Prof Alan LAU has been appointed as the new President of the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) with effect from 12 December 2022. He will provide strategic leadership and operational management to enhance the quality of academic programmes and research outputs in support of industry growth of Hong Kong.

With his strong academic, research and industry background, and his wellestablished partnerships with the industry and professional bodies in Hong Kong as well as many universities in the Mainland and overseas, Prof LAU will bring in innovative and authentic learning platforms to enable younger generations to unleash their full potential, offer them opportunities to practise and engage with future stakeholders in an early stage, making them work-ready and productive graduates in the industry.

Prof LAU, being a seasoned Vocational and Professional Education and Training (VPET) educator, started his career as an aircraft maintenance apprentice in Hong Kong. He first joined Hong Kong Polytechnic University and then Swinburne University of Technology, Australia after working for years in various engineering companies in Hong Kong and Australia. Prior to commencement of the President role in THEi, Prof LAU was Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Partnerships and Digital Innovation) of Swinburne University of Technology, Australia to take charge of its research performance, international research, and ranking strategy.

Prof LAU holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (Hong Kong Polytechnic University) and Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees of Engineering in Aerospace Engineering (RMIT University). His professional qualification/memberships include Chartered Engineer, Engineering Council (CEng), Chartered Professional Engineers, Australia (CPEng), Fellow of The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (FHKIE), Fellow of The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (FIMechE), Fellow of The Institute of Engineering Designers (FIED), Fellow of The Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS), Fellow of The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (FIMMM), and Fellow of European Academy of Sciences and Arts.