Remarks by Professor Paul C W Chu
¡@¡@First of all, let me say a big thank-you to everyone who contributed to the formation of the Centre. In particular let me thank Alice for being such a strong advocate of deep collaboration and really urging us on towards this agreement. Her support has been invaluable. ¡@¡@I have every confidence that deeper collaboration between Hong Kong's finest universities has entered a new stage. Indeed, the Joint Centre represents a logical evolution in the friendly bonds that link our three great institutions. ¡@¡@I need hardly say that HKU and CU are both internationally renowned for the comprehensive education they have provided generations of Hong Kong students; while HKUST, the youngest sister, has already forged an outstanding reputation in disciplines including science, engineering and business. ¡@¡@Establishing the Centre therefore represents the convergence of an academic ethos shared by CU, HKU and HKUST. Let us recognize, and rejoice in the fact, that the Centre's future success will be built on a combination of cooperation and trust, as well as a healthy respect for the individual strengths and qualities that each of the sister institutions brings to this partnership. ¡@¡@By pooling our resources, it is our explicit intention that the Centre should enhance Hong Kong's capacity to provide some of the finest educational opportunities in the world. ¡@¡@With this goal in mind, we have decided that the Centre will begin by offering joint courses to our postgraduate students. ¡@¡@As you will be aware, we have already begun jointly teaching courses at postgraduate level, offering courses in physics, mathematics, and politics and public administration. ¡@¡@We appreciate that it is our combined strength in research that makes us natural partners, and the gains deriving from this joint teaching will be tremendous, especially for our students. ¡@¡@They will have increased choice in terms of the courses available for them to pursue; their exposure to a diverse group of faculty will ensure that they are being taught by a wider variety of Hong Kong's finest experts in their respective fields; and of course there is significant value to be gained as students from the three universities benefit from their interactions with one another. ¡@¡@Clearly academic efficiency, academic quality and academic dynamism all stand to benefit from this forward looking initiative, whose primary objectives, I cannot reiterate enough, are to provide the best possible education to our students, and to make Hong Kong even more renowned as a global centre for excellence. ¡@¡@With the goodwill that exists between the universities, and the team that we have in place, I have no doubt that the Joint Centre for Advanced Study will achieve all of its objectives, and more, with immense success. We will strive to make Hong Kong proud. ¡@¡@Thank you.
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