During the week of December 5-9, 2016, eleven Lingnan Foundation trustees visited with leadership and staff of our partners, Sun Yat-Sen University and Lingnan University Hong Kong. “The Trustees were delighted to be able to meet with our grantees.” said Dr. Ding-Jo Currie, President of the Lingnan Foundation. “They were able to get a sense of their challenges and priorities which will help our Board with their strategic planning.”
For the first time they held their Board meeting in Hong Kong. While in Hong Kong, Trustees met with the Board of the Lingnan University Alumni Association.
The Trustees enjoyed two reunion dinners with Lingnan W.T. Chan Alumni – one in Guangzhou and one in Hong Kong. And, several of the Trustees also served on a panel for a seminar about “Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship Development” hosted by Lingnan (College) University at Sun Yat-sen University.
- Lingnan Foundation Trustees’ Historic Visit
From left to right: Shenyu Belsky, Albert Chen, Sikee Louie, Michael Woo, Ding-Jo Currie, Chui Tsang, Edward Chow, Leighton Chan, Chi-Chao Chan, Rona Henry
- Learning Leaders’ Vision and Institutional Needs
Lingnan Foundation Chair Chui Tsang and Party Secretary CHEN Shunsheng of SYSU
We met with leaders of both SYSU and LUHK who shared their major plans in the coming years as well as their needs and challenges in achieving those goals. Due to the different nature of primary mission, SYSU and LUHK have different identities, directions, and needs.
- Meeting faculty, staff, and students
SYSU faculty and students involved with Service Learning Programs
We met many faculty, staff, and students from various grant programs funded by the Lingnan Foundation (LF). It was good to see programs which LF had a major role in seeding and supporting over the years become institutionalized with further expansion and success. Trustees visited various colleges and departments sharing many hours engaging directly with individuals to gather ground-level first-hand information about their programs and the universities. The exchanges were very insightful, engaging, and effective in better understanding the different perspectives.
- Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship Development Panel Discussion
Trustees with staff and few students who attended the panel presentation
The Trustees participated on a panel discussion with SYSU faculty member on the above topic with lively discussions among the Trustees as well as with SYSU students and alumni’s. There were over 100 in attendance and one piece of the feedback that Dr. Currie received was, “Your panel discussion had captured the attention of every student and faculty in attendance.” Thanks to all the Trustees who participated.
- Lingnan W.T. Chan Fellows Dinners
We held two separate dinners to be with Chan Fellows from both Gugangzhou and Hong Kong. Chan Fellows shared their reflections of their experiences with the impact it had on their personal and professional lives. The highlight was Trustee Leighton Chan’s sharing of personal accounts and stories of his grandfather – W.T. Chan. Please see photos sent by Elise Au, President of W.T. Chan Alumni Association and her words of appreciation below.
Trustees with Chan Fellows in Hong Kong
Trustees with Chan Fellows in Guangzhou, China
“On behalf of WT Chan Alumni Association, we would like to express our gratitude to all of you, host wonderful dinners meeting us in Hong Kong and Guangzhou. It's great we would share with all of you our recent working experiences and some insights. Thank you for your appreciations and supports to us, especially the ExCom-members and helpers.” Elise Au
- Meeting and Dinner with Lingnan (University) College (LUC) Board members
Trustees with Lingnan (University) College Board members in Hong Kong
Much was accomplished in a meeting with Past Board Chair James Woo and current Board Chair, James Wang. Lingnan Foundation hosted a dinner with LUC board members where history of L(U)C was reviewed and future was toasted with cheers.
