Business Bridge - Issue 31

HONG KONG BAPTIST UNIVERSITY Issue No.31, Jan 2015 第31期,2015年1月

Business School with a Social Dimension: In Conversation with Honorary Professor K. K. Tse

Vision, Mission and Core Values Our Vision We aspire to be a leader in whole-person business education and a centre of excellence in business research in selected strategic areas, with a view to inspiring business practice, creating values for stakeholders, and enhancing social and economic growth and development.

Our Mission Through internationally recognised business education programmes and research achievements, our School seeks to nurture visionary and ethical business leaders who make a difference to their organisations and industry, and to the evolving needs of Hong Kong, mainland China and the global community.

Our Core Values • • • • • • •

Quality Integrity Professionalism Innovation Global Perspectives Teamwork Social Responsibility

Student Reporters School of Business Armando Flores Chiu Born and raised in Mexico City, Armando has found a second home in Hong Kong to pursue his master’s degree.

He speaks Spanish, fluent English, some Italian, basic French and Mandarin, a bit of Cantonese and football. A global citizen at heart, Armando’s love of cultures and languages is his passport to the world.

Anny Liu Literary, musical and athletic. Anny has an eclectic range of interests and never ceases to challenge herself. Being a BBA student majoring in Finance, she has an insider’s knowledge about the life at School of Business and brings us more news bits from beyond.

Sincere Kwan An explorer by nature, Sincere has an innate sense of curiosity that only the life of a journalist can keep her happy, excited and inspired. Sincere has internship experiences with Sing Tao News Group, China National Radio (Beijing) prior to joining the team.

Alison Wang With a talent in photography, Alison is constantly scouting around for hidden gems, rare finds and untold stories from different parts of the world. Originally from Qingdao, she is probably one of the few locals who does not rave over the beer of her hometown.

Business Bridge is published by the School of Business of Hong Kong Baptist University. All rights reserved. For subscription or reproduction of any parts, articles and/or photographs in this publication, please contact the School at 3411 7855.

To change your personal information, please e-mail to bus@hkbu.edu.hk or fax to 3411 5588.

The information provided will be restricted for permitted use as defined by the University.

C

ontents Issue No. 31

Jan 2015

We wish you a Happy New Year filled with wonder, peace and inspiration.

Professor Allan Chan Associate Vice-President and Interim Dean School of Business

2-5

| Features

Business School with a Social Dimension: In Conversation with

Between Business and the Community

Honorary Professor K. K. Tse

6-10 | School News

B

rave New World: Over 1,300 School of Business Graduates Conferred Degrees at the HKBU’s 55th Commencement Ceremony

B

Bronze Bauhinia Star Award Celebration Dinner for Mr. William Chan

Be Your Own Boss: the Entrepreneurship Seminar Series

Benefiting Students of Economics: The Establishment of Professor

usiness Alumni Awarded HKBU Honorary Fellowship

Tsang Shu-ki Memorial Scholarship

B

e Part of the Family

11-14 | Student Achievements & Activities 15-17 | Alumni Corner 18-19 | Programme News 20 | Research 21 | Internationalisation

F

eature Business School with a Social Dimension: In Conversation with

Honorary Professor K. K.Tse This year, the School of Business is proud to confer the Honorary Professorship to Dr. Tse Ka-kui at its Postgraduate Programmes Welcome Banquet cum Conferment of Honorary Professorship on 18 September 2014. The honorary professorship was in recognition of Dr Tse’s significant contribution to the aforementioned social entrepreneurship development in Hong Kong.

On Hong Kong’s Social Entrepreneurship Development

A

simple Google search of “Tse Ka Kui” will give you almost half a million links, most of them are related to social enterprises in Hong Kong. That is the extent to which these two terms are linked. In fact, since the establishment of Dialogue in the Dark Hong Kong Limited and Hong Kong Social Entrepreneurship Forum, many have consulted Dr. Tse on the success of his start-ups, which have been widely regarded as the role model to the vast array of social enterprises in Hong Kong.

Dr. Tse explained that in comparison with other global leaders in the field such as the United Kingdom, Hong Kong is still way behind. “Hong Kong is maybe 20 or 30 years behind the United Kingdom, which is the home to over 60,000 social enterprises,” Dr. Tse said. “The major challenge faced by Hong Kong in this regard is the lack of toptier personnel. In Hong Kong, the salaries in the field of social enterprise cannot be compared to those of the commercial sector, which explains the existing shortage of expertise.”

[Photograph: Dialogue in the Dark Hong Kong Ltd.]

2

Business Bridge Issue No.31 Jan 2015

Dr. Tse added, “I believe, however, Hong Kong is moving in the right direction, as new social enterprises seek not only to serve but also to be profitable. In the long run, this will greatly increase the survivability of the enterprises.” In relation to sustainability, Dr. Tse also shared his view: “In most of the countries, government plays a huge role in the beginning stage of the development in terms of providing funding support. As the sector continues to grow, governmental effort will fade out eventually and private funds will step up.”

The success of Dialogue in the Dark Hong Kong Ltd. has definitely proved that Dr. Tse is the right spokesperson of such model.

Incorporated in 2009 as a small start-up, the organisation has seen an eleven-fold increase in turnover, from less than HK$2 million in 2010 to $22 million in 2014. Today, the company has a space of the size of 10,000 sq. feet.

Established with the aim of transforming public perception of the visually and hearing impaired, the organization has already reached out to over 100,000 people in the past few years since its inception. With many successful ventures under his belt, Dr. Tse is often invited to share his experience in social entrepreneurship in mainland China.

Business Bridge

Feature

On Social Entrepreneurship Development in Mainland China According to Dr. Tse, the development of social entrepreneurship in mainland China is lagging far behind that of Hong Kong.

