The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Dean of the Faculty of Social Science
The University
Founded in 1963, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) ( http://www.cuhk.edu.hk ) is a forward-looking comprehensive research university with a global vision and a mission to combine tradition with modernity, and to bring together China and the West. Today CUHK is home to over 30,000 students and over 8,000 staff members (including a faculty team of over 3,400 full-time teaching and research staff members joining from all around the world). The University offers a broad spectrum of programmes up to the PhD level in various disciplines organized under eight Faculties (namely, Arts, Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Science and Social Science). Graduates worldwide stay connected with their alma mater through an extensive alumni network.
The Faculty
The Faculty of Social Science ( http://www.socsc.cuhk.edu.hk ) with its dedicated team of 320+ teaching and research staff members, 2600+ undergraduate and 2,000+ postgraduate students will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024. With eight schools and departments - Architecture, Economics, Geography and Resource Management, Government and Public Administration, Journalism and Communication, Psychology, Social Work, and Sociology - the Faculty is committed to achieving excellence with purpose and responsibility in both education and research. Its degree programmes, including five interdisciplinary programmes, attract some of the most outstanding students from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and around the world. Research excellence is a hallmark of the Faculty, which encourages interdisciplinary research that not only extends the frontiers ofknowledge but also delivers positive impact and value for society. Several programmes have been recognized globally for their outstanding accomplishments: in the 2023 QS World University Rankings, CUHK was ranked 20th globally in Communication and Media Studies; 23rd in Sociology; 24th in Geography; 45th in Psychology; and 59th in Economics. On the university level, CUHK placed 45th in the 2023 The Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
The Faculty of Social Science houses a number of research units, e.g., the Computational Social Science Laboratory, Centre for Cognition and Brain Studies, Centre for Chinese Media and Comparative Communication Research and CUHK-Tsinghua Joint Research Centre for Chinese Economy, to name but a few. The Faculty works closely with government, industry and other organizations in research and education, addressing the pressing challenges society faces and providing experiential learning opportunities for students. To expand the scope of its research impact and educational offerings, the Faculty collaborates actively with a wide network of national and international partners.
The Deanship
The Dean is a member of the University senior management team, reporting to the Vice- Chancellor/President, the Provost, and the University Council. As the academic and executive head of the Faculty, the Dean is responsible for shaping the Faculty’s development in alignment with the University’s strategic plan. He/she is responsible for the management of the Faculty’s resources, including human resources, budget and space, as well as educational
programmes and activities and research performance. He/she is also expected to engage actively in cultivating alumni, donor and community relations, building ties with industry, and extending educational and research networks and collaborations with regional (e.g., the Hong Kong-Macau-Guangdong Greater Bay Area) and global partners.
The successful candidate is expected to be an internationally recognized leader in his/her areas of specialization, with a proven record of academic excellence appropriate for appointment at the level of a full Professor in the Faculty. Requirements for the role include a broad vision, understanding of education and research in all areas within the Faculty, prior experience in academic leadership roles, proficiency in high-level planning and management, and the foresight needed for planning the Faculty’s long-term development. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are essential. Remuneration and benefit package for the post will be globally competitive, commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Applications and Nominations
We welcome applications from and nominations for qualified candidates for the post. Please send applications and or nominations in strict confidence to the Search Committee for the Dean of the Faculty of Social Science, c/o Mr Kieran Pollentine, Perrett Laver (Job reference no.: 6898; email:
