prof. Y.C. Richard WONG, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Chair of Economics Director, and founder of the programme, delivered speech
Prof. Lipeng Wu, advisor of Fudan University School of Management and founder of the programme, delivered speech
Prof. Hongbin Cai, Dean, Chair of Economics and Director of Institute of China Economy, delivered speech
Prof. Xiongwen Lu, Dean of Fudan University School of Management delivered speech
Mr. DAI Liu, member of Standing Committee of the 15th Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress, member of the the Finance and Economy Committee, IMBA programme alumni
Ms. Isabella Wong, Associate Vice President (China Affairs) of HKU
Prof. Eric C. Chang, Emeritus Professor and Honorary Professor of HKU Business School
Prof. Yimin Sun, Associate Dean of Fudan University School of Management
Prof. Haipeng Shen, Associate Dean of HKU Business School
Prof. Zhiwen Yin, Associate Dean of Fudan University School of Management
The Centre for Quantitative History of HKU Business School hosted a two-day conference on October 25-26, 2023, showcasing the latest quantitative history (QH) research carried out under the Areas of Excellence (AoE) Scheme funded by the Research Grants Council. This scheme aims to increase research collaboration. The conference brought together over 60 attendees from Asia, Europe, and North America to explore the latest trends and ideas in quantitative history on the HKU campus. It focused on four theme clusters that examined key dimensions of how China and Hong Kong reached their current positions: 1) ancient roots, 2) culture, 3) state capacity & institutions, and 4) finance, trade & Hong Kong.
The conference featured 16 ongoing research projects from the project team members and their collaborators. These projects applied the quantitative history approach, utilizing large datasets constructed from historical archives and archaeological records to reconstruct trends, and patterns, and assess causal relationships.
The conference opened with the first theme, “Ancient Roots from Quantitative Perspectives.” During the presentation on war and technology, Professor Zhiwu Chen, the Director of the Centre for Quantitative History and the Project Coordinator of the AoE project, highlighted that China offered a longstanding puzzle to historians in that its society had produced an astonishing number of inventions – including printing, the blast furnace, and gunpowder – but had never exploited them to their full potential. The second theme, “Culture, Religion, and Long-Term Consequences,” explored natural and human-created disasters using meticulously collected data, for example, the China Government Employee Database – Qing Jinshenlu (CGED-Q JSL) datasets collected by Co-PI Professor Cameron Campbell and his team of HKUST.
On the second day of the conference, the focus shifted to the theme “State Capacity, Institutions, and Development,” which was highlighted by five paper presentations, further emphasizing its popularity in the research landscape. Notably, Co-PIProfessor Debin Ma of Oxford presented his 15-year research on a Millennium of Public Finance. The final theme, “Financial History, Trade, and the Rise of Hong Kong as a Financial Centre,” highlighted cutting-edge research in the field of quantitative history led by Co-PI Professor Chicheng Ma of HKU Business School. It is worth mentioning that all three papers in this cluster were either presented or co-authored by postgraduate research students, demonstrating the project team’s commitment to nurturing young scholars in this interdisciplinary research landscape. The conference also featured six research student presenters from HKU, HKUST, NUS, and Boston University.
The conference organizing committee was pleased to have four discussants join the team’s efforts to discuss the presented work. These included CQH Advisory Board member Professor Tetsuji Okazaki of the University of Tokyo, Professor Paul Seabright of the University of Toulouse, Professor Tuan-Hwee Sng of the National University of Singapore, and Professor Jin Li of HKU Business School. Their generous contributions and discussions were greatly appreciated by the team members and co-authors.
In the closing remarks, Professor Chicheng Ma, also the Associate Director of the Centre for Quantitative History, expressed gratitude to all the participating researchers for their support in strengthening interaction and collaboration in this ever-growing field. Co-PI Professor Cameron Campbell, Associate Dean of Humanities and Social Science at HKUST and the AoE-QH Team leader in external relations expressed delight, along with the team members, in the conference’s atmosphere, engagement, and presentations, ranking it among the top-tier workshops they have attended.
Stay tuned for upcoming AoE-QH events and activities in Hong Kong!
The two-day Area of Excellence-Quantitative History Conference 2023 gathered project team members (listed in alphabetical order): Zhiwu Chen (Project Coordinator), Jed O. Kaplan, Chen Lin, and Chicheng Ma from HKU; Ying Bai (CUHK); Cameron Campbell (HKUST); Zhan Lin (Renmin); William Guanglin Liu (Lingnan); and Debin Ma (Oxford), along with their collaborators, co-authors, invited discussants, and guests on the HKU campus.
