Prof. Chia-Wei WOO

Prof. Woo was one of the few individuals with both grand visions and strong capability of execution. With unwavering dedication, he led the establishment of HKUST, transforming a bold vision into a world-class institution renowned for its pioneering research, innovation, and global impact, especially during a time when Hong Kong was in a critical juncture of transitioning to a knowledge-based economy. His departure marks an irreplaceable loss to our University, Hong Kong and the global academic community, but his wisdom, humility and dedication to “creating, not replicating” will continue to inspire our community.

A man of extraordinary foresight, Prof. Woo envisioned and empowered HKUST as a catalyst for Hong Kong’s transformation. He forged a culture of excellence, recruiting distinguished faculty, designing cutting-edge curricula, and fostering partnerships with leading global institutions. His insistence on cross-disciplinary collaboration and a forward-looking research agenda laid the foundation for HKUST’s enduring success. Today, as we rank among the top universities worldwide, we remain steadfast in upholding the mission he so passionately advanced. His legacy has not only been etched in the walls of our university but also in the hearts and minds of every individual he inspired.

家国情怀 师道慈心
----怀念吴家玮校长

在这哀伤的时刻，我的脑海中不由地浮现出与吴家玮校长相识二十余年来的相处画面，每一幕都仿若昨日，清晰且深刻，如今回想起来，心中满是不舍。
吴家玮校长伉俪生于上海徐汇，祖籍浙江（杭州与宁波），而我是浙江宁波人，我的复旦导师陶瑞宝院士曾说过，吴校是他的恩师。地缘渊源加上师承纽带，使得我对吴校长天然有一份亲近感。
第一次见到吴校长，是在2004年的某个夜晚，于香港科技大学LG5餐厅。他衣着简朴，儒雅气质与沉稳气场让我印象深刻。当时我穿着印有“复旦”字样的T恤，引起了他的注意，就坐下来聊天。他问了我很多，在得知我是物理系博士生、又是师从陶瑞宝院士和沈平教授后，便不疾不徐地分享了自己对物理科研工作生活的洞察，那些精妙的话语仿若一把钥匙，打开了我对科研教育多元可能的认知大门。
初次添加吴校长微信时，我恭敬地称呼他为“尊敬的吴校长”，他却回复：“请叫我‘家玮’。”这份毫无架子的亲切令我既惊且敬。与其相处愈久，愈能感受他的幽默与温情。2023年暑假，吴校长因急性胆囊炎住院。他笑言：“这病叫‘提心吊胆’，切了胆囊便是‘无胆匪类’。嘻嘻！”术后探望时，他仍与我畅谈两小时教育革新，字字句句尽显对教育发展的关心。
对于世界大学排名，他的观点是，“大学有不同定位、不同规模，怎能在一块儿比较？”他以香港科大与港大、美国伯克利与加州理工为例，指出，大学排名是苹果跟眼镜比。家长在乎。官员在乎。于是大学也不敢不在乎了。他更关注中国高等教育的两个短板——作为全球制造业基地所不可或缺的高档次职业教育，以及适合新时代国情的学堂制博雅教育。为此，他与吴清辉教授团队合作深入研究西方教育先进国家有关理念、体制、落实、成败，希望提出较为成熟的看法，让政府和社会参考，以扭转群众思维，改变应试内卷的局面。
2023年初，我心怀忐忑跟吴校长汇报了我向上海徐汇区政协提交的提案《创建港科大上海中心 完善沪港产学研基地》，吴校长非常认可。他谈到，跨地域教育合作的核心在于文化的互通与人才培养模式的互鉴，要敢于突破传统教育框架，大胆引入国际资源，为学生搭建走向世界的桥梁。那一刻，他不仅是在解答疑惑，更是在我心底种下一颗敢想敢为的种子，让我决心以无畏之姿深耕教育领域。
在后续我筹备港科大上海中心期间，他对教育纯粹的热爱与执着常常给我力量。他总说，教育绝非知识的机械传递，而是灵魂与灵魂的碰撞，是点燃青年一代对未知探索热情的火种。他身体力行，穿梭于世界各地学术殿堂，将先进的教育方法、前沿的科研成果带回，滋养莘莘学子求知若渴的心。
他的回忆录《洋墨水》《红墨水》《玻璃天花板》，在我办公桌上放着，还没来得看完，如今，惊闻吴校长离去的噩耗，仿若一颗璀璨星辰从教育的苍穹陨落，无尽的悲痛涌上心头。但我深知，他为教育事业铺就的道路还在延伸，他的精神早已融入每一位受他恩泽的教育工作者血液之中。我们会带着他对教育的热忱、对创新的追求、对青年成长的关怀，砥砺前行。
对于教育，他总有家国情怀。对于后辈，他常常给予鼓励。我和很多来港求学的同学都受惠于他在担任港科大校长期间开始实行的内地学生赴港读书的政策。这一路走来得到过吴校长的很多指点，我感到幸运，往后岁月，我将不负所望，让教育之光在您奠基的蓝图上愈发璀璨，让您未竟的理想于世间绽放华彩。
吴校长，愿您安息。