The problem with the company registration is a significant factor. “Currently most of the social enterprises in mainland China are registered as privately operated nonenterprise unit (民辦非企業), under which profits generated from the social enterprise are not allowed to be channeled back to its shareholders. As such, it discourages the participation of private funds. It is a learning process, especially on the government side.

When the situation is rectified, the growth potential of social enterprise in China is enormous.”

On “Social Business School” [Photograph: Dialogue in the Dark Hong Kong Ltd.]

Speaking on the role of business schools in today’s world, Dr. Tse said, “Over a century ago when Harvard Business School first

started, it was revolutionary. It turned “business” into a professional topic in education, which was later proved to be pivotal. A hundred years down the road, in 2008, Harvard Business School published a book called Rethinking the MBA: Business Education at a Crossroads, which offered insights into how business schools must react to the changes in the new century.”

Dr. Tse also cited Richard Branson’s book Screw Business As Usual to point out that nowadays business schools must go through a revamp. They should not only focus on teaching students how to maximise shareholders’ benefits, but to inspire them to consider social and environmental benefits in each and every dimension.

In the same vein, Dr. Tse recommended HKBU School of Business to start small using Eric Ries’ “Lean Startup” approach, and through starting a “Social Business Summer School”. In that way, it would help faculty members adapt to the idea, and later, more progressive changes can be implemented. From this perspective, the HKBU School of Business looks perfectly suited to walk the “social” path, which is aligned with the School’s vision of educating ethical business leaders.

From left to right: Associate Dean Prof. Gerard Prendergast, Interim Dean of Business and Associate Vice-President Prof. Allan Chan, Vice-President (Research & Development) Prof. Rick Wong, Chairman of the Council and the Court of HKBU Mr. Cheng Yan-kee, Honorary Professor Dr. Tse Ka-kui, President and Vice-Chancellor Prof. Albert Chan, Vice-President (Academic) Prof. Franklin Luk, Vice-President (Administration) and Secretary Mr. Andy Lee, Associate Dean Dr. Peter Lau

Business Bridge Issue No.31 Jan 2015

3

Feature

Business Bridge

Between Business and

the Community

Anny Liu at 1st Step Association’s monthly fund-raising event

T

here is a growing trend for the business sector to reach out to the community through the concept of corporate social responsibility and for the NGOs to adopt business models and incorporate business ideas in their operation. Aimed at promoting cross-sector collaboration, the Citi-HKCSS Community Intern Program 2014 is a recent initiative designed to enable business students from Hong Kong universities to undertake a summer internship at local NGOs working in various areas, e.g. low-income family support, the elderly, disability, education, environment and more.

4

Business Bridge Issue No.31 Jan 2015

This year, seven BBA students from HKBU School of Business have been selected to join the programme.

Being one of the interns, I spent my last summer with the 1st Step Association, a NGO specialized in serving occupational injured quadriplegic persons and their families. As a student majoring in finance, I had the opportunity to apply my business knowledge to the daily operation and further development of the organisation. I was involved in the analysis of the financial reports and brand building of 1st Step Association, which included making a promotional video, seeking sponsorships and planning a premiere charity event.

The Induction Program held prior to the internship certainly helped us get a better understanding of the NGO sector in Hong Kong and prepared us to manage a variety of tasks and projects during the internship.

At the concluding recognition ceremony, I had the honour to be nominated to present a thank-you card of my own design to one of the organisers, Citigroup, on behalf of 80 interns.

Pansy Tam at the Dragon Foundation Office

Business Bridge

Feature

Service Centre in Sheung Shui. David was given two main tasks: organising a jumble sale and engaging wholesalers in a partnership for group buying.

Given that most of the residents from that part of Sheung Shui are of low-income families, the activities held by David’s internship host organisation are designed to cater the specific needs of the local community.

Anny Liu (second from right) presents a thank-you card of her own design to Ms. Lam Yuk Wah, Christine, Country Business Manager, Citibank Global Consumer Banking, Citigroup [Photograph: Citi-HKCSS Community Intern Program]

I also met with two other interns from BBA programme to talk about their own internship experiences - Tam Mui Yi Pansy is a Year 3 student from China Business Studies Concentration and Au Him Shun David is a Year 3 student majoring in Human Resources Management.

Pansy Tam was assigned to the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG), tasked with the planning of the Dragon 100 programme, a significant youth initiative organised by HKFYG. In addition to the design of the programme rundown, Pansy was asked to draft invitation letters to some celebrities to attend the event, one of whom was Ma Yun, CEO of Alibaba. It was where the skills she learnt from the course Business Communications came in handy.

Actually, it was not Pansy’s first time to work for the NGO. Prior to interning at HKFYG, she once served at a NGO helping women with depression. “I really enjoy the working environment and the team spirit in NGOs; after having completed the Citi-HKCSS Community Intern Program, I have now decided to pursue a career in the field of NGOs after graduation,” Pansy said.

With her business knowledge and first-hand internship experience with two NGOs, Pansy has come to recognise the similarities between business and NGO sectors. “I hope to contribute to the communication between the two sectors.”

The other BBA student, David Au, also had a rewarding experience with Hong Kong Evangelical Church Yan Lam Community

The jumble sale was an event at which secondhand goods collected from the local residents were put on sale. David helped evaluate the value of the used goods based on the signs of wear and tear, as well as the potential to be recycled. “Through the sale we aimed to arouse locals’ awareness about recycling and environmental protection,” said David.

The second challenge for David was groupbuying. The concept was to buy food and daily necessities from partner wholesalers in bulk and resell them to local residents at prices much lower than those in the market.

“It is a non-profit making initiative. We just want to help more people by making things more affordable.”

Organising these activities turned out to be a good training opportunity for David, as a student of Human Resources Management, to polish his communication skills. “I’ve got to meet and interact with people with different backgrounds - new immigrants, kids, older people, the unemployed and many more. It was a precious working experience for me to apply and advance my own business knowledge.”

