Press Release

HKBU appoints Professor Alexander Wai Ping-kong as new President and Vice-Chancellor

Wednesday, 22 Jul 2020

The Council of Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) announced today (22 July) the appointment of Professor Alexander Wai Ping-kong as the University's President and Vice-Chancellor for a five-year term with effect from 1 February 2021.

Professor Wai is an eminent leader in Hong Kong's higher education sector with distinguished academic accomplishments. He is currently the Deputy President and Provost of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). During his 24 years at PolyU, he has served in various university administration and leadership positions, from Head of Department and Dean of Faculty of Engineering to Associate Vice-President and Vice President (Research Development). He has served as Deputy President and Provost since March 2020.

Dr Clement Chen Cheng-jen, Chairman of the HKBU Council and the Search Committee, said: "We are delighted that Professor Wai will join HKBU. With his exemplary academic achievements, strong administrative leadership, and wealth of experience in higher education and international outreach, I am confident that he will be able to engage and energise the University community to further our mission, generate new ideas and take the University to the next level of excellence."

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank President Roland Chin for his formidable contributions to the long-term development of the University, and I am grateful that he has kindly agreed to stay on until the end of 2020 to continue leading the University closer to the onboarding time of Professor Wai," said Dr Chen.

Professor Wai received a bachelor's degree in Physics from The University of Hong Kong in 1981, followed by a master's degree and a doctoral degree in Physics from the University of Maryland in the USA in 1985 and 1988 respectively. He is an expert in the field of optical fibre communications with a rich array of impactful and patented research achievements. He was elected as a Fellow of the Optical Society of America in 2009, a Fellow of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (FHKIE) in 2010, a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in 2012, and a Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences in 2012. With the approval of the State Ministry of Science and Technology, he has been selected for the "National Science and Technology Programmes Expert Database" since 2012.

Professor Wai served as Chairman of the Society of Hong Kong Scholars between 2014 and 2018, and he was named President of Council of The Hong Kong Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology in 2014/15. He has served as a member of the Research Grants Council, and is currently a member of the University Grants Committee.

Professor Wai has great achievements in the higher education sector and several important research areas. His key research achievements in recent years include collaborating with internationally renowned partners in international and national High-Speed Rail projects, lunar space exploration, and building the Aviation Services Research Center to make Hong Kong an aviation maintenance hub. He also worked with the Royal College of Art to establish a laboratory for artificial intelligence in design under the InnoHK project.

Professor Wai is pleased to accept the appointment. "HKBU is at the forefront of liberal arts education with a strong commitment to nurturing creative and caring leaders for our community and the world. I am excited to join the HKBU family, and work hand in hand with students, teachers, colleagues, alumni, and other stakeholders to grow its academic and educational strengths, extend its tradition of excellence to a wider scope, and create impact through the generation of new knowledge and research."

President Roland Chin congratulated Professor Wai on his appointment. He said: "Professor Wai has outstanding academic achievements, and has made extensive contributions to the local higher education sector through his many years of service. I have full confidence that under his capable leadership, the University will continue to scale new heights."

HKBU set up a Search Committee for the role of President and Vice-Chancellor in December 2019. The University Council approved the Search Committee's recommendation of the appointment of Professor Wai at its meeting on 22 July, following seven consultation sessions for Professor Wai to meet students and other members of the University community.

-End-