HKUST Annual Report 2022-2023

50 51 GOVERNANCE The Council 2023 is an important year for the University as it welcomes Prof. Harry SHUM Heung-Yeung, a world- renowned computer scientist, in leading the Council following the stepping down of Dr. Andrew LIAO Cheung-sing, who was in stewardship as Chairman for eight important years. The Council is also glad to see the joining of some new Members, whose experience and skill sets will contribute to the University’s development and governance on various fronts. With HKUST’s past three decades of successful operations, the Council will continue to be proactive in steering the strategic direction of the University and advising the Administration on its operations. Through its 11 Committees, each chaired by a Council Member, the Council exercises governance and offers advice to the University’s Administration team for the purpose of moving forward the related initiatives under the University’s Strategic Plan. The University was established under the HKUST Ordinance. The Court, the Council and the Senate are respectively the supreme advisory, governing, and academic bodies of the University. The Council and some of its Committees have been actively involved in the design process of the HKUST 3.0 Vision Plan, which aimed to clearly outline the landscape of the University’s development, as proposed by the President shortly after her assumption of presidency. Council Members had been consulted on numerous occasions, including the University Retreat, meetings and briefing sessions, on related initiatives and the Plan was formally approved by the Council in March 2023. As usual, Working Groups were and will be formed by Council and the Administration as necessary to enable sufficient review and deliberations on the road maps, related challenges of and opportunities for respective initiatives. Whilst the President, the Provost and the three Vice- Presidents are charged to manage the University’s operations to ensure its sustained development, the Council has lent its support to the Administration’s proposal to amend the University Ordinance, by