By student reporter Anny

Citi-HKCSS Community Intern Program Recognition Ceremony [Photograph: Citi-HKCSS Community Intern Program]

Business Bridge Issue No.31 Jan 2015

5

S

chool News

Brave New World: Over 1,300 School of Business Graduates

Conferred Degrees at the HKBU’s 55th Commencement Ceremony

Over 1,300 School of Business graduates were conferred undergraduate degrees and higher degrees at the HKBU’s 55th Commencement Ceremony held at the Academic Community Hall on 13 November 2014.

To capture the memorable event, the School organized a photo-taking session at the Li Promenade, witnessing laughters as well as tears of joy in celebration of a new page in life of our graduates.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” remarked Ms. Queenie Chan of Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). Mr. Eddie Wong, another BBA graduate, treasured the day as a valuable opportunity to catch up with former classmates. “It feels different to meet the classmates again.”

Stay connected!

Launch of Our WeChat Channel!

Follow us!

WeChat ID: bus_hkbu

6

Business Bridge Issue No.31 Jan 2015

And, don’t forget to like our Facebook page! http://facebook.com/hkbu.sob

Business Bridge

SchoolNews

Business Alumni Awarded HKBU Honorary Fellowship On 16 September 2014, two alumni of the School of Business Mr. Dickson TY Shang and Mr. Wong Nga-chung were conferred Honorary Fellowship by the Hong Kong Baptist University at its 59th Convocation and its 9th Honorary University Fellowship Conferment Ceremony, in recognition of their significant contributions to the University and the society.

Mr. Shang and Mr. Wong have been staunch supporters of the School. Over the years, they have helped advance the development of the School as well as the University in many ways such as setting up various exchange and admission scholarships and jointly funding the Finance Students Real Money Investment Fund, the first-of-its-kind student-run fund among universities in Hong Kong.

As the Honorary Presidents of the HKBU Foundation and Patrons of the HKBU Century Club, Mr. Shang and Mr. Wong have made generous donations in support of institutional initiatives and have been instrumental in launching the Universitywide Alumni $100 Monthly Donation Campaign.

At the ceremony, Mr. Shang shared his philosophy with students on behalf of the Honorary University Fellows, in which he drew on his own experience as an Oxfam Trailwalker and encouraged all students to see life as a kind of collective trail walk. “The willingness to give and the ability to earn the trust and respect from others is the key to success,� Mr. Shang said.

From left to right: HKBU Council Treasurer Mrs Doreen Chan, Mr Wong Nga-chung, Mr Shen Jinkang, HKBU Council and Court Chairman Mr Cheng Yan-kee, Mr Dickson Shang, Mrs Mary Suen, HKBU Deputy Council Chairman Mrs Pamela Chan, and President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Albert Chan

Bronze Bauhinia Star Award

Celebration Dinner for Mr. William Chan Mr. William Chan, Member of School of Business Advisory Committee, Board Member of Hospital Authority and former Human Resources Director of MTR Corporation Ltd., was awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star (BBS) by the Government of HKSAR in 2014 for his remarkable contribution to the society. In the company of Mr. William Leung, Chairman of the Advisory Committee, and Dr. Michael Chan and Mr. David Lee, Committee Members, a celebration party was held on 1 August 2014.

Over 40 participants, including staff members from the Department of Management, HR mentors and CEOs, joined the joyful event filled with great music and food.

Mr. William Chan (second from left, front row) shares his joy with friends and staff members from the School of Business

Business Bridge Issue No.31 Jan 2015

7

SchoolNews

Business Bridge

Be Your Own Boss:

Entrepreneurship Seminar Series In October and November 2014, the School of Business organised two seminars of the Entrepreneurship Seminar Series (ESS), inviting Dr. Raymond Choy, founder and CEO of Toy2R, and Mr. Shih Wing-ching, founder of Centaline Property Agency Limited and am730, to share their entrepreneurial experiences.

From being a toy shop owner to selling and exhibiting his own creation on a backpack-tour all over the world, Dr. Choy moved his company from simple toy manufacturing business to a complex licensing business model, building a brand that has collaborated with many famous brands in the world. With his strong passion in toys, Dr. Choy serves as a special role model for young entrepreneurs-to-be, and he hopes that one day he can build a toy brand that is comparable to Walt Disney.

Dr. Raymond Choy, founder and CEO of Toy2R

The entrepreneurship experience of Mr. Shih Wing-ching needs no further introduction. With a sense of humour, Mr. Shih recounted his first desire to start his own business in the 70s. What motivated him to make that decision was the feeling against non-proportional salary return at his workplace at the time. Today, Centaline, the company he founded, is sharing one third of its profit with employees on a quarterly basis. Mr. Shih strongly believed that his “profit-sharing” management concept can be well applied to today’s society to solve social and economic problems.

Following the success of these two seminars, the School of Business has got more ESS seminars planned for the upcoming semester. Stay tuned.

Mr. Shih Wing-ching (right), founder of Centaline Property Agency Limited and am730, and Dr. Billy Mak, Associate Professor of Department of Finance and Decision Sciences

Benefiting Students of Economics:

The Establishment of Professor Tsang Shu-ki Memorial Scholarship In memory of the late Professor Tsang Shu-ki, a longtime Professor of Department of Economics and since 2010 a Senior Research Fellow of the School’s Institute of Enterprise Development, the School of Business has established the Professor Tsang Shu-ki Memorial Scholarship to award outstanding BBA students with applied economics concentration and BSocSc students in China Studies with economics concentration.

