The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) could
become the model for a new Middle Eastern university opening next
year.
And thereby, it would receive US$25 million over five years, as
well as access to additional resources.
The new graduate-level research institute will be called the
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi
Arabia.
A group of Saudis have already visited HKUST and are reviewing
its proposal for collaboration, which they requested in their
global search for a partner institution.
The announcement was made at a media briefing yesterday by HKUST
President Paul Chu, who discussed his university's development
strategy.
One of the proposal terms was for the new university to
establish a research center in Hong Kong. That term passed the
Saudis' first round of scrutiny, and Chu said the second round
would take place next month, with a final decision being made in
May.
Chu added that the universities were also discussing
collaborating on two additional projects, but he declined to
disclose the details.
"Both universities are interested in technology transfers," Chu
said. "Saudi Arabia has a lot of resources, and I hope that the
Saudi university can sponsor some of our research projects."
Apart from collaborating with Saudi Arabia, HKUST also wants
strengthen its research capabilities through its Institute for
Advanced Study.
The institute has already invited eight renowned academics to
establish joint laboratories with the university. One of those
invited is 2004 Nobel Prize winner Aaron Ciechanovar.
Two of these academics will set up companies in which HKUST will
hold shares. One of the academics, Paul Schimmel from the Scripps
Research Institute in the United States, has already set up a
company called Pangu, which focuses on biotech research. Shuji
Nakamura, a 2006 Millennium Technology Prize winner, will soon set
up a company specializing in electronic and computer
engineering.
Chu urged the government to increase funding for university
education to enable schools to recruit more teachers and build
facilities for the new tertiary education system that will be
launched in 2012.
Under the new system, university education will be extended by
one year, meaning curriculums will have to be amended and more
space will be needed to hold additional students.
HKUST needs to spend more than HK$2 billion on building
facilities. The government gave the university about HK$700 million
for the buildings, but the university must find additional funding
on its own.
Chu said government funding for the buildings may increase by 15
percent, or about HK$105 million, since construction costs have
increased due to inflation.
(China Daily HK Edition?January 5, 2008)