学生 徐祖力
二零二五年三月十八日

謹向吳家瑋教授致以沉痛哀悼, 並向吳教授的親屬和同事致以誠摯慰問， 敬請節哀！

斯人已逝, 風范永存! 在此對吳家瑋先生的逝世致以沉痛哀悼, 並祈望家屬節哀保重.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐖𝐨𝐨. 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞..🙏🏻
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今天早上傳來吳校長離世的消息，十分宛惜。
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吳家瑋教授是我們香港科技大學（科大）創校校長，創校之前曾任美國三藩市州立大學校長，是美國歷史上首位華裔大學校長。我十分榮幸能先後從這兩間學校中畢業，又曾和吳校長聚餐對談，所以對他離世的消息多了一份感觸。
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想起吳校長多年前曾在我的科大迎新營上給我們那一屆新生的勉勵。又想起我們第一次交談實際上是在我科大國際演講會 ( 𝘏𝘒𝘜𝘚𝘛 𝘛𝘰𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘊𝘭𝘶𝘣 )的創會典禮上，我作為新生代表之一非常有幸地能與吳校長直接寒暄對話。而誰又想到多年之後我能在三藩市附近與吳校長聚餐。很記得那次聚餐的點滴：吳校長跟我們說起學校的一些故事，也說過他和其他幾位創校元勛當年對未來科大畢業生的憧憬，又提到對學校將來的一些看法。
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學校的掉念新聞稿形容吳校長為高瞻遠矚，追求卓越。我個人則更傾向於 感受到 他 的友善、幽默、温暖、充滿熱枕 的個人魅力。
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記得校長說過「科大其實是沒有正式的校訓或格言的」。縱然現在的科大在很多人努力之下慢慢成長，逐漸有了自己的風格，但我覺得最珍貴的還是當初我看到的那份初心和那多樣的可塑性。對我而言，這才是 「科大精神和品格」的本源。
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若要更具體地形容：其實 你 只要 在早上沿著北門走入的校園，迎著晨光走落大學之道，途經振翅的紅鳥、空廣透光的學校大堂、遍地光芒的學術長廊；或者這時候你能夠手拿著一杯熱騰騰的即磨咖啡，面對心曠神怡的晨曦和海景呼吸一下，感受一下周圍， 如果你是科大人 或者就會明白了。
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而這一切離不開吳校長和其他創校元勛當初的理念和努力。感恩。
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謝謝您，吳校長！
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我會記得嘅 🫡
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Thank you Prof. Woo. We are honored and very lucky to have you. You will be missed. May your rest in peace!
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也謝謝您自我們創會20多年以來一直都很支持我們科大國際演講會 ( 𝘏𝘒𝘜𝘚𝘛 𝘛𝘰𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘊𝘭𝘶𝘣 )！🙏🏻

Yours sincerely
𝘼𝙢𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙇𝙚𝙚
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𝘉𝘉𝘈 (𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘢 & 𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘯)
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𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 & 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵
𝘏𝘒𝘜𝘚𝘛 𝘛𝘰𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘊𝘭𝘶𝘣
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March 4th 2025
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#相片攝於2017在三藩市附近的聚餐
#十分榮幸有機會能和吳校長細談還有請他在他的創校誌上簽名
#有他簽名的創校誌現在還在我的枱頭書架上
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Very honored to meet with our Founding President, Prof. Woo in Fremont CA 2017☺️
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#香港科技大學創校校長; #HKUSTFoundingPresident;
#AlsoSFSUPresident;
#ProfChiaWeiWoo;

From the efforts to attract and recruit world-class talent to securing funding for state-of-the-art research facilities as the foundation for the new University, Professor Woo and my late father, Sir Chung Sze-Yuen, formed a lasting mutual respect and friendship beyond their respective time with HKUST.

We, as a family, were privileged to make our own acquaintances with Professor Woo and his wife, Yvonne, at my late father's various birthday celebrations. Even from our short exchanges, I could immediately relate to the many tributes here of his engaging and infectious personality. Never one to rest, he always had personal projects to pursue!

Our deepest sympathy to Yvonne and family for the early loss of a great and influential scholar and gentleman.

尊敬的吴家玮校长：

港科大北京校友们听闻您的离世感到无比悲伤，愿您的家人节哀珍重。

您的一生是一部精彩纷呈的传记。自上海出生、香港成长，至美国求学并取得卓越成就，最终回归香港，为HKUST的建立与崛起做出了不可磨灭的贡献。 “创造，而非复制”的信念，铸就了港科大学子追求卓越、凡事皆可为的创新基因。

您作为HKUST的创始校长，以非凡的胆识和远见，将HKUST带入世界顶级研究型学府，您不仅是伟大的教育家，科技创新的引领者、更是国际文化桥梁的搭建者。

您的智慧与精神将不断激励我们每一位科大人勇敢前行。

愿您安息！

香港科大北京校友会敬上
2015年3月18日

As a long time HKUST colleague, my memories of Professor Chia-Wei Woo run deep. His enthusiasm and dedication are well known, and his standards were always very high. Traveling in the university minibus in the 90's to outreach events sponsored by Helmut Solemn at the HK club, Chia-Wei would entertain us with his many recruitments and start up stories. On one bus ride I remember him proudly declaring that HKUST was only one stoplight away from Central thus not that far from the city.

While Chia-Wei had not initially focused on building a business School, he was delighted and perhaps surprised at our early strength and fast progress. When asked why management was not in the UST name, Chia-Wei claimed that he viewed management as a form of technology. He was quick to appreciate our plans to start up the Kellogg-HKUST EMBA partnership despite many bureaucratic hurdles. When I presented the plan to council for final approval in 1996, he was very enthusiastic and supportive. It helped that he had been a senior faculty at Northwestern and knew the quality of the University. Always supportive and always approachable, Chia-Wei was a man with his hands on the wheel and his eyes to the future. Academia has lost an icon who will be very much missed.

Prof. Woo was special to all HKUST alumni. He was visionary but down-to-earth, pleasant but affirmative, and entrepreneurial but remained committed to leading a top research-oriented University. I was fortunate to have my only two degree certificates signed by him, and I will always fondly remember the way he projected HKUST to others. I recall during the congregation ceremonies, Prof. Woo would read a story about fictional “graduates” from HKUST, how they progressed in their study and afterwards in life. Back then in the lab we would hunt for whether the characters in his story existed in the real world, and indeed a few years later some student was admitted with the same name he used! In his story he chose a Hong Kong name in Cantonese pronunciation and another name in Mandarin pronunciation, reflecting his foresight of the HK-mainland China integration since the beginning of HKUST.

Prof. Woo will be dearly missed by us.