Professor Tsang was a renowned economist in Hong Kong. Over the years, he made significant contributions to the analysis of Hong Kong’s Linked Exchange Rate System, competition policy and economic integration with Mainland China. Professor Tsang played an active role in policy advice in various public bodies, including Supervisory Committee for Tracker Fund of Hong Kong, Exchange Fund Advisory Committee Currency Board Sub-Committee, Central Policy Unit and Competition Commission.

The Scholarship is set up with generous donations by Mrs. Tsang, friends of Professor Tsang, alumni, and joint contribution by the School of Business and the Department of Economics.

8

Business Bridge Issue No.31 Jan 2015

Business Bridge

SchoolNews

Be Part of the Family HKBU Appoints New Dean of Business Professor Edward Snape The University announced the appointment of Professor Edward Snape, currently Professor of the Department of Management, to the post of Dean of the School of Business with effect from 1 September 2015.

Professor Snape joined the University in September 2008 as Professor in the Department of Management and served concurrently as the Head of Department. From September 2010 to August 2013, he had been appointed as Associate Vice-President responsible for quality assurance and Quality Assurance Committee Audit follow-up as well as overseeing the areas of internationalisation and knowledge transfer. He is currently on leave to conduct research projects in the UK until 31 August 2015.

Professor Snape has a distinguished track record of performance in teaching and research. His research covers a wide range of topics including human resource management, diversity and equal opportunities, employee commitment, leadership and industrial relations/labour studies.

New Faces at School of Business

Dr. Neale O’Connor Department of Accountancy and Law:

Inspiring Lives through Teaching and Research Motivation is Dr. Neale O’Connor’s driver to inspire students and to achieve his personal goal.

“I want to be different in five years from now, to become a top motivational speaker,” said Dr. O’Connor.

In September, Dr. O’Connor joined the School of Business as Associate Professor. When asked about his own approach to teaching, Dr. O’Connor highlighted the relevance of business studies to the contemporary world. He believes, a good way to build commercial legitimacy in front of students is by engaging with real business people. “Students will listen to you not because you are a professor but because you are someone who has interacted with and helped real business people.”

Dr. O’Connor also embraces the use of technology in his teaching. Not only does he record his classes as much as possible, he also creates video summaries of his lessons to encourage greater utilization of digital platforms among his students. “The world now is more social than ever and students should make use of the available tools to leverage the learning process,” he explained.

In fact, his teaching approach is built on the combination of teaching and research, which enables him to keep his courses up-to-date with contemporary developments in the industries. One of his recent research projects is China Supplier 1000, in which he had conducted interviews with 1000 suppliers in China. “I want to help buyers better understand Chinese suppliers, and vice versa,” added Dr. O’Connor.

As for his tips for students, he suggested finding a personal guru who can inspire them. One of his is Tony Robbins (another being Earl Nightingale), who “inspires me because he talks about leveraging your success by asking questions, making decisions and following through by taking massive action.”

By student reporter Armando

Business Bridge Issue No.31 Jan 2015

9

SchoolNews

Business Bridge

Dr. Cao Kang-hua Department of Economics:

Discovering the Diversity Coming from the USA, Assistant Professor Dr. Cao Kang-hua found the co-existence of the old and the new of Hong Kong remarkable. Recently, he has developed a new hobby – walking along the Victoria Harbour. “It is a visual enjoyment. On the one hand, you have, before your eyes, all the skyscrapers on the Hong Kong island, where people are busy making money. On the other hand, when you turn back, a local wet market comes right into sight. It is an amazing experience to feel the traditional and modern ways of life all at the same time.”

When it comes to teaching, Dr. Cao has an interesting way to encourage student participation in class: that is to give drink coupons to those who have asked questions as reward. A practical “trade” experience, as Dr. Cao said.

Dr. Cao earned his bachelor’s degree from UC Irvine and received his master’s and PhD degrees from UC Santa Barbara. Prior to joining the HKBU Department of Economics in 2014, Dr. Cao worked at the United States Department of Transportation. His research expertise lies in Chinese economy, macroeconomics and development.

By student reporter Alison

Dr. Jason Long Yi Department of Finance and Decision Sciences:

Be Brave and See the World Having been living in Hong Kong for four years, Dr. Jason Long Yi loves the city for its modernity, excellent transportation network, cultural diversity as well as its beautiful landscape. “I have been to almost every island in Hong Kong and I enjoy the natural scenery along with the fantastic architecture very much,” said Dr. Yi. “To see the world” is his life philosophy. His passion for travel has brought him to many different corners of the world: Chicago, Vietnam, Cambodia, just to name a few. While showing albums of the trips he made on the computer screen, he encouraged students to “See the world; be brave and explore”.

Dr. Yi received his bachelor’s degree from Wuhan University and PhD from the University of Hong Kong. He joined the Department of Finance and Decision Science as Research Assistant Professor in 2014. His research interests are in corporation finance, particularly, product market competition and firm’s behavior.

By student reporter Alison

10

Business Bridge Issue No.31 Jan 2015

Business Bridge

S

Student Achievements & Activities

tudent Achievements & Activities

Beyond Borders:

Ingredients for Success in the Investment Banking Case Study Competition The will to win, diligence, perseverance and friendship. These are the qualities that lead to the success of an international student team, comprised of two HKBU students and two students from Singapore, in winning the 2nd runner-up prize in the Investment Banking Case Study Competition co-organised by Asia Investment Banking Conference and Credit Suisse on 4 September 2014.

The collaboration involved intense exchange of ideas between two countries, three universities over the summer.

From left to right: Rachel Li (HKBU), Ching Yee Ling (Nanyang Technological University), Yvonne Yew (HKBU) and Geoffrey Lee (National University of Singapore) present a case study on Lenovo Group Ltd.

With a shared interest in investment banking, Li Zirui Rachel and Yew Hong Ee Yvonne, BBA students at HKBU, along with Ching Yee Ling, business student at Nanyang Technological University, and Lee Zheng Hwang Geoffrey, engineering student at National University of Singapore, whom Rachel met during a summer internship in Singapore, decided to challenge themselves, by competing against a total of 19 strong, predominantly postgraduate teams from around the world.

