Prof. Simon Shun-Man Ho, the new Vice Rector responsible for academic affairs of the University of Macau (UM), assumes duty today (16th), with a term of office of five years. Similar to the recruitment of the Rector, Prof. Simon Ho was recruited through international open recruitment.
Prof. Ho expressed that his priority after taking office is to lead the newly established Undergraduate Curriculum Reform Committee to restructure the undergraduate curriculum model and introduce general education elements in order to nurture students’ leadership, creativity and research ability. The UM’s core objectives are to provide quality teaching and research and community service. Through the curriculum reform, the UM will be able to better meet social needs, Prof. Ho said. Besides, the UM is working towards the establishment of the Honours College, which will be the first one in the region. The Honours College aims to provide more unique learning, development and international exchange opportunities for outstanding students from all faculties of the UM, as elaborated by Prof. Ho. He also plans to enhance students’ learning English as a foreign language and to bring more international experts and scholars to the campus.
Before joining the University, Prof. Simon Ho is the first Chinese to receive the Faculty Pioneer Award from the Aspen Institute, USA, in recognition of his significant contributions to promoting good corporate governance and corporate social responsibility. This prestigious award was described as “Oscars of the Business School World” by the Finance Times last year.
Prof. Ho was born and received basic education in Hong Kong. He obtained a BBA degree from the University of Washington (USA), a MSc degree (with Distinction) in Information Systems from the London School of Economics (UK), and a PhD degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Bradford (UK). He holds several professional qualifications in accounting, information systems, and financial planning.
Prof. Ho has been engaged in teaching and research in Hong Kong’s higher education institutions for a long period of time and has extensive academic management experience. As Dean of School of Business and Director of Centre for Corporate Governance and Financial Policy (CCGFP) at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) from 2004 to 2009, he developed and launched the world’s first taught MSc programme in Corporate Governance and Directorship and the Inaugural Asia-Pacific Corporate Governance Conference. Before joining HKBU, he taught at the School of Accountancy of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) for more than 20 years. He served as the Director of the Centre for Accounting Disclosure and Corporate Governance from 1998 to 2004 and the Director of the School of Accountancy at CUHK from 1995 to 2002. Under his leadership, CUHK became the first accounting school outside North America to receive The Association to Advance Collegiate School of Business (AACSB) accreditation.
His recent works on family business governance, executive compensations and corporate social responsibility have attracted wide attention and several awards.
Caption: UM New Vice Rector (Academic Affairs) Prof. Simon Shun-Man Ho