在此谨代表全体在沪校友，向吴校长的辞世致以最深切的哀悼，并向其家属致以诚挚的慰问。

吴家玮校长是港科大精神的奠基者，是无数校友心中永恒的灯塔。三十余年前，他以高瞻远瞩的魄力与炽热的教育理想，在清水湾畔缔造了一所世界级学府。吴校长以渊博的学识、谦和的品格与坚韧的担当，带领港科大从一片荒芜中崛起为国际学术重镇，为香港、为国家培养了无数栋梁之才。他的远见卓识与教育情怀，早已成为港科大人共同的精神基因。

24年6月份吴校长还亲临了上海校友会的年会，与200多位在沪校友共同度过了一个愉快的晚上，这也成为我们很多人美好的回忆~

祈愿吴校长安息，亦望家属节哀珍重。港科大人的心与您同在，我们永远怀念您。

香港科技大学上海校友会
全体成员 敬上
2025年3月18日

驚悉吳家瑋校長逝世的消息，心裡感到萬分難過。希望他的家人節哀順變。

還記得，每當和吳校長交談，都感受到他對科大事事的投入。 他魄力驚人、博學多才，和自信滿滿。科大在他的領導下成績斐然。我們在心中永遠懷念他。

各位同仁、各位朋友：
当我们在港科大清水湾畔追忆家玮校长时，仿佛仍能感受到这位战略科学家以非凡的学术洞察力勾勒出的知识版图。三十多年前，先生以敢教日月换新天的魄力，在香港创办了一所国际顶尖研究型大学，香港科技大学。他强调的"重基础、重交叉、重创新"办学理念，不仅塑造了港科大独特的学术基因，更为全球高等教育改革提供了东方范式。

我有幸于1993年7月加盟港科大，在家玮领导下，港科大人都是夙兴夜寐的奋斗者。 全校上下一条心将港科大在极短的时间建成了一所国际顶尖学府。先生常言"创新是学者的天职"，先生是一位精准的学术架构师，既能在宏观层面把握学科演进方向，又深谙微观层面的科研规律。这种顶天立地的治学理念，造就了港科大独特的创新生态系统。先生劳苦功高，您的教导、您的功劳永远铭刻在港科大的历史中。

先生虽已驾鹤，但先生构建的创新矩阵仍在持续释放能量。实验室里涌现的创新浪潮，学子眼眸中跃动的求知星火，皆是对先生精神最生动的传承。让我们以先生为炬，在探索未知的道路上永葆赤子之心，让港科大的创新之火永远照亮人类认知的边界。

吴家玮教授精神永续传承，辉耀寰宇！

尊敬的吳家玮教授：

香港科技大學內地生校友會全體成員懷著無比沈痛的心情，向我們敬愛的創校校長吳家玮教授致以最深切的哀悼，並向吳校長的家人致以最誠摯的慰問。

您以卓越的遠見和赤子之心，在荒蕪的清水灣土地上建起了壹座學術殿堂。您帶領港科大從零起步，短短數十年間便發展成爲全球頂尖學府。您堅信“凡事皆可爲”，以開拓者的勇氣帶領科大人勇攀高峰，將“追求卓越、創新敢爲”的基因深深镌刻在港科大的血脈之中。

作爲促進香港與內地高等教育交流的先行者，您始終秉持家國情懷。您推動港科大成爲香港最早面向內地招生的高校之壹，爲兩地的學術交流搭建了堅固的橋梁。正是在您倡導的開放包容的精神下，內地生校友會于2012年成立。十三年來，一批又一批內地學子在港科大的沃土上學習、成長、畢業，帶著這份追求卓越、敢爲創新的信念投身各行各業。

今日，港科大人遍布大江南北，各行各業，以科技創新為國家的發展服務，正是對您理念和教導的踐行。我們作爲港科大的青年學子，將不忘創校先賢的奮鬥足迹，繼承愛國愛港的優良傳統，以“紅鳥精神”爲翼，在科研探索與社會責任中踐行“凡事皆可爲”的信念，將個人的奮鬥融入祖國的發展中。

您雖已遠去，但您鑄就的精神豐碑將永遠指引我們前行！

香港科技大學內地生校友會

惊闻吴校长仙逝的消息，十分突然，去年夏天和吴校长见面的情景历历在目，仿佛就在昨天。
去年6月，吴校长专程从香港赶到上海，与在沪校友及师生进行交流，向校友们介绍了港科大上海中心的最新进展，还详细的询问了上海校友会的情况。当晚吴校长特地来到校友年会现场，与校友们亲切互动。吴校长一出现便受到在场所有人自发起立热烈鼓掌，掌声经久不息，令人动容。我想这一幕也留在了老人家的心里，他感受到了上海校友的热情、尊敬和感谢。
这是我第一次见到吴校长和他近距离交流，深感荣幸。今年年初上海校友会邀请吴校长再次来上海参加校友年会，他欣然应允，没想到上次的见面竟成了永别。我们深深感谢吴校长对校友们的关心，深切缅怀。我们将不负嘱托，齐心协力与母校共同发展，这就是对老人家最大的告慰。

内地学生学者联谊会全体成员谨以此信，深切缅怀香港科技大学创校校长吴家玮教授，并向吴校长的家人、港科大全体师生致以诚挚慰问。

“创基立业、敢为人先、立德树人、心系家国”，这是吴校长的真实写照。
”追求卓越”、“凡事皆可为“，这是吴校长留给我们的港科大精神。

吴校长虽已远去，但他铸就的精神丰碑将永远指引我们前行。愿先生之风，山高水长！

Obituary: Remembering Hong Kong’s Pioneering Research Academic (Part 2)

By Tony Chan (Caixin Global, March 16, 2025)

In his book “To Create Together,” or “同創” in Chinese, Chia-wei documented his personal experience building the university. I read this book several times before deciding to join the institution. This book deserves to be much better known, not only for the history of HKUST, but for the invaluable guidance it provides anybody planning to open a new university anywhere. He was also partially responsible for an insider nickname of HKUST as “Diaoyutai University,” because many of the original faculty members knew Chia-wei through the Diaoyutai movement by Chinese Americans in the U.S. in the early 1970s. Another legend has it that Chia-wei was responsible for HKUST not having a faculty club, which are common in universities around the world — he believed that all common spaces at HKUST should be accessible for all students! This gives a glimpse into how important students were to him.

Finally, Chia-wei was one of, perhaps the, first person to propose the notion of the “Greater Bay Area.” He mentioned the concept in his HKUST 1997 Congregation speech, andit was resurrected in recent years by local governments in Hong Kong and on the mainland. In particular, he saw early on the importance and rise of Shenzhen, especially in technological innovation, and started a partnership with South University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), which I inherited and tried to push forward. As a result, he was named an honorary citizen of Shenzhen.