“You can imagine that for a team like us, working from different cities, we had to communicate through digital platforms such as Skype and other social networks. It was time-consuming. But, the advantages of being on a cross-border team are the unrivalled access to library resources and academic advice available at three universities, and the benefits of intercultural communication,” said Yvonne.

When asked if they ever thought of giving up halfway, Rachel and Yvonne looked at each other and smiled. Yvonne said, “There was a time when we thought it was simply a mission impossible.” Rachel added, “At that time, all of us were juggling multiple balls. I was interning, Yvonne was taking summer semester at HKBU. One of our Singaporean teammates was even organising Orientation Camp for his university. And, technology, the industry on which the case study was based, was an entirely new terrain for us!”

It’s definitely a steep learning curve. Learning how to glean relevant data from various sources is the key, knowing when and from whom to ask for help is another crucial ingredient for success. Mr. Man Ko, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Accountancy and Law at HKBU, was invited to be the team’s coach to harness their presentation skills as part of the last minute preparation.

The team, described by Mr. Ko as a “professional and serious team”, is praised for having a desire to win. “I was deeply impressed by the vast amount of research and analysis the team had undertaken and their sincere attitude had won me over.” He continued, “I am a serious coach. I want you to win.” But, as Mr. Ko has rightly put it, sometimes, the learning experience gained from competition is more valuable than the prize itself.

Ultimately, taking risk is the first step to success. “The future might lie beyond your control but it’s what you do that makes a difference,” Yvonne remarked.

By student reporters Alison & Armando

Business Bridge Issue No.31 Jan 2015

11

Student Achievements & Activities

Business Bridge

Branding Salad: iVeggie’s Green Marketing Agriculture in a compact city like Hong Kong is a huge challenge. iVeggie, a Controlled Environment Hydroponic Research and Development Centre recently established by the Vegetable Marketing Organization (VMO), sets out to offer an innovation solution to the shortage of farmland by introducing hydroponic salad crops.

In a visit to iVeggie, co-organised by the Marketing Concentration and Business Management Society, BBA students majoring in marketing got an insider’s look into the production plant located in Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Vegetable Market.

Dr. Alex Tsang (right) leads business students to uncover the potential of agricultural products in a new era [Photograph: Dr. Alex Tsang]

“We want our students to learn not only about the business operations and production processes at iVeggie, but most of all, the marketing strategy it adopts in promoting a new technology that could change the future of Hong Kong’s agriculture,” said Dr. Alex Tsang, Associate Professor of the Department of Marketing.

Being one of the pioneers in the industry, iVeggie is introducing new products, new technology and a healthy food culture. iVeggie starts with the growing of five varieties of baby leaf. The production normally only requires five workers and the cultivation process only takes 21 days. And, on top of all these, vertical cultivation method enables iVeggie to tackle the constraint relating to limitation of space.

According to Publicity Executive Ms. Lovie Wong, the integrated marketing strategies used by iVeggie have proved a success. The cross-platform promotion covers the products, the production process as well as the cultivation techniques involved.

The guided tour offers BBA students a glimpse into iVeggie’s production line, including the enclosed packaging room

“After all, we are implementing an energy-saving technology to embrace a green philosophy,” said Mr. Chan Siu Lun, Production Consultant.

By student reporter Armando

BBA Programme YEDS Workshops Enhance Business Socializing Skills

To enhance undergraduate students’ leadership, communication and social skills, the Young Executive Development Scheme (YEDS) organised four workshops in October and November 2014, namely, “Dialogue in Silence”, “Professional Presentation (2 sessions)” and “Wine Appreciation”.

The four YEDS workshops attracted a total of 129 undergraduate business students.

Students found the workshops interactive and the soft skills learnt practical, which helped prepare them for future challenges in business socialising and job hunting.

Mr. Christopher Hwang (left) and Mr. Patrick Dunn share public speaking skills with students

Students learn the basics of wine appreciation and techniques

12

Business Bridge Issue No.31 Jan 2015

Business Bridge

Student Achievements & Activities

Be Smart in Job Hunting:

Out of the Career Maze Seminar “Sent out hundreds of resumes but never gets a response?”

“Do all roads lead to Rome, regardless of your chosen major?”

Mr. Armstrong Lee highlights the importance of having good strategies in job search

Mr. Armstrong Lee, Director of Worldwide Consulting Group Company Limited, shared the formula for workplace success at Out of the Career Maze, a career talk co-organised by the School of Business and Hong Kong Baptist University School of Business Alumni Association on 17 November 2014. Drawing on his wide experience as a leading headhunter for mid-to-top executive positions in a diverse range of industries, Mr. Lee pointed out that most of the fresh graduates in Hong Kong lack a good understanding of job-hunting strategies. “They should really narrow down their focus. Instead of sending out hundreds of CVs, they need to find a way to distinguish themselves from all other candidates in the job market.”

He posed more questions to the audience: “Have you ever asked yourself how you could contribute to the company for which you are applying?” To put it differently, “Do you know what business deals that company has lost to its competitors in the past? Have you got any plans for the management of the company in question?” With extensive experience in the executive search industry, Lee observed that only the job applicants at the top 15% could get a job interview. Those who are willing to go the extra mile by addressing the above aspects of the company in their job applications, their insights and efforts would definitely increase their chances of success.

Many job-seeking students might wonder: “Do all roads lead to the ideal job position, regardless of the major discipline of study?” In answering this question, Lee first asked the audience to imagine what kind of ideal living style they have in mind, and to use that as the starting point for their own career planning.

