12/12/2006
Donation Spurs Research and Teaching Excellence at HKUST
The Synergis-Geoffrey YEH Chair Professorship was inaugurated today (12 December 2006) at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) with a $5 million donation jointly from Dr M T Geoffrey Yeh, Chairman of Hsin Chong International Holdings Ltd, and Synergis Holdings Ltd (a Hsin Chong Group Company).
A generous donation of 5 million was presented to UST (from left: Dr John Chan, Prof Chia-Wei Woo, Dr Geoffrey Yeh and President Chu)
Prof Gary Biddle expressed thanks to the donors during the Inauguration Ceremony
Speaking at the Inauguration Ceremony held today, HKUST Council Chairman Dr John C C Chan and President Paul C W Chu expressed gratitude to the donors for their generosity.
"This generous donation gives added momentum to drive research and teaching excellence at the School of Business and Management," President Chu said.
The Chair Professorship is established to attract or retain outstanding, internationally renowned scholars for the School of Business and Management at HKUST, and also represents a new chapter in academic and research development because the named Professors can use the funding provided by their chairs to enhance the quality and quantity of their research and teaching activities.
Dr Geoffrey Yeh said: "the success of the business school at HKUST within a short span of time is unparalleled in the history of higher education. We are pleased to have this opportunity to establish a chair professorship that would benefit students, the school and the university at large."
The first appointee to the Chair Professorship is Prof Gary C Biddle of the Department of Accounting.
"This chair commemorates the generosity of the donors, their ideals and their commitment to educational excellence," Prof
Biddle said, adding that he would use the resources provided to further his advance research and teaching, and to support a graduate student in developing into a future accounting scholar and teacher.
"In this way, the donors' generosity will touch and influence generations of students, scholars and teachers," Prof Biddle said.
The cheque for $5 million was presented to Dr John Chan and President Chu by Dr Geoffrey Yeh and Chairman of Synergis Holdings Ltd Prof Chia-Wei Woo.
About Prof Gary C Biddle
Prof Gary C Biddle is the Head of Department of Accounting and Associate Dean of Business and Management.
He is a leading expert in financial and management accounting, having published more than two-dozen articles in premier research journals and the financial press on topics including management accounting, inventory management and cost allocations etc.
Under his leadership, the School's Accounting faculty has been ranked among the top ten in the world in publications in the top-three academic journals in five of the past six years, a record exceeded by no other school and tied by only one, University of Chicago.
Luk Kam Wing Tel:2358-6306 email: kluk@ust.hk
more news and information about HKUST
