Strategic Plan 2021—2025

Foreword by Vice-Chancellor and President I am proud and pleased to present to you the newfive- year Strategic Plan of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) for the 2021–2025 period, after extensive consultations with University stakeholders. Building on the strong foundation laid by the preceding Strategic Planwith many rising challenges and opportunities identified, ‘CUHK 2025’ charts out a refined roadmap that will guide us further to fulfill our vision and ambitions as we carry out the role of a civic university that contributes to Hong Kong, our country, the region and the rest of the world, and lead us to achieve ‘Excellence with Purpose and Responsibility’. ‘CUHK 2025’ was drafted amidst the aftermath of the social unrest that rocked Hong Kong in 2019 and the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic doldrums in 2020. While there is no silver bullet or magic wand to fix all the complex challenges, problems and pains that the University is facing, we hold the faith that ‘when the going gets tough, the tough gets going’, as much as we hold dear our founding mission, vision and shared values ​that have guided CUHK through for over half a century. This Strategic Planwas deliberated and drafted in a positive spirit that believes in and endeavours to achieve a better tomorrow. Recent challenges have illustrated the significant roles of universities, as institutions of higher learning and knowledge, for the incubation of actionable knowledge, the nurturing of global citizens with civic-mindedness and compassion for sustainable development, as well as the championing of innovation and international cooperation. ‘CUHK 2025’ reflects our commitment in: (1) delivering education that fosters whole-person development; (2) providing student experience that widens students' horizons; (3) undertaking research and innovation that create social impact; (4) fostering global engagement that brings the world to the University and the University to the world; (5) nurturing human capital that values ​ingenuity and diversity; (6) strengthening alumni engagement and institutional advancement that promote the future growth of the University; and (7) fulfilling social responsibility and supporting sustainable development that actualize CUHK ’ s ethos. These seven areas cover a wide spectrum of university life, and each area is precisely designed to achieve specific goals conducive to the long-term and sustainable growth of the University, as well as the well-being of mankind. In fact, our motto, ‘Through learning and temperance to virtue’, precisely echoes the equal importance we attach to academic excellence and civic responsibility. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the faculty, staff, alumni, students, members of the Council, donors and supporters, and other stakeholders, who have pitched in to make a difference. Their unstinting support and continued contributions are essential to making this Strategic Plan a viable and synergistic project as we look to scale newheights. The success of the plan depends on the spirit of unity that we share. I am sure that, by all of us acting collaboratively and synergistically, the coming five years will be productive and fruitful andwill lay the foundation for further growth. While we will surely face challenges on the road ahead, I am confident the Universitywill continue to flourish and prosper, as our past history has consistently demonstrated. Finally, I would like to reiterate my heartfelt thanks to all who have worked hard to help develop this Strategic Plan. The future development of the Universitywill bear witness to their efforts. Prof. Rocky S. Tuan Vice-Chancellor and President CUHK 2025 3