On a personal level, Chia-Wei has been an inspiration for me, ever since I learned that he was the first Asian American to become president of a major U.S. university. At that time, San Francisco State University (SFSU) was the largest school in San Francisco. For his contributions, he was awarded the Golden Key of San Francisco and Chia-wei Woo Day was declared by the city mayor. His contribution to Hong Kong was recognized by the region’s Golden Bauhinia Star and a CBE Order of the British Empire from Queen Elizabeth II. In hindsight, he was a role model for me, and many other Chinese academics, to take up leadership roles.

I remember first meeting Chia-wei around 1990 at Los Angeles International Airport, where he rented a meeting room to meet with recruits. Shortly after that, I visited the HKUST temporary offices on Canton Road in Kowloon. There were only vice presidents and a few deans — hardly any faculty members yet. Some years later, he came to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and I was his official host and coordinator. We spent over an hour in his hotel room at discussing his vision for and the progress of HKUST. This led to an actual recruitment trip for me to HKUST for the position of chair of the mathematics department. For reasons I cannot clearly recall, I did not end up joining the university until 2009 when I became its third president. So, it wasn’t a pure coincidence that I joined HKUST — Chia-wei was always there recruiting me, either directly or indirectly. If I achieved anything at HKUST, I did so by standing on Chia-wei’s shoulders.

Chia-wei had always been an extrovert, never shy to share his opinion, however contrarian it may be. There was also always a “maverick” trait in him — daring to take risks and try new things.

In closing this obituary, let me quote him from an interview he gave in 1987, which ended with this quote: “To me, the most important thing is to keep the pride and faith in one’s own culture and background. People should bring that, as a treasure, to the main street of America…Yet if in that process we lose the best trait in the Asian culture, then what have we got to give to this country that others haven’t given already?”

http://maxmillard.com/articles/chiawe.htm

Obituary: Remembering Hong Kong’s Pioneering Research Academic (Part 1)

By Tony Chan (Caixin Global, March 16, 2025)

Professor Woo Chia-Wei, the founding president of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), passed away on March 2 at the age of 87. He was a giant in the academic world, not only in Hong Kong, but in all of China, and indeed the world. HKUST, founded in 1991, was the first research-focused university in Hong Kong and its establishment inspired many other local universities to do the same. The primary research funding agency in Hong Kong, the Research Grants Committee, was established in the same year.

https://hkust.edu.hk/news/announcements/hkust-mourns-passing-founding-president-prof-chia-wei-woo

Chia-Wei had the foresight to see the rise of modern China and Hong Kong’s unique role in it. He did this at a time when China was still a relatively poor and developing country, and when Hong Kong was facing the imminent uncertainty that would follow its end as a British colony and return to China. He had a vision for what science and technology could do for Hong Kong, China and the world, and how to build an international university of science and technology in the city.

He had to overcome immense obstacles of convincing a skeptical local society on the role of science and technology, and to find funding for a university of this kind. In this respect, he had help from one of the foremost political leaders in Hong Kong at the time, Sir Chung Sze-yuen and the generous financial support from the Hong Kong Jockey Club. He also had to meet the challenge of recruiting top faculty and staff in the late 1980s to join for a university that did not exist yet in a city without a strong reputation for science and technology. The immensity of his achievements cannot be overemphasized.

I was privileged to be the third president of the university. In that position, I have experienced firsthand the impact of what Chia-wei created. The world has changed dramatically since HKUST first opened its doors but it is a testament to his foresight and vision that much of what he created for the university and Hong Kong remain as valid today as it was back then.

Partly due to seeds that he had sowed, HKUST was ranked the top university in Asia by QS World University Rankings from 2011-2013, first in the Financial Times’ ranking of global E-MBA programs from 2012-2024, 10th by QS in Data Science and AI worldwide in 2024 and 10th in the 2024 Times Higher Education worldwide Impact Ranking.

One of Chia-wei’s personal mantras was “First rate people attract first rate people, but second rate people recruit third rate ones.” HKUST has used this principle to recruit talent ever since. He did much of the recruiting himself, traveling around the world, meeting and convincing potential recruits to take a chance on a new university in Hong Kong. He was very successful in this regard: without much of a reputation at the time,Chia-wei relied on his charm and long-term vision to inspire recruits. When confronted with the question of the uncertainties Hong Kong faced in the late 1980s, he would say: “It’s uncertain times like this that we need your special talent!” Legend has it that in the early days of HKUST, the lights in the laboratories were mostly still on well into midnight. Many attribute this fervor and hardworking ethos to the mission-oriented spirit that Chia-wei instilled in all faculty members.

吳家瑋教授千古! 風范永垂!

同濟大學

香港科技大学：

惊悉吴家玮教授因病逝世，专此奉唁，谨致沉痛悼念。

姚梦迪
中山大学国际合作与交流处（港澳台事务办公室）
港澳台事务科

致：香港科技大学：

惊闻香港科技大学创校校长、著名物理学家吴家玮教授辞世，悲恸难抑！特此致电，谨以"弟张杰"之名向家玮兄作最后告别，并向家玮兄家属致以最深切的慰问，望节哀保重！

随附唁电，烦请转达，谢谢！

张杰
上海交大第39任校长
中国科学院院士、 上海交通大学李政道研究所所长

亲爱的香港科技大学同仁：

闻悉贵校创效校长吴家玮教授仙逝，华南理工大学全体师生深感悲痛，特发来唁函，谨致哀悼，并向吴家玮教授亲属致以诚挚慰问！

斯人已逝，风范长存！吴家玮教授千古！

华南理工大学

On behalf of VinUniversity -Hanoi - Vietnam, we are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of HKUST Founding President, Professor Chia-Wei Woo. Please accept our sincerest condolences for this great loss.
A distinguished educator, visionary leader, and exceptional scholar, Professor Woo’s unwavering dedication was instrumental in shaping HKUST into the esteemed institution it is today. His impact on your university and the global academic community will be remembered with deep respect.