“I dare to say, almost none of the CEOs in the banking sector is promoted from the marketing department. Rather, you would see most of them having a background in credit risk management or treasury. Because these departments control the lifeline of the banking industry,” he explained. Lee advised students to have a better understanding of the relationship between the industry and job nature, in which lies the key to a promising career prospect.

Professor Allan Chan, Interim Dean of Business, and Ms. Ivy Ku, HKBU School of Business Alumni Association, present a certificate of appreciation to Mr. Armstrong Lee (middle)

By student reporter Sincere Business Bridge Issue No.31 Jan 2015

13

Student Achievements & Activities

Business Bridge

Barclays Career Workshop

Helps Students Hone Job-Seeking Skills On 18 November 2014, the Department of Economics joined hands with Barclays, a renowned international financial services provider, to organise “Barclays Career Workshop” for students of the School of Business. Led by six experienced bankers from Barclays, the workshop aimed to help business students better equipped for their future career development through a specially designed toolkit.

Mr. Chaiwat Pattanapongsa, Director and Head of Internal Audit of Barclays Hong Kong, highlighted some key strategies in CV writing, and shared his own experience as a former student of economics.

The workshop attracted more than 80 participants, who took part in small-group sharing sessions on the life in investment banks and the financial industry. Around 30 students also joined one-to-one mock interviews.

Mr. Chaiwat Pattanapongsa in conversation with students

BUS Toastmasters Club in Action

Every other Wednesday of the month at 7pm, students gather and witness their own peers taking the floor and speaking their minds out.

The Toastmasters International has been renewed in HKBU. To-date, the Toastmasters Club arranged nine successful meetings with over 30 students participated in each one of them. Toastmasters Club prides itself on honing participants’ public speaking and presentations, as well as focusing on their facilitation and leadership. Aside from 3 student speeches in every meeting, students can take up nine other roles, ranging from being the evening host to evaluators. The event is truly run by the students for the students.

Student participants at the 3rd Demo Meeting of the HKBU School of Business Toastmasters Club

William Kong, BBA Year 2 student: “It’s my first time presenting on the stage and it was definitely a good experience. I especially treasure the constructive criticism which helps me get better.”

14

Business Bridge Issue No.31 Jan 2015

Jeric Adriano (right), AIESEC intern at HKBU and the Grammarian of the night: “The club grew fast; we started the first session with 30 members and now 50. We hope to bring diversity to students and help them build confidence.”

Business Bridge

A

AlumniCorner

lumni Corner

Banknotes and Bonds: Donation by Alumnus Mr. Dickson Shang to the School of Business

The School of Business recently received a personal collection of old banknotes and bonds from our Honorary University Fellow and alumnus Mr. Dickson Shang.

The collection, consisting of three historical Chinese bonds issued in 1890s-1910s and ten old banknotes from 1930s, was displayed at the Au Shue Hung Memorial Library, HKBU, from 21 November to 22 December 2014.

Among all the items in the collection, Mr. Shang’s favorite one is the bond issued for the construction of the Chinese Section of the Canton-Kowloon Railway, a hidden gem he bought from a small bookshop in East Germany at a bargain. “It was like a lost treasure that no one at the time realized the value of the bond. It was sold to me for less than a hundred US dollars!” said Mr. Shang.

At the Opening Ceremony of the “Chinese Imperial Government Bonds” Exhibition in Au Shue Hung Memorial Library, HKBU

Alumnus Mr. Dickson Shang is a long-time supporter of the School of Business

By student reporter Sincere

Business Bridge Issue No.31 Jan 2015

15

AlumniCorner

Business Bridge

Alumnus Sunny Wong shares the stories of being inspired and the ways to inspire others

Be a True Leader: School of Business Alumnus Speaks at TEDxHongKong 2014 An illustration of frogs drawn by Sunny Wong

On 15 November 2014, hundreds of locals gathered at the Hong Kong Science Park to exchange knowledge and “ideas worth spreading” through TEDxHongKong 2014, an independent event dedicated to inspiring new ideas and positive changes.

As one of the event’s supporting organizations, the School of Business was proud to have our alumnus Sunny Wong (1978, business management), retired Chairman and CEO of Carlsberg Greater China and current Senior Advisor to Carlsberg Asia, speaking at the event among a strong line-up of 18 speakers who came from different fields and all parts of the world to explore this year’s theme – “GREEEN” [sic].

A True Leader: Looking Inward and Reaching Out In his speech, Sunny shared the stories of two important persons in his life, whose lives have never ceased to inspire and motivate him, especially in difficult times.

His ideas are captured in the real-time sketch by an artist from the Sketch Post Studio

On the qualities of a genuine business leader, he made use of the metaphor of a frog living in a well. “Even though everyone lives in his or her own well in a sense, a good leader should always try to get closer to the teammates, and to help the whole team grow together,” said Sunny.

Apart from learning business know-how and operation models, he highlighted that “Business students should look for ways to achieve self-improvement, and should be able to manage without being carried away by external influences”.

By student reporter Armando

16

Business Bridge Issue No.31 Jan 2015

Business Bridge

AlumniCorner

Behind the Scene: Gateway to Big 4 Job hunting can be a daunting experience. The anxiety, unsettledness and self-doubt are no stranger to final year students as they make their way through rounds of online application, aptitude test, group assessment and interview.

Understanding such mixed feelings, some business alumni decided to help current students overcome the challenges in seeking a career with Big Four firms. “When I was an accounting student, I knew little about the companies for which I applied. The academic training from lectures alone was not enough for me to tackle interviews in real life,” said Bernard Wu, President of HKBU School of Business Alumni Association (HKBUSBAA). “Looking back, many of us wish we had the opportunities to get the advice from alumni”, he added.

