?A delegation led by Professor Way Kuo, President of City University of Hong Kong (CityU), explored and strengthened research and e?xchange collaborations at higher education institutions in Australia in early October.
 
Invited by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Professor Kuo delivered a lecture on the reliability of energy during the visit.
 
The CityU delegation included Professor Paul Lam Kwan-sing, Chief-of-Staff, Professor Yan Hong, Dean of the College of Science and Engineering, and Dr David Cheng Xing, Associate Vice-President (Global Services).
 
The delegation paid a visit to the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and was received by Mr Laurie Pearcey, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International).
 
Discussions were focused on broader collaborations for faculty and student exchanges following linkages established between CityU and UNSW, and for opportunities concerning joint PhD programmes.
 
The delegation explored collaborative opportunities on joint faculty programmes between CityU’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences and the School of Veterinary Science of the University of Queensland (UQ) during a meeting with the representatives of UQ including Professor Peter H?j, Vice-Chancellor and President, and Professor Iain Watson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (External Engagement). The meeting also covered faculty and student exchanges.
 
In addition, the delegation chatted about stepping up student and faculty exchange programmes and developing joint PhD programmes at the University of Wollongong during a meeting with Professor Paul Wellings, CBE, Vice-Chancellor, and Professor Judy Raper, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation).
 
During the visit in Australia, Professor Kuo delivered a lecture titled “A Reliability Look at Energy” as invited by IEEE, the world’s largest professional association for the advancement of technology. About 50 faculty members and students from UNSW, the University of Sydney, University of Technology Sydney and Charles Sturt University attended.
 
Professor Kuo discussed a spectrum of energies: hydropower, nuclear, wind, photovoltaic, bio, natural gas, modern coal and others, and analysed the pollution and environmental problems involved in each option.
 
He pointed out that underlying risks existed with every energy-planning decision. “When we look at energy, we have to balance three factors, namely resources, reliability and sustainability, and economic growth. We have to be sensible, rather than be swayed by illogical fears,” he said.