In recognition of the generous support of the Fung Hon Chu Foundation for the establishment of the “Fung Hon Chu Endowed Chair of Humanics” and in celebration of the conferment of this title on Professor John Nguyet Erni, Chair Professor and Head of Department of Humanities and Creative Writing, the University organised an Inaugural Lecture on “How Do We Inhabit Openness? Rethinking Whole Person Education?” by Professor Erni to share his wisdom and insights with the public on 10 September 2018.

Officiated by Dr. Victor Fung, Chairman of the Fung Hon Chu Foundation and Group Chairman of the Fung Group; Mr. Cheng Yan Kee, BBS, JP, Chairman of the Council and the Court; and Professor Roland T. Chin, President and Vice-Chancellor, the lecture was well attended by over 250 guests, including community leaders, University’s supporters, the general public as well as members of the Council and the Court, staff, students and alumni of HKBU.

In his welcoming remarks, Professor Chin expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Fung Hon Chu Foundation for its tremendous contributions to society, especially its staunch support to HKBU in promoting its whole person education development and various endeavours over the years. In his speech, Dr. Victor Fung said that the Foundation took pride in marking the first-ever Endowed Chair in the University as well as playing a role in its Endowed Chair Scheme. He hoped that the establishment of the “Fung Hon Chu Endowed Chair of Humanics” could help broaden young people’s minds and vision, thereby nurturing the next generation of outstanding all-round leaders for our community.

After an introduction to Professor Erni made by Dr. Albert Chau, Vice-President (Teaching and Learning), Professor Erni delivered his inaugural lecture. He shared his thinking on the question of “openness”, which he believes can reinvigorate the ethos of Whole Person Education, particularly through the concept of “critical diversity”. Discussing inclusion and the “strangers” around us, Professor Erni said that from a humanistic, anthropological and cultural perspective, the designation of the “whole person” demands our ability to navigate among the boundedness of society, the groundedness of our lived experience, and the openness of a seemingly boundless horizon.

To express the University's sincere appreciation, Mr. Cheng Yan Kee and Professor Roland T. Chin presented a souvenir to Dr. Victor Fung in recognition of the Fung Hon Chu Foundation's generosity. Mr. Cheng Yan Kee and Prof. Roland Chin hosted a dinner for the Fung Hon Chu Foundation after the inaugural lecture.

• Profile of the Fung Hon Chu Foundation
• Profile of Professor John Nguyet Erni
• Powerpoint of Inaugural Lecture “How Do We Inhabit Openness? Rethinking Whole Person Education?" by Professor John Nguyet Erni

Please click here for more details about the HKBU Endowed Chairs Scheme.