Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research)
The University
Founded in 1911, the University of Hong Kong has attained its pre-eminence as a research-led comprehensive university through upholding the highest international standards of excellence in its research pursuits, scholarship, teaching and learning, and service to the community. The University is consistently ranked amongst the world’s top universities: 11th in QS World University Rankings 2026, 1st in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026 and 33rd in Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026. In recent years, the University was ranked multiple times as the most international University in the world.
The University has the most Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/Engineering of any local institution, and many of its scholars are amongst the top 1% in their field according to ISI’s Essential Science Indicators. Research in the Arts and Humanities, with diverse fields focusing on both local and global concerns, also makes a vital contribution to the University’s high international standing. In 2025, the University has set a new record with 54 academics named in Clarivate’s “Highly Cited Researchers” list, placing it 13th globally among all institutions based on the total number of researcher designations—including those recognised across multiple fields.
Researchers at the University repeatedly secure the lion’s share of competitive government research funding. In research output, the University holds a leading position in Hong Kong, both in the amount of output and the number of citations. The University has a wide range of international collaborations, including through collaborative research projects, visiting professorships, and joint doctorate programmes with world-class institutions, and actively participates in international networks.
Home to ten disciplinary Faculties (Architecture, Arts, Business and Economics, Dentistry, Education, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Science, and Social Sciences), the University is committed to fostering interdisciplinary exchange with an outlook for transformative breakthroughs, innovations and global impact. There are 42,330 undergraduate and postgraduate students from 97 countries, and more than 9,600 academic, academic-related and administrative staff. The University has embarked on a number of ambitious infrastructure and facilities projects for future expansion in the Northern Metropolis, Beijing, Shanghai and Europe.
The Position
The VP & PVC (Research) is a member of the Senior Management Team, and will partner with the President & Vice-Chancellor, the Provost & Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and the Deans to ambitiously expand the research enterprise of HKU; to lead cutting-edge developments in disruptive technologies, health, business, and the arts and humanities; and strategically to grasp the vibrant opportunities brought about by the development of the Greater Bay Area in China, the entrepreneurial globe, and the thriving research environment in Hong Kong. The appointment will be for a five-year term, subject to renewal and the position is accorded the status of University Officer.
The Person
The successful candidate will take a leadership role in driving the University’s overall research policies and strategies as well as in the development of research students and policies of postgraduate education. Major responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- charting the research landscape and identifying and meeting the emerging research opportunities of the future locally, nationally and internationally; strengthening existing initiatives and catalyzing new interdisciplinary initiatives;
- developing institutional research policies and procedures, and ensuring the highest standards of research integrity, ethics and compliance;
- strategizing and diversifying sources of research funding;
- stewarding the overall physical and computational infrastructure necessary for research leadership;
- overseeing research postgraduate education and training;
- cultivating relationships and facilitating the establishment of collaborative research partnerships;
- supporting the development of large scale and complex multidisciplinary research proposals; and
- promoting translational research and facilitating innovation, technology transfer and entrepreneurship.
The successful candidate should be an outstanding scholar at full Professor level or above, with distinguished international standing. He/She will have the ability to develop and communicate a strategic vision for a scholarly enterprise with broad University constituencies and provide leadership to pursue the vision. Demonstrated experience and success in a leadership role in administering a large research enterprise; extensive knowledge of and experience with research funding issues, policies and sources; demonstrated experience and commitment in postgraduate training and development; and experience in managing the relationship between research and technology transfer/entrepreneurship are looked for. The ability to interact with funding bodies and industries to effectively engage resources is expected. Knowledge and experience with the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) in Hong Kong or other university assessment mechanisms would be desirable. The successful candidate will be energetic, entrepreneurial-minded, and possess strong communication and people skills.
Nomination, Expression of Interest and Application
Nominations, expression of interest and applications should be directed to Heidrick & Struggles via email at hkuvpr@heidrick.com in confidence. Review of nominations and applications will begin now and will continue until the post is filled. The University is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to equality, ethics, inclusivity, diversity and transparency.
