The next leader of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) must have a fresh mindset, as someone who has spent a decade in the role may struggle to drive change, an insider has told the South China Morning Post, adding that the university is weighing whether to take part in the Northern Metropolis megaproject.
The source, a senior leader at HKU, said the next president and vice-chancellor would also need to know how to deploy technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to help run the university.
The insider also said HKU needed to market itself more effectively around innovation and Nobel laureates, as Hong Kong pushes ahead with its ambition to create a university town for talent in the Northern Metropolis in the New Territories.
“Mentality matters. The new president will have to bring a new mentality to the university,” the insider said.
Incumbent Xiang Zhang is not renewing his five-year contract as president and vice-chancellor when it expires in two years.