From left to right: alumni Bill Chung, Leo Wong and Iris Ye enjoy being the interviewers for a day

That was how the “Gateway to Big 4”, a two-part career event, first came about three years ago. Co-organised by HKBUSBAA and School of Business, “Gateway to Big 4” consisted of an introductory seminar on Big 4’s recruitment process and a one-to-one mock interview, for students interested in applying for Big Four firms.

The mock interview session held on 26 October 2014 attracted more than ten alumni working in Big Four firms to act as the “interviewer”. Ivan Guo, the coordinator of the programme, regarded it a way to give back to the School. “I am honored to have the chance to organize the event and bring alumni and students together to share alumni’s experiences in job hunting.”

Students participating in the event found the atmosphere created in the mock interview highly relevant. Yvonne Yew, a BBA final year student from Department of Accountancy and Law, remarked that, “I try my best to be qualified in terms of knowledge and this mock interview really helps me to get mentally prepared”.

The learning is, however, mutual. As another alumnus Oliver Bu, who now works in PricewaterhouseCoopers, described, “While current students can pick up interview skills from us, we are also inspired by the energy and confidence radiated from them.”

By student reporter Alison

Interview in progress

Alumni believe in giving back to the School

Business Bridge Issue No.31 Jan 2015

17

P

rogramme News

BBA Alumni School Visit For the second year running, the BBA Programme Office organised the BBA Alumni School Visit to local secondary schools, helping F. 5- F. 6 students better understand the relevance of business studies and the unique features of the BBA programme at HKBU. On 10 October 2014, Dr. Erin So from the Department of Economics and BBA accounting student Kitki Chan visited Shek Lei Catholic Secondary School. Following the introductory talk, Leung Man Fai, a F. 5 student shared his new findings. Having chosen Geography and Economics as electives under the New Senior Secondary curriculum, Leung started a habit of following the news on Hong Kong government’s land auction. He found the concept of scarcity in economics offering an intriguing perspective on the allocation of resources in Hong Kong. “The definition of ‘land’ actually goes beyond its physical sense!”

BBA student Kitki Chan enjoys the autonomous learning environment provided by the programme

Expecting to get a total score of 28 in best five HKDSE subjects, Leung has set his sights on BBA programme that fosters autonomous learning. With all the students free to choose any major from seven concentrations, the BBA programme at HKBU is definitely the kind of programme worth checking out!

By student reporter Sincere

Beginnings and More:

News on MBA, MScBM and DBA Programmes August

30 August Orientation for MBA & MScBM students

18

Business Bridge Issue No.31 Jan 2015

Business Bridge

ProgrammeNews

September 18 September Postgraduate Programmes Welcome Banquet cum Conferment of Honorary Professorship for MBA, MScBM and DBA students

October 10 October Launch of DBA programme China Class 2014-15 (At Nankai University, Tianjin, China)

16 October Opening Ceremony of new MBA Huadong Class (At Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China)

November 13 November Graduation Dinner for MBA and MScBM students

14 November Opening Ceremony of MBA Shenzhen Class

28 November Opening Ceremony of MBA Zhuhai Class (At United International College, Zhuhai, China)

20 December Meeting with DBA students and mentors (In Shenzhen, China)

Business Bridge Issue No.31 Jan 2015

19

R

esearch Breaking the Record:

11 Projects Awarded General Research Fund 2014/15 The School is delighted to announce that a total of 11 faculty members - a record-high figure - have received support from the Research Grants Council’s General Research Fund 2014/15 (GRF) for their research projects.

List of GRF Supported Projects in 2014-2015 Dr. Byron Song, Department of Accountancy and Law Reputed Inside Directors and Internal Control Effectiveness

Dr. Wang Wenming, Department of Accountancy and Law The Strategic Use of Multiple Auditors and Intragroup Value Transfers: Evidence from Family Business Group in East Asia Dr. Zhang Fang, Department of Accountancy and Law Taxes and Economic Rents: The Role of Political Connection in Chinese Listed Private Firms Dr. Cheng Yuk-shing, Department of Economics Residential Willingness-to-pay for Reducing Carbon Emissions from Electricity Generation in Hong Kong Prof. Wong Wing-keung, Department of Economics Stochastic Dominance, Almost Stochastic Dominance, Moment, and Test Statistics Dr. Eric Lam, Department of Finance and Decision Sciences Asset Growth Dynamics and Valuation-ratio Based Anomalies Prof. Stouraitis Aristotelis, Department of Finance and Decision Sciences CEO Turnover and Corporate Governance Changes Following the Revelation of Bribery Prof. Flora Chiang, Department of Management Servant Leadership and Proactive Customer Service Performance in the Hong Kong Hospitality Industry Dr. Guohua Huang, Department of Management Being Proactive When Feeling Insecure? The Role of Proactive Personality on the Relationships Between Job Insecurity and Employee Voice, Feedback Seeking, Political Behavior, and Leadership Skill Development Dr. Erica Xu, Department of Management Stone Heart Versus Soft Heart: Observers’ Reactions Toward Victims of Abusive Supervision Dr. Su Lei, Department of Marketing Communication Strategies for When a Product’s Negative Attributes Are Only Partially Reduced

Broadening Business Research Horizons On 27 November 2014, the School of Business joined force with the University of Western Sydney Business School to organise the UWS and HKBU Business Schools: Research Symposia in Hong Kong. Bringing together academics, researchers and postgraduate students from a wide range of business specialties, the Research Symposia provided an interactive platform that aimed to foster international research collaboration between the two universities.

Associate Dean Professor Gerard Prendergast of HKBU School of Business, together with MPhil and PhD Programme Director Dr. Henry Fock, extended a warm welcome to friends from the UWS. Professor Prendergast said, “The Symposia mark the beginning of an enduring friendship. I am struck by the diversity and relevancy of the topics we are covering in the symposia. ” Professor Clive Smallman, Dean of the UWS Business School, said, “This joint event is a special effort to enable the exchange of ideas and sharing of good international comparative research.”