Highlighting young scholar contributions: Three conference papers co-authored by postgraduates, with six student presenters from top universities.
Group Photo: Day 1 of the conference outside the historic May Hall
Group Photo: Taken before the conference participants headed off for the closing dinner.
Hi-res photos are available here “Day 1” and “Day 2”.
The Inauguration Ceremony of the HKU Business School Mentorship 2023-24 Programme was successfully held on 30 October 2023 at Loke Yew Hall. This year, 80 pairs of mentors and mentees have been matched. In addition, mentors and mentees from the Executive Mentorship Programme (EMP) hosted by the Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Finance Programme are also being invited to the ceremony and embark on the journey together.
Prof. Hongbin Cai, Dean of HKU Business School, kick-started the event with a welcoming remark to our mentors and mentees. He expressed gratitude to mentors for their unwavering support to the Faculty over the years and hoped mentees would make use of and benefit the most from the Programme in the next 12 months.
Three former mentees, Mr. Shawn Wat, BBA(Acc&Fin), Year 5, Ms. Yvette Yang; BEcon&Fin, Year 3 and Ms. Kelly Yiu, BBA(Law)&LLB, Year 3, shared how the mentoring experience empowers their personal and career development, they are reminded all new mentees shall be well-prepared, proactive, humble as well as genuine to their respective mentor.
As the youngest and most dynamic member of The University of Hong Kong, established for over 20 years, HKU Business School has significantly grown in faculty strength and research capability. The Faculty strives to be a leading, globally impactful academic institution of business and economics, providing opportunities for students to connect with the real business world. In today’s dynamic business landscape, there are new changes and challenges every day. The Mentorship Programme plays a vital role in shaping the younger generation’s future, offering invaluable opportunities for students to broaden their horizons and develop essential skills. Mentoring is a reciprocal relationship built on mutual trust, respect, and commitment. Through collective efforts, this experience will become both fruitful and rewarding. In particular, through the dedicated support of all professional and seasonal mentors, our mentors’ knowledge, insights, and guidance will be of immeasurable value to our students, enabling them to become more innovative, resilient and adaptable — the quality of future leaders.
Starting in 2010, Citi and the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) have jointly organised the Citi-HKCSS Community Intern Program. The program aims to inspire university students to contribute their knowledge and expertise to non-profit organisations through internships, ultimately cultivating their concept of Corporate Social Responsibility.
Since its establishment, the programme has collaborated with more than 400 NGO units and social enterprises, and it has nurtured over 900 undergraduate students through community internship experience. A Recognition Ceremony was held on 24 Oct 2023 to celebrate students’ success. At the ceremony, Mr. Ho Kai-ming, JP, Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare; Mr. Anson Kwok, Head of Commercial Bank, Citi Hong Kong; Mr. Chua Hoi Wai, Chief Executive of HKCSS and representatives from the partnering universities including Dr. Winnie S.C. Leung, our Assistant Dean (Undergraduate), encouraged students to continue promoting Corporate Social Responsibility in the future career.
Ms. Chan Wai Chin, Race (BBA, Year 3) got an internship at Make-A-Wish Hong Kong in summer 2023. Race was honoured to be selected as the recipient of the Grand Awards for Excellence.
Ms. Chan Wai Chin, Race (third left) received the Grand Awards for Excellence.
Ms. Chan Wai Chin, Race (left) shared her internship experience at the Recognition Ceremony.
Race reflected on the program experience and how it shaped her professional career path:
“Throughout the internship, I participated in event promotion for the NGO. It was an invaluable opportunity for me to take charge of a company’s social media account and be involved in impactful marketing campaigns. The experience was both challenging and rewarding, allowing me to gain practical skills and insights. It broadened my perspective on social responsibility and deepened my understanding of NGO operations. Collaborating with dedicated colleagues who prioritised providing exceptional services to social groups, rather than solely pursuing lucrative careers was truly inspiring. Despite the inherent resource limitations NGOs faced, their unwavering passion for helping those in need remained undiminished. This internship experience compelled me to reevaluate the true value of acquiring business knowledge in school. I realised that I could apply the knowledge gained and contribute to NGOs that make a tangible difference in society. Overall, this internship has been instrumental in shaping my professional aspirations and instilling in me a profound desire to be part of organisations that have a meaningful impact on the lives of those in need.”
The New Century Elite Development Programme 2023 hosted by the Kowloon Chamber of Commerce. The competition aimed to empower and connect future business leaders and facilitate networking opportunities for students in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. The final competition brought together students from prestigious institutions such as Cambridge, Imperial College London, CUHK GBUS, HKUST, and HKU.
