Student Orientation welcomes new students
CityU ran a series of events last week to welcome the new batch of first-year students to campus. Under the theme "From Student to Professional", the new students were encouraged to study hard and aim to become ideal graduates and professionals. The highlights of the "Welcoming Ceremony of the Student Orientation 2006", which was held from 29 to 31 August, included talks by senior management on how students can make the most of their time at CityU, documentaries about CityU and the University's mission and vision, and interactive games designed to orient students to their new lives.

Creating a safer campus for learning
At its meeting on 1 September, the Management Board (MB) decided to take steps recommended by CityU's Safety Committee to tighten safety around campus and help create a better learning environment for students. These steps include amending the Safety Policy of CityU, issuing display posters promoting the safety policy to all Departments, Offices and Centres, and issuing certificates of appointment to departmental safety officers. In addition, the MB endorsed the Safety Committee's recommendation to include a representative from the postgraduate student community on the Safety Committee.

Strengthening academic exchanges
CityU recognizes the importance of establishing academic linkages with reputable institutions outside Hong Kong, and for this reason the Academic Exchange Fund (2nd Round Application 2006–2007) is available to support activities that will enhance or strengthen our outreach development efforts. This fund will provide full or partial subsidies, depending on the merits of the application and availability of funding resources, to successful applications for both incoming and outgoing exchange visits, programmes and activities. Priority will be given to exchange activities that focus on initial contacts or strengthen collaboration with institutions which have established academic exchange agreements with the University at an institutional level and/or those which have been recommended for development as long-term partner institutions. The deadline for applications through the External Liaison and Cooperation Office is 3 October.

International conference on scientific feng shui and built environment
A vital part of building and construction focuses on the harmony between human beings and our natural environment. This international conference builds on the success of last year's event and sees internationally distinguished environmental scientists, architects and feng shui researchers gather at CityU to share their knowledge and experience at the International Conference on Scientific Feng Shui and Built Environment from 5 to 6 October. The event is organized by the Asian Institute of Intelligent Buildings and the Building Services Operation and Maintenance Executives Society, and co-organized by CityU's Department of Building and Construction.

Acting Dean for FHS
Professor Martin Painter has been appointed Acting Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FHS) with effect from 1 September 2006 until further notice. Professor Painter received his PhD from the Australian National University and joined CityU in August 2001 as Professor in the Department of Public and Social Administration. The search process for the new Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences will be initiated after the start of the new semester.

Kudos
Professor Wang Huaiqing of the Department of Information Systems has been appointed Honorary Dean of the School of Information Engineering at Wuhan University of Technology in recognition of his research achievements in the area of intelligent information systems and their applications. Professor Wang will take up an advisory role in this appointment.

Dr Sidney Leung Chi-moon, Associate Professor in the Department of Accountancy, received the Best Paper Award in the corporate governance stream at the 2006 Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand Conference for his paper entitled "Strong investor protection and concentrated management ownership: Hong Kong evidence during the Asian financial crisis". The paper was co-authored by Professor Emeritus Bertrand Horwitz, School of Management, Binghamton University, State University of New York, US.

Mr Mohan Narasipuram, Associate Professor in the Department of Information Systems, has been honoured as a Distinguished Alumni at the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University College of Engineering in its diamond jubilee celebrations, held from 15 to 16 July in Hyderabad, India. Mr Narasipuram is one of 22 alumni selected from the last 60 years of graduates. The selection criteria include significant contributions to society, career success and overall commitment to the alma mater.

Art lecture
The Chinese Civilisation Centre is hosting a lecture entitled "The Art of Gao Made" to further explore the work of the celebrated artist Mr Gao Made, a largely self-taught painter who is influenced by the famous Chinese cartoonist Mr Ye Qianyu (1907–1995) and known as a cartoonist and illustrator of scenes from opera. The lecture takes place on 6 September and the exhibition, displaying more than 50 pieces of work by the artist, runs from 9 September to 30 October in the CityU Gallery. The opening ceremony is on 8 September.