University of Hong Kong eyes swapping out elected student, faculty members with appointees on dean search committees

  • The proposal comes on the heels of resistance over the appointment of two new vice-presidents with ties to a mainland university
  • Staff, student feedback would no longer be required should the changes go through, while five-year terms for dean would now be ‘up to five years’

Members of the HKU student union present a petition against the hiring of two new vice-presidents with ties to mainland universities. Photo: Dickson Lee

The University of Hong Kong has proposed removing the elected members of committees tasked with selecting faculty deans, drawing criticism from staff and students who see an attempt to centralise power with the school’s management.

The proposal was on the agenda of Tuesday’s university governing council meeting, where members endorsed the appointment of two new vice-presidents despite concerns registered by staff, students and alumni over the Tsinghua University professors’ background and connections.
Print option is available for subscribers only.
SUBSCRIBE NOW
Copyright © 2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.