UK academic has qualities to meet HKU challenge

The appointment of British academic Peter Mathieson as the next vice-chancellor of University of Hong Kong (HKU) continues to draw criticism. Leading academics at the university have challenged his credentials, and his limited understanding of the region and Chinese culture.

Professor Mathieson, the dean of University of Bristol's faculty of medicine and dentistry, has had his academic standing and research output questioned. But reputation and accomplishments are sometimes hard to compare.

To some, he may seem an inferior replacement for Professor Tsui Lap-chee, the outgoing vice-chancellor who led the genetics and genome biology research programme at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto before taking the helm at HKU in 2002.

Tsui was not a seasoned university administrator. He was reportedly offered the job after the two other candidates, including HIV/Aids researcher David Ho Dai-I, turned down the role. Tsui attracted international attention partly because genome research was an exciting, up-and-coming branch of science.

Mathieson's résumé reveals his solid standing as a scientist and nephrologist, especially in the field of autoimmune renal diseases. The barrage of criticism from what may be a tiny group of dissenters within the HKU community should not be allowed to overshadow the 54-year-old's achievements.

He has raised £6,830,949 (HK$84.8 million) for research from reputable sources, including Britain's Medical Research Council, the Wellcome Trust, Kidney Research UK and the European Commission.

His influence extends across Britain after serving as president of the Renal Association from 2007 to 2010. Since last year he has been chairman of the Wellcome Trust-backed INSPIRE scheme, an initiative of the Academy of Medical Sciences to engage medical and dental students in research.