The Third Mission of Universities: Innovation and Knowledge Transfer

Higher education in Taiwan, mainland China, and Hong Kong is currently facing serious difficulties: mainland China is investing heavily in key areas, but its policies are rigid; Taiwan’s elections are populist; and Hong Kong’s industrial structure is unbalanced, with civil servants in power. Without returning to professional leadership and taking seriously the importance of technological innovation in an era of dramatic change, it is impossible to produce first-class universities and unleash the power of knowledge to drive society.

In addition to teaching and research, universities have a third important mission: innovation and knowledge transfer. Innovation is not limited to science and technology, but also includes literature, film and television, education, fashion, new media, supply chain management, and the internet economy. Knowledge transfer is even more an unavoidable responsibility of universities for the overall social progress and development. In recent years, Cornell Tech’s “Innovation Corner” and HK Tech 300, pioneered by City University of Hong Kong, can serve as a reference for Taiwan to break through the severe wave of university withdrawal and merger.

The Fair Winds Foundation has specially invited Professor Way Kuo, former president of the City University of Hong Kong, to come to Taiwan to give a lecture. Professor Kuo has achieved remarkable results in his tenure as President and has a deep understanding of the higher education situation in Taiwan, mainland China, and Hong Kong. He will present his unique insights into higher education in this lecture, hoping to provide Taiwan, which is immersed in small pleasures, with a positive energy with a broad perspective, and help the confused higher education find living water.

Speaker: Professor Way Kuo (Honorary Retired President and University Distinguished Professor, City University of Hong Kong)

Professor Kuo is a senior academician of the Hong Kong Academy of Sciences and served as the President of City University of Hong Kong from 2008 to 2023. He was awarded the title of Honorary Retired President by the University Council to recognize his leadership in making CityU one of the most progressive universities in the world.

Professor Kuo is a pioneer in the research of system reliability and enjoys a high reputation in the research of electronic system and nuclear reliability design. He has served as the dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Tennessee and a senior management team member of Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He was elected as a member of the National Academy of Engineering of the United States and Academia Sinica. The Canadian Academy of Engineering responded to his concept of “separation of politics and education” by awarding him an international academician. He was awarded the National Order of the Legion of Honor by the President of France in 2019 and the Knight Medal by the President of Italy in 2021. Professor Kuo’s recent works include “The Blindness of Higher Education” (Taipei: Linking Publishing Company, 2023) and “The Absence of Soulware in Higher Education” (NJ, Wiley, 2023).

Time: Saturday, July 1, 2023 2:30 PM—5:30 PM

Venue: International Conference Hall, GIS MOTC Convention Center (No. 24, Sec. 1, Hangzhou S. Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City 100)

Registration: https://forms.gle/WVHQvb3fXL55HBbe7

Main Organizer: Fair Winds Foundation

Co-organizer: Storm Media, Linking Publishing Company Contact: (02) 2752-1700