Campus Digest

School of Business confers Honorary Professorship on Mr James Tsien

14 Oct 2016

Professor Roland Chin (right) and Professor Edward Snape (left) confer an Honorary Professorship on Mr James Tsien Professor Roland Chin (right) and Professor Edward Snape (left) confer an Honorary Professorship on Mr James Tsien
Professor Roland Chin (right) and Professor Edward Snape (left) confer an Honorary Professorship on Mr James Tsien

 

The School of Business conferred an Honorary Professorship on Mr James Tsien, Independent Non-Executive Director of Bank of Shanghai (Hong Kong) Limited, at its Conferment of Honorary Professorship last Thursday (6 October). The honour was made in recognition of Mr Tsien’s outstanding contribution and accomplishments in the business sector.

In his introduction speech, Professor Edward Snape, Dean of the School of Business, thanked Mr Tsien for his deep and enduring commitment to the School, saying that he has fully exemplified whole person education. Professor Snape also commended Mr Tsien for his global vision, setting an outstanding model for graduates of HKBU. 

In his welcoming remarks, Professor Roland Chin, President and Vice-Chancellor said:  “Business schools worldwide are facing a highly competitive environment. To scale new heights, maintaining a good ‘ecosystem’ is essential for HKBU to recruit the best students. Having the support of well-connected industry veterans, like Mr Tsien, would ensure the smooth running of this ‘ecosystem’.”

Speaking on the occasion, Mr James Tsien shared with the audience how he gauged Hong Kong’s competitiveness. He cited the case of local container ports to illustrate key factors conducive to Hong Kong’s infrastructural development, and pointed out that as one of the pillar industries in the Hong Kong economy, the logistics industry is now facing the same problems the territory is facing: land shortage and rising labour costs.

Mr Tsien said that to stay competitive in the region and maintain its global ranking, Hong Kong really needs more land for development. He suggested that the Government could consider giving incentives to container port operators. To propel the growth of related industries, the Government could also invest in research and development in universities.

Mr Tsien graduated from the School of Business of HKBU in 1973. His connections to HKBU and his sustained contributions to the School of Business are wide ranging. From 2005 to 2011, he served the University in the capacity of Court member, prior to that he served as the Chairman of the School of Business Advisory Committee. In 2010, Mr Tsien was granted the title of Honorary University Fellow by HKBU.