憶科大創校校長 科教灣區先行者

香港經濟近年算不上亮麗，若要走上新台階，有識之士都近乎有種共識，新的動力應來自創新科技能否生根成長為綠蔭大樹，香港教育是否會更上層樓，變成國際公認的教育中心，及香港與大灣區融合，如何發揮更大協同效應。

很多人不知道，30多年前便指出科技、教育與大灣區這3個方向，並身體力行，日夜為此操勞的，正是極有遠見及工作能力的先行者吳家瑋校長。

是的，家瑋校長已經離開了，在3月2日。我與家瑋過從頗密，除了在科技大學多年的同事關係外，近年因有新科技之便，每三兩天總會通過微信吹吹水。

他去年底到三藩市灣區的弗雷蒙（Fremont）治病，在醫院病床上發來一張半躺着的照片，依然神采飛揚，十分生猛，但其後多天沒收他來信，已感不祥。春節前後收到他傳來的一些視頻才較為安心。

我最後收到他的視頻，是關於烏克蘭如何自廢武功的，我答曰烏國現時比1919年的中國更慘，他們應發起個五四運動，外抗強權，內除國賊，家瑋說：「晚了。都給澤連斯基毁了。」這2月23日的評論，是我收到他的最後信息。他當時只剩下一個星期的生命，但對世界大事的關心絲毫不減，頭腦依然敏銳，評論一針見血，真異人也！
吳家瑋最大企盼 下一代不斷進步

在眾多通訊中，有兩個細節我印象深刻。第一是他特別喜歡一些胖嘟嘟玉雪可愛的中國小女孩，每見她們有天真聰慧的表現，家瑋便從心底露出喜悅。這反映出這名教育家，最大的喜樂便是見到國家的下一代能成長起來。

第二是他極重情義，他最常分享的音樂是不同版本的歌曲《友誼萬歲》（蘇格蘭歌名是Auld Lang Syne），最喜歡的是一位男低音唱出以電影《魂斷藍橋》作背景的那個版本。這經典電影片我看過多次，提到主角慧雲‧李（Vivien Leigh），家瑋即說，他那個年代的男生都喜歡她，但不喜歡《亂世佳人》的另一主角小鬍子奇勒‧基寶（Clark Gable）。這些都是今天被視作史前人物的大明星，但家瑋為何常被《友誼萬歲》勾起心中柔軟的一片？我估計，他雖殺伐果斷，亦常與同事及朋友爭論得面紅耳赤，但他的友誼之情卻是真誠深沉的。

熱切企盼着下一代不斷進步及把同事視為戰友，正好貫徹他創辦科技大學這個他一生人中最大的志業。家瑋在這方面的貢獻是無人可比擬及艱巨的。論述科大的創校經驗，要寫很多本書才能做到，家瑋的《同創》、孔憲鐸的《背水一戰》、錢致榕的《敢為天下先》、齊錫生的《香港科大，還有甚麼好說的？》都是發人深省的巨著，不用我湊熱鬧。在此只加少許筆墨。

科大創立 中國首家研究型大學

科大的創立是劃時代的，其深遠的意義尚未被教育界以外的人所充分了解。它是香港，以至整個中國的第一所研究型大學。從前整個大中華地區都沒有此類大學，美國則在19世紀末從德國抄過來，建立了約翰霍普金斯（Johns Hopkins University）這第一所美國的研究型大學，美國後來科技上能獨領風騷與此關係密切。

科大引入了一系列研究型大學的管治制度及人才，迅速冒起，不但香港其他大學在90年代中開始群起仿效，中國內地亦然。但這是極其艱苦及困難的任務，尚要面對不少不知情者的風言風語。家瑋為人張揚，不怕據理力爭，與人火拼，這本是創新者必有的風格，總會得罪不少人，但同時也會贏來很多人的尊敬。

事後看來，家瑋是成功的，在他那個年代，海外有頭有面的華裔學者幾乎都要來科大體驗一下，這些人大多桀驁不馴，個個老子天下第一，如何把他們放在一起，慢慢形成一個執着於追求卓越互相尊重的生態圈，當中艱巨不為外人語。但他所取得的經驗，對中國的教育及科技的貢獻，卻無可估量。

家瑋退休以後，其實從未有真正休息過，他精力驚人，身怀绝症卻只視為怪病，他一直都在思考高等教育及推動科研的模式。十多年前他還一直計劃創辦一所新的博雅型大學，他亦得到內地的不少支持。此事因多種原因沒有實現到，但他的探索思考，卻使他對教育的理念更推上新台階。

近年我因負責過一段時間科大的退休教授協會，多次組織了一些家瑋積極參與的關於高等教育的討論會，從中可見，家瑋一發聲論述高等教育的各種模式，現場就算原來吵鬧的，也會靜下來，人人豎起雙耳凝神聆聽，生怕漏了些甚麼，這都是因為大家聽得兩句便立知非是等閒。

首提大灣區概念 港怎配合發展

家瑋也是大灣區這概念的第一人。30多年前我每到他辦公室，都會見到一張巨型大灣區地圖，他每每滔滔不絕地論述這地區應如何發展，香港應如何配合等。據陳繁昌校長的考證，1997年科大畢業典禮中家瑋的演說便是以此為主題。當年沒有多少人明白大灣區的重要性，但這更顯出真正的先行者的眼光。

校長是一位科學家，但正如他公子德愷教授所言，他是一位Renaissance Man（多才多藝的文藝復興人）。他與我交好，意氣相投，想來都是因為我們都有共同的知識追求興趣。哲人其萎，思之涕然！

雷鼎鸣 （香港經濟日報 2025-3-14)

Remembering Prof. Woo Chia-wei

I was sad to hear the news. He will be missed.

I want to share a couple of anecdotes – two of my encounters with him in the early days of the University. I was a very junior staff and only ever knew the President casually, but he knew who I was and always had a smile or a nod.

In the early 1990s, HKUST had a dinner party. I don’t recall the event – perhaps a staff association function. After dinner, the mahjong tables were set up and somehow I ended up in a foursome with my boss and the President. I warned them I had barely learned how to play and would be slow – but they needed a fourth and there I was. It was enjoyable, especially as we were only playing for points, and low ones at that. There was much talk, and fun, and tea. At the end of the night, the other players unexpectedly (to me) pulled out their wallets and started settling up, passing $100 notes to each other – while I sat there with almost no cash in my pocket! I recall both Chia-wei and my boss chuckling at the joke and telling me not to worry about it. It was a good night and the President was very down to earth and engaging.

