Former dean Eric Chang talks about the early days of FBE

Professor Eric C. CHANG, former dean of FBE who recently retired, was a leading force behind the creation of the faculty. Looking back over his 20-year career at HKU, he talks about the challenges of building a new faculty and shares his thoughts on the challenges and opportunities ahead for FBE students.

20 years ago, when Professor Chang was invited to join the HKU family, the Faculty did not yet exist and HKU’s reputation for business studies was rather weak. At the time, he was working in the US as a professor at the DuPree College of Management of the Georgia Institute of Technology. He felt that Asia was becoming a major player in global business, and finally he decided to take the job.

“HKU did not have a faculty of business or faculty of economics, so I saw an opportunity to make a good contribution here,” he recalls.

It was a good decision, he says now. “I feel very lucky to be at HKU for these 20 years. It was the right place, at the right time, and with the right people.”

The faculty was formed in 2001 by the amalgamation of the School of Business and the School of Economics and Finance, a feat Professor Chang attributes to the man who had hired him, Professor Richard Wong, the founding dean of FBE.

“I’m grateful for the many talented people I had the opportunity to work with,” says Professor Chang. “The two schools became one faculty. It was not easy, but Professor Wong made it happen.”

The new faculty aimed to emulate about 80 percent of the US business school model, which was considered far more advanced than the UK equivalent, while keeping the British essence to create a unique Faculty of Business and Economics at HKU.

“I think we’ve largely achieved the 80 percent, but there is always room for improvement,” Professor Chang says.

One of the most difficult and key challenges has been finding a balance between research and teaching requirements. He felt that focusing on quality of research output rather than quantity was essential to building the faculty’s reputation, though that was at odds with the university’s practice. He also fought for better pay, a more supportive research environment, and fewer teaching hours.

For the future, Hong Kong needs to maintain its strengths in the rule of law and global-mindedness. But with the fast-changing world environment and the US-China trade war casting a long shadow, FBE students will also need to develop a specialisation in their business studies, such as cultivating a deep understanding of China.

Critical thinking skills can also give students an edge and help them develop logical analytical abilities that can be adapted to changing situations.

Lifelong learning is essential, he says. “The world is changing so rapidly. The knowledge you learn here in eight to 10 years is totally out of date. You have to keep learning.”

Professor Chang intends to follow this advice himself during retirement, along with occasional teaching, spending more time with his family and working with his church.

“I also need to keep self-learning and creative thinking to offer some insights to people. I value some education opportunities that I still face.”
 

farewell

 Dean Prof. Hongbin CAI (left) presents a souvenir to Prof. Eric CHANG at a farewell party.
Other Events
恭喜賈鶴教授榮獲2024-25年度「學院傑出研究學者獎」
2025 | 學院成就
恭喜賈鶴教授榮獲2024-25年度「學院傑出研究學者獎」
恭喜賈鶴教授榮獲2024-25年度「學院傑出研究學者獎」!賈教授是主要從事數位平台中的視覺行銷和促銷設計等領域的經濟學家。現任香港大學經濟學副教授,過去五年,賈鶴教授已有四篇高水準研究獲刊登於國際頂尖學術期刊,成就備受肯定。
港大經管學院領袖企業家講壇系列2025年第三講 – 通用人工智能的技術發展和典型應用
2025 | 教與學
港大經管學院領袖企業家講壇系列2025年第三講 – 通用人工智能的技術發展和典型應用
港大經管學院榮幸邀請到科大訊飛股份有限公司董事長劉慶峰教授,擔任2025527日舉行的港大經管學院領袖企業家講壇系列 2025- 」主講嘉賓,與港大經管學院經濟學實務教授毛振華教授進行一場深入且充滿啟發性的對話。兩位圍繞「通用人工智能的技術發展和典型應用」主題,探討人工智能在全球科技博弈中的關鍵角色,剖析認知大模型的演進歷程和通用大模型基礎的最新突破,並分析當前人工智能產業的發展趨勢,為與會者帶來前沿視角與深刻的商業洞見,激發對科技創新與產業轉型的深思。