20

Business Bridge Issue No.31 Jan 2015

The symposia consisted of presentations by leading scholars and researchers from UWS Business School and discussions under four research areas of shared interest: qualitative research, customer loyalty and research in social media, corporate sustainability and CSR, and applied finance, economics and property research.

Business Bridge

I

Internationalisation

nternationalisation

Business Ideas Galore:

2014 IIBD Case Competition in the Philippines The final round of 2014 IIBD Case Competition was successfully held at the Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines on 21 November 2014. Our student team led by Wing Lung Bank International Institute for Business Development (IIBD) was one of the six finalist teams.

For the 9th year running, the IIBD Case Competition aims at globalising business education through enhancing the social and professional networks of students and faculties. This year’s theme was “Communicating CSR to Stakeholders: Reputational Gains and Risks”, which had drawn participants from 20 universities in ten regions.

After two rounds of review, the six bestscoring teams advanced to the final during which they were given six hours to research and analyse a real case on “Chipotle”, the leading Mexican fast-food chain in the US, to develop their action plans and recommendations for presentations. The judges were impressed by their performance and appreciated their in-depth analyses and innovative ideas.

Study Tours Since May 2014, Wing Lung Bank International Institute for Business Development (IIBD) has organised study tours for delegations from the following institutions: • • • • • • • •

Beijing Union University, PRC Berlin School of Economics and Law, Germany California State University Fresno, USA Feng Chia University, Taiwan Konan University, Japan Mikroskil College, Indonesia National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland Purdue University, USA

• • • • • •

Shenzhen University, PRC University of International Business and Economics, PRC University of San Diego, USA Xian Jiaotong University, PRC Zhejiang University of Technology, PRC Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, PRC

Academic Exchange Agreements As of December 2014, the School has signed academic exchange agreement with 63 business schools from all over the world. Together with the 109 University-level partners of HKBU, the School of Business currently has a total of 172 exchange partners.

Business Bridge Issue No.31 Jan 2015

21

Postgraduate Admission 2015 Doctor of Business Administration (Part-time) • • • • • •

Cutting-edge knowledge and skills in business and management World class professors Achievable in 3 years Unique research mentoring and supervision throughout the programme Networking with a cohort of senior executives in China as co-participants Supportive collegial learning environment

Master of Science in Global Marketing Management (Full-time) • • •

Master of Business Administration (Part-time)

•

• •

•

• • • • •

Enhanced programme with new course structure Particular focus on contemporary China business and corporate sustainability Emphasise on “live learning”: business field studies, study tours, seminar series and managerial skills workshops Academic Awards and Outstanding Achievement Awards available Strong alumni network in Hong Kong and China For details of the MBA programme China class, please visit: mba.hkbu.edu.hk The admisssion of the MBA programme Hong Kong class is temporarily suspended for 2015-2016

Master of Science in Business Management (Full-time/Part-time) • • •

•

A general business and management programme for fresh graduates and non-business majors for career advancement Entrance Scholarships and Academic Awards available Executive Development Series, including seminars, corporate visits, managerial skills workshops and career development training, to equip students with the necessary skills and competencies in the business arena International exchange programme provides students with valuable opportunities for global exposure

Master of Science in Strategic Human Resources Management (Part-time) • • • • •

• • •

•

•

•

Master of Science in Applied Economics (Full-time) • • •

Balanced training in advanced economic theories and applied economic analyses Emphasise the use of sophisticated techniques in analysing real world issues Study China’s economic institutions and development from an international perspective

Master of Science in Corporate Governance and Directorship (Full-time/Part-time) • • •

Build solid foundation of HR knowledge and skills with dual emphasis on theory and practice Enhance participants’ ability to evaluate and develop people-management programmes and processes HKBU graduation academic awards and undergraduate alumni entrance awards available

Master of Accountancy (Full-time/Part-time) •

•

Transform professional managers into effective strategic business partners Combine academic excellence and relevant HR industrial experience Strengthen participants’ HR competencies, operational excellence, and business strategy execution Emphasise practical application through action leaning approach Recognise outstanding alumni and students

Master of Human Resources Management (Part-time)

Master of Science in Applied Accounting & Finance (Full-time/Part-time) Graduates can be awarded exemption from ACCA for maximum 7 papers, CPA Australia for 1 professional paper and AIA for maximum 12 papers. On successful completion of a CIMA three-hour exam, graduates will be granted 11 exemptions from CIMA profession qualification and will be awarded the CIMA advanced diploma in management accounting Entrance Scholarships and Academic Awards available

A joint award offered by the Department of Marketing, HKBU and the Marketing Division of the Management School, The University of Sheffield Prepare relatively recent graduates in any discipline to work in the marketing function for multinational organisations Equip students with the skills and competencies needed to function as a global marketing practitioner Students enjoy global exposure by spending Semester 1 in The University of Sheffield and Semester 2 in HKBU Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)

• •

Prepare business (non-accounting) graduates to pursue a career in professional accounting Focus on knowledge, skills and competencies for an accounting professional/practitioner Accredited by the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) as equivalent to a Conversion Programme for HKICPA Qualification Programme admission purposes A maximum exemption of 9 papers (F1-F9) from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) professional examination Obtain exemption of 8 exams in CPA Program foundation level and are eligible to apply for CPA Australia Associate membership

Master of Philosophy (MPhil) / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Programmes (Full-time/Part-time) Fields of Research • Accountancy and Law • Economics • Finance and Decision Sciences

• •

Prepare students for a future corporate leadership role Provide students with practical knowledge in corporate governance Assist graduates to pursue professional careers in corporate governance and related fields, such as fund management, risk management, internal audit and board of directors’ support

Website: www.hkbu.edu.hk/buspg

Online application: http://gs.hkbu.edu.hk/apply

Management Marketing