Right mix gets chemist top university job

Paul Lam Kwan-sing has been appointed Open University's new president and will succeed Wong Yuk-shan from April.

Lam is currently executive director of special projects at City University and a chair professor in its chemistry department. He will serve a four-year term as OpenU's sixth president, it was announced yesterday.

A worldwide head hunt to find Wong's successor began in March, and the search committee unanimously recommended Lam for the position.

Lam was appointed by the university council after meeting staff, students and alumni in three open forums yesterday.

He said he was honored by the appointment.

"While forging ahead with our pursuit of excellence in higher education and strategic research as a fully fledged university, we hold steadfast in our commitment to providing open and flexible academic programs to members of our community," he said.

Lam is a renowned scholar in environmental chemistry, ecotoxicology and environmental risk assessment.

During his time at City University, which began in 1994, he has assumed various management positions, such as acting vice president for undergraduate education, vice president for student affairs and director of state key laboratory of marine pollution.

He was also an OpenU council member from June 2011 to June 2017.

Wong started at the helm of the university in April 2014 and his term will end in March.

OpenU wants to rename itself and is inviting suggestions from the public to "better reflect its current status as a full-fledged university."