HKU looking for president with ‘new mentality and clean slate’ to drive change

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 successor to incumbent Xiang Zhang – who has decided not to renew his five-year contract as president and vice-chancellor when it expires in 2028 – will need to know how to use technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to run the university.The insider also said HKU needs 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.