Over the following years, I was often to be seen walking around campus with a book in hand and my nose deeply into it as I read whatever story or research article had captured my notice that day. Sometimes, President Woo would see me and he noted my ability to avoid walking into walls and light poles. He would laughingly threaten to have the facilities management office install some trip wires on campus to see if those would cause me to pull my nose out of the book.

He never did put up those wires – but he did provide many of us with encounters to remember.

He is missed.

Edward Spodick
Associate Director of Library Services
lbspodic@ust.hk

These memories are also available on the Library’s Stories platform at https://library.hkust.edu.hk/blog/2025/03/11/remembering-prof-woo

致：香港科技大学：

惊悉香港科技大学创校校长吴家玮教授不幸辞世，大连理工大学贾振元校长谨代表大连理工大学，向吴家玮教授的家属、亲友以及香港科技大学的全体同仁致以最深切的哀悼和诚挚的慰问。
校长特委托港澳台事务办公室代为致唁，以表哀思。

大连理工大学港澳台事务办公室

Chia-Wei Woo, an Asian Higher Education Trailblazer

Da Hsuan Feng
March 4, 2025

Today is personally a melancholy sad day for me.

When I woke up this morning, I saw the HKUST’s announcement that its founder Chia-Wei Woo had departed. This news initiated a torrent of memories of more than half a century in me!

In this memory, please allow me to say a few words about the personal interactions I had with Chia-Wei.

Knowing about Chia-Wei in 1969

This began by my wandering into my second-year graduate school days at the University of Minnesota. That was 1969. On the same floor where the theoretical physics students, postdocs and professors had their offices, there came a new postdoc from Washington University in St-Louis to work for Professor Lewis Nosanow. His name is Hing-Tat Tan (陳宏達).

Hing-Tat completed his doctorate under the tutelage of the world-renowned theoretical physicist Eugene Feenberg. I soon discovered that Hing-Tat grew up in a town called Medan in Indonesia and completed his undergraduate studies in Singapore’s no-longer existed Nanyang University (南洋大學). This should not to be confused with Nanyang Technological University of today.

Since I grew up in Singapore, I felt both culturally and geographically close to him. Throughout the two years we lived in the same section of the physics department, Hing-Tat and I naturally had many conversations. I distinctly remember soon after we met, he mentioned to me that he had an “academic elder brother (師兄)” who graduated before him from Feenberg. His name was Chia-Wei Woo (吳家瑋)!

It was obvious from Hing-Tat’s narrative that Chia-Wei had an enormous impact on Hing-Tat, both personally and intellectually. I remember Hing-Tat telling me that even then he foresaw that Chia-Wei would go far, very far in his professional life.

That certainly is an understatement.

Evanston’s Basketball Game in 1969

In 1969, I met Chia-Wei for the first time in Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Sometime in the Winter of that year, Hing-Tat told all the Chinese theoretical physics students in the University of Minnesota that Chia-Wei, while still not that many years out of graduate school, was by then already a tenured full professor in the Physics Department of Northwestern University. Chia-Wei wanted to invite all the Chinese physics graduate students in universities near Evanston to attend a basketball game and after the game to a Bar-B-Q in his home.

And so, we went. It was right in the middle of winter. Three of us crowded in High-Tat’s car with his wife to make the 10 hours treacherous deep winter drive from Minneapolis to Evanston, Illinois.

At the game, I witnessed Chia-Wei’s personality first hand.

Since until the game, I never met Chia-Wei. So, when the players came onto the court, they were all supposed to be physics graduate students in universities around Evanston. So naturally I saw the usual energetic youngsters. However, there wasn’t a single player in the group that looked older. So, my curiosity got the best of me, and I asked Hing-Tat “is Chia-Wei the coach, and if so, where is he?” Hing-Tat looked at me and pointed at one of the players and said, “that’s Chia-Wei, and he is the captain of the team!” I had a hard look at the person Hing-Tat pointed at and he looked “isomorphic” with all other players, young and energetic!

When the game began, it immediately became obvious, and that Chia-Wei was in complete and utter control of the pace of the game. He was aggressively playing, and strategically directing the entire team’s attacks and defenses. He was at every corner of the court.

Furthermore, when his team was ahead, he would cheer on vigorously on the side, and when it was behind, he would jump in and lead the team to attack!

In hindsight, what Chia-Wei demonstrated 56 years ago on the basketball court in Northwestern University was clearly the Chia-Wei Woo the world became familiar with!

Chia Wei’s Visit to Drexel University in 1987/88

On that academic year, I was an associate professor in the physics department of Drexel University in Philadelphia. One of my duties in the department was to invite distinguished speakers for our weekly colloquium. During the academic year of 86/87, I invited Chia-Wei to come as a speaker.

I was overjoyed that he accepted the invitation and came to deliver a lecture on many-body physics. Then the department invited him to a Chinese dinner in Philadelphia’s Chinatown. The dinner ended around 10pm. I just thought that that would be the end of the evening.

To my great surprised, Chia-Wei who showed no sign of fatigue, asked me and my colleague Jimmy Yuan whether we would be willing to go to his hotel room and talk a little!

Both of us were a little astounded but immediately grab on to this opportunity to hear what Chia-Wei had to say.

As soon as we got to his room, in no time Chia-Wei started to tell us about his grand vision of building a university in Hong Kong. Indeed, for the next 2 hours, he told us about everything he had planned, what had been executed, and what needed to be completed in the coming years. He was speaking so fast I could tell that everything was mechanized in his head!

From his words, it was so clear that he wanted such a university will have inherently be Asian in nature and global in execution. Students, graduates or undergraduates from this university shall be leaders of Asia in the 21st century.

In the two hours where he was putting in words for us the complete jigsaw puzzle of building this university, Jimmy and I were wordless and simply in awe! Never before have we ever heard from any Chinese Americans who was so profoundly westernized and yet so deeply Chinese and profoundly concerned about educating the right Asian generations in the “new” century, the 21st century.