This year, the competition topic is: The global expansion strategy and plan for Cosway from 2023 to 2033 – how to leverage social digitalization on the modernization of business expansion and networking.
The competition consisted of two rounds, where teams presented their ideas to a panel of judges, including the CEO of Cosway, and answered their questions. From the preliminary round, the top 10 teams were selected and then reconfigured through a lucky draw, resulting in the original HKU team being disbanded and reassigned to new teams with other participants for the final competition held in Malaysia.
Awardees: Mr. Li Chun Huen Edward, BBA(Law)&LLB, Year 2
Students Sharing:
“The New Century Elite Development Programme 2023 was incredibly eye-opening. I had the pleasure of working with stellar teammates and knowledgeable industry mentors, both of which contributed to our eventual success. I appreciated the rare opportunity to interact with the CEO of Cosway Malaysia and delve into the company’s vision prior to the competition. It was a truly unique learning experience, unlike any other competition I’ve been in.”
The Lazaridis International Case Conference (LazICC) 2023 was organised and hosted entirely by the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, Wilfrid Laurier University.
LazICC, is an annual business-technology themed case conference attracted teams from respected schools around the globe. LazICC aims to provide students with opportunities to learn from industry experts, compete with top international business schools, and network with professionals from innovative organizations. Teams will have the chance to gain a deeper understanding of how new technology influences businesses, showcase their business acumen and teamwork in case competitions, and participate in various networking events.
The competition consisted of a 5-hour and 24-hour case competition against some of the best schools in the world.
Ms. Li Sing Yee, BBA(IS), Year 4 Mr. Chan Wan Chit, BEcon&Fin, Year 3 Mr. Tsang Chun Wai, BBA(Law)&LLB, Year 5 Ms. Chan Chun Yan Natalie, BBA(Law)&LLB, Year 3
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Winnie Leung
Case Competition Coach: Ms. Pinto Rasika Tasdyata (Pipin)
Students Sharing:
“I am immensely thankful for another opportunity to represent HKU Business School in an international case competition. I must also express my gratitude to Dr. Winnie Leung and Pipin for their insightful feedback throughout the competition journey.
We had to solve a 5-hour and a 24-hour case, necessitating different approaches in terms of problem-solving, research and time allocation. Under the immense time constraint, we cooperated well and utilised our respective strengths. Both cases concerned the application of technologies in the financial services industry, with the 24-hour case also involving ESG. Hence, we needed to examine future trends to formulate innovative solutions, which was challenging but rewarding.
The competition also offered learning opportunities like Tech Talks, as well as various social events during which we bonded with bright competitors from all over the world.”
(ByTSANG Chun Wai Donald)
“Representing HKU Business School along with my 3 extremely bright teammates in LazICC 2023 was definitely one of the best times as a HKU student. Regardless of winning or losing, participating in LazICC was truly rewarding in terms of learning experience and friendship. I couldn’t have done it without our coach’s and advisor’s feedback and my teammates’ trust in my abilities. Best of all, I have developed lifelong friendships, and not for a single second do I regret participating in LazICC 2023.
Things I learned through preparing for and participating in LazICC 2023 include: financial modeling (which is important to show the feasibility of recommended strategies); thinking about strategies on a deeper level, e.g., unit economics, implementation, impact (as opposed to only on a high level).”
(ByCHAN Wan Chit Vinci)
“Participating in the LazICC 2023 and securing 2nd place was a transformative experience that left an indelible mark on my personal and professional growth. Throughout the competition, I had the privilege of working closely with a dedicated team. The complex business cases enabled our team to sharpen our analytical skills, while reinforcing the significance of time management and communication abilities.
The international aspect of the competition provided us with the unique opportunity to network with individuals from around the world. I am immensely thankful for our coach and faculty members who supported us along the way. I look forward to applying the valuable lessons learned to future endeavors, where innovative problem-solving and effective collaboration remain at the forefront of my approach to challenges in life.”
(ByCHAN Chun Yan Natalie)
“It is my honour to represent HKU Business School to join LazICC 2023. I would like to thank our coach, Pipin and my best teammates, Donald, Natalie and Vinci. Without them, it would be impossible to win the 2nd place. I am glad that HKU Business School gives me this chance to exchange ideas with other teams around the world and build friendships during various social events. The most unforgettable one is definitely the 24-hour case, in which we try to give creative and feasible solutions on sustainability. We tried very hard on research and financials to ensure we can impress the judges during the presentation. After this amazing experience, I will definitely do this again if I have a chance. The learning from all other competitors, the friendship built along and the social events I participated with people from different backgrounds are something I will remember forever.”
