Speech at the HKUST Business School, Top 10 in the World Celebration Reception

26 March 2010 (Friday)

HKUST Business School, Top 10 in the World

Celebration Reception

Speech by Mr Michael M Y SUEN, GBS, JP

Secretary for Education

Dr Marvin Cheung, Professor Tony Chan, ladies and gentlemen,

I am most delighted to join you all today to celebrate the success of the MBA Programme of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).  The Top-10 position earned by the Programme on the latest Financial Times MBA rankings is indeed a marvelous achievement.  May I extend our warmest congratulations to the University management and members of the Business School. 

Despite its brief history, the HKUST continues to break new grounds.  It is ranked 35th in the Times Higher Education Supplement and 4th in the QS.com league in 2009.  The records attained by its Business School are particularly impressive.  It is the first business school in the region to be awarded accreditation by both the US-based and European-based authorities on business education.  Its EMBA programme, jointly offered with Kellogg, has been ranked the best in the world, both in 2007 and in 2009.  And its full-time MBA programme, has been risen to the world’s top-10 tier within a short span of ten years.

I am gratified to learn that the Business School does not only equip its students with the requisite managerial skills and professional know-how as good managers, but also provides its students with international insights.  The School nurtures business leaders for the benefit of not only Hong Kong, but the region and the world.  All the credits should go to the visionary leaders in the governing council, past and present presidents, distinguished academics and staff in the faculty, outstanding students and alumni, and its generous supporters.

As we strive to further enhance Hong Kong’s position as a regional education hub, we believe that it will bring about greater internationalization and diversification of the higher education sector, thereby attracting and nurturing more talents to enable us to increase our competitiveness in the world.

HKUST’s MBA programme is an exemplar in attracting the best and brightest from around the world, as the majority of its full-time students come from outside Hong Kong, making up of 27 nationalities.  I am sure that the remarkable achievements of the Business School will add impetus to Hong Kong’s efforts in enhancing its position as a regional education hub.

In closing, may I congratulate HKUST again on this joyous occasion and I look forward to coming to more celebrations of this kind.  Thank you.