A luncheon was organized for female faculty members on 9 March to celebrate International Women's Day by the Task Force on Women and Family-Friendly Policies in CUHK. Prof. Pascale Fung, founding chair of the Women Faculty Association and professor of the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), was invited as guest speaker. In attendance were Prof. Joseph J.Y. Sung, Vice-Chancellor and 65 colleagues.
Professor Fung shared with the participants the HKUST programme for female faculty, how it was developed and sustained, and what she found to be useful for her colleagues. The talk was followed by group discussion about the concerns of female faculty members and what a women's support network could do for them.
The task force was established in May 2014 to promote a working environment that is responsive to the needs of women and colleagues with family responsibilities. The task force has the following composition:
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Co-convenors |
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Prof. Fanny M.C. Cheung, Pro-Vice-Chancellor |
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Prof. Fok Tai-fai, Pro-Vice-Chancellor |
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Members appointed on ad personam basis |
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Prof. Choi Yuk-ping Susanne, Department of Sociology and co-director of Gender Research Centre |
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Ms. Ho Yuen-yi Vivian, Director of Campus Planning and Sustainability |
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Ms. Lee Shun-king Corinna, Director of Personnel |
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Prof. Wong Ching-ping, Dean, Faculty of Engineering |
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Prof. Yip Hon-ming, chairperson of Department of History |
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Prof. Yu Chai-mei Jimmy, Head of United College |
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Secretary |
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Ms. Alice Ngan, Director, Special Projects Office |
A recent survey on Mentoring on Career Development for Female Academic Staff was launched by the task force. Respondents to the survey expressed the need for mentoring and a support network among female faculty members. The task force has also identified four nursing rooms in Chung Chi College Administration Building, Pommerenke Student Centre, Chan Chun Ha Hall, and Tsang Shiu Tim Building to be renovated to provide a private and hygienic environment for breast-feeding mothers.
