By Peggy McInerny, Director of Communications
Panel discussions featured UCLA alumni and local leaders at three UCLA Global Forums in Asia in June.
UCLA International Institute, July 9, 2015 — In late June, UCLA alumni, parents and students in Hong Kong, Taipei and Tokyo came together at three inaugural UCLA Global Forums. The events encouraged Bruins to network, hear the latest campus news and discuss issues of fundamental importance to their lives. Speakers included alumni, friends of UCLA, Chancellor Gene Block and Vice Provost for International Studies and Global Engagement Cindy Fan.
Building on the momentum created by the opening of the UCLA Asia Office last summer, the meetings invigorated new and established networks at the three locations. Attendees — some of whom constitute entire families of alumni — greatly appreciated the chance to hear Chancellor Block himself speak about the state of the university and its plans for the future. Panel discussions then engaged participants in lively discussions of topics ranging from education to health and the environment to entrepreneurship.
Linking UCLA to Bruins worldwide
“These Global Forums are invaluable for UCLA,” said Vice Provost Fan. “Our international alumni and supporters play a crucial role in helping us maintain and identify effective research and education partnerships overseas. They also assist us in recruiting stellar students and visiting faculty, as well as building a global UCLA community.”
“We live in a global world that faces global challenges,” said Chancellor Block. “UCLA is committed to forging meaningful links among countries and academic disciplines in order to bring the world’s top minds to bear on those challenges. Attending these events not only strengthens our alumni’s ties to UCLA and their fellow Bruins, it provides UCLA leaders and faculty a view of how colleagues and experts in other countries are addressing the same issues.”
Featured speakers at the UCLA Global Forum in Hong Kong on June 19, which focused on medical education and environmental issues, included Fok Tai-Fai, professor of pediatrics and pro-vice chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong; Gabriel Leung, epidemiologist and dean of Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong; Walton Li (UCLA MD 1974), founder and head of the ophthalmology department at Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital and a longtime supporter of UCLA; and Christine Loh, undersecretary for the environment in the Hong Kong government and a previous UCLA commencement speaker.
UCLA Global Forum, Hong Kong .From left, top row – Christine Loh, Gene Block
and Gabriel Leung; bottom row – Fok Tai-Fai, Walton Li and Cindy Fan.
In Taipei, speakers at the UCLA Global Forum on June 21 addressed entrepreneurship, higher education and social research. Panelists included Alice H. Chang (UCLA MBA 1988), CEO of CyberLink Corporation; Frank Chang, department chair and Wintek Chair of Professor of Engineering at UCLA and president-designate of National Chiao Tung University; and Lillian Lih-Rong Wang (UCLA PhD 1990, social work), associate dean of international affairs and professor at National Taiwan University.
UCLA Global Forum, Tapei. From left: Cindy Fan, Frank Chang, Lillian Lih-Rong Wang,
Alice H. Chang and Gene Block.
The UCLA Global Forum in Tokyo, held on June 24, addressed issues of international law, business and politics. Home to the largest number of UCLA international graduates, Japan has an active alumni association that goes back decades. One alumnus, Yoshihiko Arai (UCLA 1962), proudly showed the group his original UCLA alumni card — from 1976!
The speaker roster in Tokyo consisted of Daniel H. Foote, former Paul I. Terasaki Chair in U.S.-Japan Relations at UCLA, now professor of law at both the University of Tokyo and the University of Washington; Kaori Kanno (UCLA MBA 2004), senior manager of advisory services at KPMG Japan; Masaru Vic Murai (UCLA MBA 1962), founder of TX Entrepreneur Partners and founder and president, UCLA Anderson Alumni Network–Japan Chapter; and Tsuneo Nishida, director of the Institute for Peace Science at Hiroshima University, formerly Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles and Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations.
UCLA Global Forum, Japan. From left, top row – Masaru Vic Murai and Kaori Kanno;
bottom row – Daniel Foote and Tsuneo Nishida.
Discussions at all locations were followed by receptions, informal conversations, and yes — you guessed it — the UCLA “8 Clap Cheer!”
The UCLA 8 Clap Cheer in Hong Kong. . .
. . . and in Taipei. . . .
. . . and in Tokyo.
Enthusiastic responses to UCLA Global Forums
Several alumni expressed their delight about being able to maintain close links with UCLA and its leaders. Martin Matsui (UCLA MBA 1987), head of external managers at Hong Kong Monetary Authority — whose father was conferred an honorary UCLA degree and whose mother, sister, brother-in-law and two cousins are all UCLA graduates — commented, “In many ways, a university is like a delicate hothouse flower which needs to be tended and nurtured in special ways. A small change in the environment can result in dramatic changes . . . ‘Il faut cultiver son jardin,’ as Voltaire said, and Chancellor Block seems like the right gardener-in-charge."
“I am inspired by Chancellor Block’s commitment to Asia and his vision for UCLA, supported by a great team of leaders,” remarked Steven Pan, chairman of the FIH Regent Group. Vic Murai also noted that alumni “were very pleased to hear a very frank and open-minded view from the top of the school.” Dr. Walton Li observed, “An official annual visit to Hong Kong does provide an incentive and opportunity for parents and alumni to get connected to UCLA and to each other.”
Tony Choi (UCLA MBA 1983), executive director of Hong Kong Garment Manufacturing Company Ltd., applauded the evening in Hong Kong with these words: “Congratulations on holding a very successful Global Forum. Hope that will be the beginning of a fine UCLA tradition around the world!” And Mark Huang (UCLA PhD 1983, electrical engineering), chairman and CEO of Alfaplus Semiconductor Inc. and a UCLA alumni leader in Taiwan, enthusiastically shared, “We are part of the UCLA ‘extended’ team and are happy to be involved in this meaningful endeavor.”
The UCLA Global Forums drew established professionals as well as newly minted graduates, helping cement extended UCLA “families” in the region — just one of the many ways in which UCLA operates as a global university.
Published: Thursday, July 9, 2015