HONG KONG: Chemist Albert Chan Sun-chi was selected yesterday to take the reins of the 53-year-old Baptist University, beginning next summer amid an outcry over what some called a lack of consultation during the selection process.

A group of students protested outside the consultation venue after Chan met more than 300 staff members, students and alumni in three forum sessions in one day.

After a deliberation of more than an hour, the university's council unanimously approved Chan's appointment.

Chan, 58, currently the vice president (research development) of the Polytechnic University, will succeed the retiring head, 69-year-old Ng Ching-fai, who served the university for eight years.

"I am thrilled and honored to have the chance to serve the Baptist University," Chan said. "I don't mind the pay level. The reason why I wish to become the president is that I have a mission to make the university better."

"With my knowledge, I can earn much more money if I take up other jobs," he added.

Wilfred Wong Ying-wai, the chairman of the university's council and the Search Committee, said Chan agreed to accept any pay level that the university would offer.

But Chan declined to say how much he will be paid.

Latest findings of Times Higher - QS World University Rankings showed that the Baptist University ranked 307th this year in the world while another five local universities were in the top 200.

Chan said he is confident that he will lead the university to join the global elite to win a place in the top 200 during his five-year tenure.

But he said whether it can make it to the top 100 will depend on the resources available.

"I wish to make it the world's best university that offers whole-person education," he said.

In a forum involving about 100 students and alumni yesterday, Chan said, "I will keep school affairs fair and transparent. I will resign if I can't keep my word."

Chan said the university's research and studies on Chinese medicine and the environment have potential to become the world's number one.

Meanwhile, Yip Cho-yan, the acting president of the Student Union, one of the protestors yesterday, said they condemn the university's decision of denying students' right to choose the next president.

But Wong fended off allegations that students, alumni and the staff had been kept in dark over the selection of candidates until yesterday's forums.

"We have to strike a balance between their rights to know and the smoothness of the overall operation," he said.

Wong said previous experiences in other universities showed that candidates may withdraw from the selection process if their names are leaked at an early stage.

He said the profiles of more than 1,300 scholars were reviewed and 31 of them were approached during the selection.

Chan was born on the mainland and brought up in Hong Kong. He is now a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and has been assuming management positions at the Polytechnic University since 2004.

He was one of the candidates competing for the City University's presidency in 2007.

(HK Edition 10/20/2009 page1)