Summary

Looking back to Chia-Wei’s life, his departure marks an end of one of the most glorious eras of the boundary between the 20th and the 21st century for China, United States and especially for Hong Kong. People like Chia-Wei had ploughed the land and planted the seed. Let’s hope that the people who follow him can nurture the growth of the plantation!

感謝吳校長創立了這所偉大的學校，感謝您的教誨和指導。我們一定努力，建好科大，校長放心！

My heartfelt condolences to the family of Prof. Woo. He was a luminary leader, educator, and scientist, and his enduring legacy will continue to inspire future generations.

痛悉本會吳家瑋榮譽會長 / 科技大學創校校長吳家瑋教授，於2025年3月2日逝世，享年87歲。本會仝人對其離世深感哀痛，並向吳教授的家人和親友致以深切慰問。吳教授目光遠大，對科大成為全球頂尖研究型學府居功至偉。尊敬的吳家瑋先生，對本會貢獻良多，德高望重，我們永存懷念，願您一路走好!

香港杭州同鄉總會
2025-3-13

尊敬的香港科技大学校长及全体同仁：

惊悉贵校创校校长吴家玮教授不幸辞世，我们深感痛惜。谨代表复旦大学，向香港科技大学全体师生、吴家玮教授家属致以最深切的哀悼与慰问。

随函附上我校正式唁电，谨此呈达。若有其他需要协助之处，请随时与我们联系。

谨致哀悼，

复旦大学港澳台事务办公室

It is sad to hear the news about Chia-Wei. He was a longtime friend. He was a Professor at Northwestern University when I joined NU as an undergraduate in 1970. We started a Newsletter called "Northwesterlies" (西北风) during the 钓鱼台 movement. He was a strong faculty supporter. After many years, he was the one who recruited me back to Hong Kong in 1992. I remember asking him about spending a sabbatical at HKUST in 1991, when I was still a faculty at SUNY-Buffalo. He said to me, why not spend your career at HKUST. Well, I did. It was a pleasure working with Chia-Wei all these years. The early years of building up the university were simply marvelous. We all had a good time doing something meaningful. I always admired his energy and his great plans for HKUST. Everyone knows about his important contributions to the growth and success of HKUST. He became my neighbor after he moved out of campus a few years ago. I met him many times in the Club House of our apartment complex in TKO. He was always walking around the Club House for his daily exercise. Every time we met, he would talk to me for at least half an hour about his plans. He was always full of ideas and passions on education. He also shared with me many of his views. Chia-Wei was a friend as well as a teacher to me. I will miss him and his sense of humor. I will miss all those chats with him standing in the hallway. 哲人日已远，典刑在夙昔. May Chia-Wei rest in peace.

Dear President Woo,

I still remember your kind and warm conversation with me when I was a student. You always encourage us with your great smile and strong messages: always aim high with big and seems to be difficult goal. I remember the last time we met was a time after Judo time on a normal Friday at concourse under your name. I happily shared with you with my family photos, three lovely kids and my missing to my old boss from IE. You have told me that I have done a good job to many aspects even though I don't think I am successful or what. Finally I asked if you have remembered me for the congregation duty as MC in 1997? You said yes, as you were looking at me then raised the audience to stand up. At that moment I was so touched. Thank you for all the great effort for HKUST and all of our students. I must be one of the many graduates remembering your leadership, kindness and caring to your students and graduates. Please take a good rest! May you rest in peace! We all darely miss you forever.

CHIA WEI WAS MY THIRD OLDEST FRIEND,NOW ONLY TWO ARE LEFT. OUR LIVES WERE INTERTWINED IN SO MAY WAYS. WE WERE FIRST FELLOW STUDENTS, THEN PHYSICS COLLABORATORS, AND THEN PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS. WHEN CHAI WEI WENT TO HONG KONG TO STARY HKUST,AND INV ITED ME TO BE ON THE ADVISORY BOARD, I ,SIMILARY , WENT BACK TO MY ALMA MATER,MOREHOUSE COLLEGE AS PRESIDENT. WE BECAME SCIENCE POLICY EXPERTS AND CONTINUED TO COLLABORATE. THRUGHOUT ALL THESE YEARS WE WERE VERY CLOSE FRIENDS WITH CLOSE FAMILIES.
SHIRLEY AND I WILL MISS HIM PROFOUNDLY, BUT ARE COMFORTED BY OUR CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH YVONNE ,DEYI AND THE FAMILY. HE WAS AN EXC EPTIONAL MAN IN SO MANY WAYS.

与家玮校长相遇相识是我一生的幸运，天赐恩福！

您叫我家玮就好

现在大家都不写诗了，我有些担心您，您在朋友圈写诗，大家会不会说您酸呀，哈哈哈。

中国留学生在外国推展爱国运动，这是有史以来第一次。反映当年台湾的教育相当注重培养我国的文化根基和民族意识。

不能说没有钓运就不会有今天的香港科技大学，确实能说的是：没有钓运，最初同创科大的十多位教授就会少了一半，今天的科大会是另外一种模式。

文科消亡，在全世界形成了一股浪潮，这是高等教育的不幸错失。

科大校歌的创作完全在施煦德女士的召集、带领、组织、指导、亲自积极参与下完成。由始至终与她在这项目上的合作，让我有机会体会到她的毅力、修养、音乐才华和基础，及领导能力。科大有这么一位校董，真是万分幸运。 家玮

宪章同学好！ 一星期前，无缘无故扭伤了腰和背，可能是多年来篮球和排球累积的老伤。上次发生时至少是七八年前了。应该三四天就能自动康复，这次已经七天还需要躺着休养；毕竟年老了。 明天我会在网上观礼。感谢你给了科大这么好的歌词！ 家玮

家玮校长是个谦逊平和的人，我第一次见他，他说：“您喊我家玮就好”。回望同他的往事：他开玩笑的打趣，朋友圈的留言，一起欣赏圣诞音乐，分享给我充满哲理的趣味小视频，讲述往昔岁月，“保钓运动，香港回归的发展规划”，这些曾经的回忆好似走马灯般在面前闪烁，同我讲的那些话好似在耳边萦绕。

