Exclusive | It’s our ‘internal strength’: University of Hong Kong head on top rankings
Xiang Zhang likens HKU’s QS ranking advancement to training in martial arts, says good ranking is ‘by-product’ of university’s efforts to build up its academic excellence
In an exclusive interview with the Post, president Xiang Zhang said he was “very happy” about HKU’s latest advancement in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) rankings.
He said the achievement was a reflection of the “internal strengths” of the institution, akin to developing internal discipline and dedication in martial arts, as he noted a good ranking was a “by-product” of the university’s efforts to build up its academic excellence over the years.
“When your internal strengths build up, your appearance, muscles and everything show up, so ranking is appearance, but your internal strength is what HKU and I myself really focus on, the academic strengths and the quality, all of these matters,” he said.
Zhang said he liked to read martial arts novels like those by the late Hong Kong wuxia novelist Louis Cha Leung-yung, also known as Jin Yong, which reminded him that internal strengths were critical to building one’s reputation and standing.
Asked whether he was confident HKU could make it to the top 10 during his term, Zhang was optimistic, saying “I hope so” three times.