You're a professor in sociology, the dean of students of a college, and now the chief admissions officer of the University. How do you prioritize your work?

These roles look conflicting at first but upon closer examination they can be integrated. My research interest lies in the sociology of education. One of its mainstream topics is the equality of educational opportunity, which investigates how one's social position is affected by equal access to education. Education as a social institution serves to provide a solid opportunity structure, wherein university admissions plays the important role of facilitating social mobility. In this way, I seem to have found a natural connection between my academic interest and my admissions portfolio. Academic perspectives and principles provide a safeguard for policy and implementation. My exposure to students of various backgrounds and interests in the college context further makes this a very nourishing experience.

You hold admissions talks at mainland cities frequently. How do you introduce CUHK?

I am not the hardsell type. I would touch upon topics such as university and society, university and character building, and how students of the 21st century should understand themselves and equip themselves to become life-long learners. I will then introduce the mission and vision of CUHK. I hope students and their parents have a clear idea about the University so they can make well-informed decisions.

How should a prospective student prepare for the transition from high school to university?

The Faculties of Science, Engineering and Social Science have introduced broad-based admission, meaning freshmen would study a common core of subjects before choosing any specific major programmes. Therefore, when knocking on university doors, students should at least have identified or attained a broad understanding of the kind of disciplinary areas they would like to explore. Second, more grounds can be covered in a four-year curriculum than a three-year one. Students should take this opportunity to develop freedom of thought and an independent character, instead of following close at the heels of their parents and teachers. Third, be modest. Even if you have made the elite programme you chose, that is not the end of it. You still need to keep an open mind, think independently and collaborate with peers from diverse backgrounds. I believe creative excellence is only possible if it is also coupled with a mastery of the basics while passion is a default.

In the age of tiger moms and helicopter parents, how do you see the parents' role in their children's choice of universities and majors?

If helicopter parenting refers to taking responsibility for children's educational experience, it is not necessarily a negative thing. It only shows how much faith Chinese parents have in education. I encourage parental involvement in choosing universities and majors, only if the parents have carefully evaluated the current social and manpower needs and future trends of our society, instead of going for whatever is most sought after at the moment. A comprehensive evaluation combined with their life experiences can make parents' suggestions most valuable. Some students said they made the decision on their own without consulting their parents. I don't think that's a good idea.

CUHK awards hundreds of scholarships every year. Who are the beneficiaries besides academic achievers?

Academic excellence is but one of the criteria. The University also gives due recognition to students who have demonstrated outstanding performance in other areas, such as community service, leadership, innovation and sports. There are scholarships that encourage students to take the road less travelled. Those dream-followers devote themselves to majors such as pure science, literature, history or philosophy. Their career prospects may not be as straightforward as those who are trained to be lawyers or financial executives or managers, but the spirit of independence and devotion to what they believe in is worth rewarding in itself.

Can you share your to-do list as Director of OAFA?

Most administrative units of a complex organization inclines to be inward-looking, but university admissions casts its sight both inside and outside the university. It involves an enormous amount of paperwork. I must make sure every procedure is executed with the utmost care and attention. If we fail to provide accurate guidelines when answering enquiries, troubles may ensue and worst of all, it may bring the University into disrepute. But I also keep reminding myself not to become a bureaucrat. I must look far and wide to continuously enhance our system of admissions in step with changing circumstances and in view of each freshman's entrance record and his/her performance afterwards. This is what a responsible admissions officer should do.