我亲眼看着他一点点的消瘦，从初见时的“精神矍铄，笑谈古今中外事”，到后面：“我同太太约定下楼梯一定要扶着走”，再到后来，他不慎从扶手电梯跌倒，整个人往前扑，我猛的上前抱扶着他，却只能感到很轻的重量，时光在他身上太过匆匆。

他的儒雅与温良，他的平视与尊重，他的博学与魄力，令我终生铭记，让我终生学习！

Chia Wei and Leroy Chang recruited me to HKUST. The period I spent at HKUST, a total of 29 years, was the most productive and memorable in my whole career. While in the US, Chia Wei had visited Exxon Corporate Research Centre and we had lengthy chats about the future. In retrospect, he has indeed realized a large part of his 抱负, which is rare for most people. His passing is a loss to us all. To me, it represents the closure of a period in which we all can contribute to a future that seemed boundless with possibilities. I thank Chia Wei for giving me this opportunity to participate in such an endeavor.
My deep condolences for his wife and his family.

懷念家瑋校長

驚聞家瑋校長安詳辭世的消息，震驚之餘，我內心感到非常難過。36年前的一幕，頓然浮現在眼前。1989年我第一次見到吳家瑋校長，是他邀請我參加香港科技大學，第二年七月二日我就正式加入了當時還沒有校舍的香港科大，後來我在清水灣畔校園工作和生活了先後16個年頭。回想1990年，我們當時還在尖沙咀的臨時辦公室工作，幾乎每天都能夠見到吳校長。家瑋（我們當時都是直呼其名的）每天都是精神抖擻，意氣風發，經常在會議室和我們幾位創校同事開飯盒會，討論課程設計、校舍建造，實驗室設計及招生事宜。開會時他總是滔滔不絕，講個不停，言辭中永遠是充滿自信。他的口才一流，活潑之中又帶有幽默和俏皮…..

當科大還只是在一張圖紙上的時候，家瑋校長就豪言壯語地說他要在中國人的土地上（香港）建立起一所嶄新的世界級研究型大學。他的智慧、才華、執著和堅毅促使他在短時間內把科大建設成為世界級名校。香港科大的創立在一定程度上促進了學術研究的文化於90年代初開始在香港茁發和發揚光大。

家瑋校長不但是“科大之父”，他更為香港高等教育過去30年的迅速發展作出了卓越的貢獻。

家瑋校長將風範長存、遺愛人間。我們將永遠懷念他！

黃玉山

2025年3月6日

深切哀悼

唁电
香港科技大学：
惊悉香港科技大学创校校长、著名教育家吴家玮先生与世长
辞，中国科学院深圳先进技术研究院全体同仁深感悲痛，谨此致
以最深切的哀悼，并向吴家玮校长的家人、香港科技大学全体师
生及校友致以诚挚的慰问。
吴家玮先生作为香港科技大学的缔造者，毕生致力于推动高
等教育与科技创新的发展，其远见卓识与家国情怀，不仅为香港
科技大学奠定了国际一流学府的基石，更对深港两地的科教融合、
协同创新产生了深远影响。先生一生倡导开放合作、追求卓越的
精神，始终激励着深港科研同仁携手奋进。
深圳先进院与香港科技大学渊源深厚，多年来在科研合作、
人才培养、平台共建等领域紧密协作，成果斐然。双方共同打造
的深港脑科学创新研究院、脑科学联合实验室等平台载体，已成
为推动大湾区脑科学前沿探索与交叉创新的重要策源地。吴家玮
先生始终以战略眼光推动深港两地资源共享、优势互补，为深港
科教合作树立了标杆典范。先生之志，我们铭记于心；先生之业，
我们接续前行。
斯人已逝，风范长存。深圳先进院将秉承吴家玮校长开放包
— 2 —
容、开拓创新的精神，继续深化与香港科技大学的合作伙伴关系，
共同推进国际科技创新中心建设，以科技之力服务国家所需，以
合作之果告慰先生遗志。
吴家玮校长千古！
中国科学院深圳先进技术研究院
2025 年3月5日

惊悉贵校创校校长吴家玮先生与世长辞，我校师生深感悲痛。吴家玮先生为贵校发展奠基立业，贡献卓越，其精神与遗志将永为后人铭记。
谨附唁电一封，向先生逝世致以深切哀悼，并向先生家属表示诚挚慰问。

此致
敬礼！

聂焱

上海科技大学国际事务处（港澳台办）

尊敬的施天艺博士及香港科技大学同仁：

惊悉贵校创校校长吴家玮教授辞世，深感悲痛与惋惜。吴教授毕生致力于高等教育与科学研究，学术造诣深厚，为高等教育的发展和人才培养作出了卓越贡献。他的离世不仅是香港科技大学的重大损失，也是全球学术界的共同哀痛。
西湖大学校长施一公教授特此致函，表达深切哀悼与诚挚慰问。谨随邮件附上施校长的亲笔吊唁函，敬请查收，并恳请贵校代为转交吴教授的家属，以表达我们的哀思。
此外，我校拟派代表前往香港科技大学，参加有关吊唁活动。烦请贵校协助接洽相关安排，并告知具体时间、地点及相关事宜，以便我校妥善安排行程。
敬礼！

西湖大学港澳台事务办公室

香港科技大學同仁：
近日，驚聞貴校創校校長吳家瑋教授辭世的噩耗，我們深感痛惜。
隨信附上我校劉元春校長親筆簽署的唁電，謹代表全校師生向貴校表達誠摯的哀悼之情。
雖遠隔千裏，但我們的心與香港科技大學的每一位師生緊密相連，與吳教授的親眷同悲。在此，我
們衷心希望貴校同仁及吳教授的親眷能夠節哀順變，保重身體。
如有任何需要，我們願隨時提供支持。
敬上
胡婧

惊闻吴家玮先生不幸逝世，南方科技大学全体师生深感悲痛，特致
唁电以表深切哀悼，并向吴先生亲属表示诚挚慰问。
敬请吴先生家人节哀、保重！吴家玮先生千古!

惊悉吴家玮资深校董仙逝，复旦师生不胜悲戚。校党委书记裘新先生，校长、校董会主席金力院士
特致吴家玮资深校董家属唁电。