The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) held an appreciation luncheon at Hotel ICON on 24 April 2017 to express its gratitude to Mr Yau Kwok-fai, Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Vantage International (Holdings) Limited, for establishing an endowed professorship in smart structures. The appointee of the professorship is Ir Prof. Xu You-lin, Dean of the Faulty of Construction and Environment and Chair Professor of Structural Engineering of PolyU.
Mr Yau is a graduate of the then Hong Kong Polytechnic, a predecessor of PolyU. He has been a keen supporter of the development of his alma mater. Previously in 2016, in the capacity of Director of Vantage Charity Foundation, Mr Yau facilitated and supported the establishment of the Endowed Professorship in Sustainable Structures and Materials and named it after his former teacher Ir Prof. Ko Jan Ming, Emeritus Professor of Faculty of Construction and Environment. This year, Mr Yau made another donation, this time on his own behalf, for the setting up of another endowed professorship and named it after his four teachers Mr Yim Kwong-yung, Ms Mak Suk-hing, Mr Kwok Hei-leung and Ms Chung Wai-fan from the Kwun Tong Government Secondary Technical School. With the setting up of these endowed professorships, Mr Yau wishes to honour the teachers’ selfless dedication to their students and their great contributions to society.
Yim, Mak, Kwok & Chung Endowed Professorship in Smart Structures is the 16th endowed professorship established by PolyU since the launch of the Endowed Professorship Scheme in 2012, it is also the first endowed professorship set up by an alumnus. This professorship symbolizes a great encouragement to the staff and students of PolyU. It will also play a significant role in advancing the University’s research in structural engineering.
articipants of the luncheon included (from the left) PolyU Deputy President and Provost Prof. Philip Chan, Mr Kwok Hei-leung, Ms Mak Suk-hing, Mr Yau Kwok-fai, PolyU President Prof. Timothy W. Tong, Mr Yim Kwong-yung, Ir Prof. Ko Jan Ming and Ir Prof. Xu You-lin.
The Endowed Professorship Scheme is an initiative of PolyU to honour distinguished scholars for their outstanding academic and research achievements. The Scheme provides philanthropists with the unique opportunity to partner with the University to advance research and academic activities of a discipline of their choice for the benefits of the wider community. For more information of the Scheme, please visit the designated website here.
