Source: Lingnan College
Written by: Lingnan College
Edited by: Wang Dongmei

On November 12, 2016, the International Advisory Board (IAB) of Lingnan College, Sun Yat-sen University held its annual meeting in Shenzhen. The IAB was established in 2012 and consists of eminent international and Chinese business leaders, and academic leaders from leading global business schools. The Board meets once a year and 2016 marks its fifth annual meeting.
Prof. Carl P. Zeithaml, dean of the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia, chaired the meeting. Prof. Lu Jun, executive dean of Lingnan College, gave a presentation titled “Meeting Challenges and the Pursuit of Excellence”, introducing three major achievements Lingnan had accomplished in 2016, and six key challenges facing Lingnan now. Prof. Lu welcomed insights and suggestions from the board members, and called for their support regarding internship and placement opportunities, company visits, lectures, etc.

Prof. Liu Mingkang, honorary dean of Lingnan College, gave a presentation on priority issues and challenges that Lingnan faces domestically and internationally, specifying how the board members could help solve these issues. He then returned to the business climate overview of China and urged Lingnan to seize the moment and cultivate proper businessmen and women, and leadership in the new world.

Following the presentations, other members of the Board asked questions and offered comments and suggestions. Mr. Benjamin Hung suggested Lingnan become a talent “feeder” to a unique niche in a particular sector of China, where technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship would be a driving force for China’s future. Mr. Peter Wong raised the subject of marketing the university as one of the top 5 universities in China, inviting technology companies like Tencent or Huawei as an advisory committee to the university. Mr. Peter Wong explained that technology would help distinguish Lingnan from other schools. Mr. Neville Power proposed collaboration between Lingnan and his company.

Before the board meeting, Mr. Chen Biao, Vice Mayor of Shenzhen, met with Prof. Liu Mingkang and the IAB members.

IAB members and representatives who attended the meeting (in alphabetical order by surname):

Philip Chen
Managing Director, Hang Lung Group and Hang Lung Properties Limited

Raymond K.F. Ch’ien
Chairman, MTR Corporation Limited and Hang Seng Bank Limited

Jake Cohen (on behalf of David Schmittlein, Dean of MIT Sloan School of Management)
Senior Associate Dean, MIT Sloan School of Management

Benjamin Hung
Chief Executive Officer for the Greater China region, Standard Chartered

Koh Beng Seng,
Chief Executive Officer, Octagon Advisors (Shanghai) Co Ltd

Albert Ng (on behalf of Mark Weinberger, Global Chairman and CEO of EY)
Chairman, China; Managing Partner, Greater China; Ernst & Young

Neville Power
Chief Executive Officer, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd

Annie Wu, SBS, JP
Standing Committee Member, the National Committee of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference
Honorary Chairman, Beijing Air Catering Company Limited

Peter Wong (on behalf of Stuart T. Gulliver, Group Chief Executive, HSBC Holdings PLC)
Deputy Chairman, Chief Executive of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, HSBC Holdings PLC

Carl P. Zeithaml
Dean, F.S. Cornell Professor in Free Enterprise, McIntire School of Commerce, University of Virginia