UIC's postgraduate programmes have become increasingly popular in recent years, and in February 2024, it welcomed Prof Huang Yu as Dean of Graduate School. With nearly 30 years of experience in education and management, what insights will he bring to the School as it faces the changing tides of technological development?
Prof Huang is UIC's Chair Professor and Dean of Graduate School. He received a BA degree in Journalism and an MA in Communication Studies from Renmin University of China and his PhD from the University of Westminster, UK, in 1993. Prior to joining UIC, he held various leadership positions at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), including Executive Associate Dean of Graduate School between 2011 and 2013, Dean of the School of Communication from 2013 to 2022, and Associate Vice-President from 2014 to 2022. Professor Huang was also appointed as the Senior Advisor to the President to provide professional advice on matters related to the development and strategic initiatives of HKBU.
During his time at HKBU, Prof Huang was one of the members of UIC's Council, and he witnessed the growth of UIC. He said it has cultivated all-round talents with international eyesight, tapping into traditional Chinese culture, and its practice over the years has become the standard for liberal arts education in China.
Prof Huang Yu visited UIC in 2018
The rapid development of artificial intelligence and other technologies has brought society to a crucial point. However, according to Prof Huang, the current concepts of ethics, morality, and aesthetics have lagged behind technological advancement, and liberal arts education can remedy the gap. "It educates students from a balanced perspective of science, technology, arts and humanities," he said.
Interdisciplinary, cross-disciplinary, non-disciplinary
Regarding the future of UIC's Graduate School, Prof Huang said the taught programmes and research programmes will be further enriched and more learning opportunities for students in the fields of humanities, business and data science will be provided. This year, the School along with the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Science and Technology have introduced three new programmes, MA in Communication-Sports, Health and Communication Concentration, Master of Science in Sustainable Energy Technology and Management, and Master of Science in Data Science with Concentration in Business Statistics.
In his opinion, an interdisciplinary mindset is in high demand for programme design as the world enters an era of high technology and digitalisation. "Interdisciplinary, cross-disciplinary, or even non-disciplinary thinking should be applied to it."
Liberal arts colleges can promote technological development in GBA
In recent years, UIC has been building up its strength in science and technology, advocating liberal arts education while emphasising the development of scientific research. In the future, he believed it could combine its advantages with those of HKBU to become more involved in the development of science and technology in the Greater Bay Area, especially in Zhuhai.
Prof Huang actively promoted exchanges between HKBU and mainland universities and assisted mainland students in studying in Hong Kong in the past. Now, working at UIC, he looks forward to strengthening communication with institutions in the Greater Bay Area to increase cooperation opportunities for students.
He also hopes to enrich students' international learning experience further, such as taking students on study tours to the countries of the Belt and Road Initiative to understand its impact on the local communities.
Prof Huang Yu leads students from HKBU and UIC to the Middle East for a study tour in 2024
Journalism as a lifelong passion
Recalling his choice of major after taking China's national college entrance examination, Prof Huang said he switched to journalism from law out of curiosity at the final moment. He was successfully admitted to the School of Journalism and Communication at Renmin University of China. Later, due to his excellent grades, he was guaranteed a postgraduate place to continue his studies in journalism.
Prof Huang remembered that in the 1980s, the journalism profession was glowing with idealism, and he is still inspired by his senior alum like Hu Shuli, who is passionate about the path to discovering the truth.
After immersing himself in academic research for decades, he has published more than 100 academic papers in English and Chinese in international journals and edited more than 10 academic books in English and Chinese. To recognise his contributions, the Chinese Communication Association awarded Professor Huang Yu the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023.
Pursuit of truth remains solid in tech trend
Facing the future trend, Prof Huang encouraged students to use and test more new high-tech tools to discover its strengths and weakness while practicing their creativity.
As for the impact of technological development on the field of communication, he said that artificial intelligence is currently developing at an unimaginable speed, which has led to the redefinition of standards and boundaries.
"Even so, seeking truth and truth is virtue will still remain the cornerstone of journalism," he said, "which are the most important principles we need to adhere to when facing the challenges of new technology nowadays."
From MPRO
Reporter: Cecilia Yu
Video: Covee Wang, Owen Li and Grace Yu
Photos provided by Covee Wang and the interviewee
Editor: Deen He
