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Creating a Research Legacy with

Local and International Impact:

A Personal Reflection

Michael Chan
(Graduate Division Head and PhD Graduate in
2012) first generation of “returnees”. They were followed
by the next generation, including Eric Ma and
Training future scholars and researchers has always Francis Lee. More recently, Macau Mak returned to
been a cornerstone of our School’s mission. Nearly Hong Kong and joined the faculty as an assistant
50 years ago, the late Professor Wilbur Schramm professor.
laid the foundation for this vision by establishing
our MPhil programme, which has since fostered a While other communication departments in Hong
legacy of academic excellence across generations. Kong have scaled back or discontinued their MPhil
Over the decades, many of our MPhil graduates programmes, we have remained committed to
pursued PhD studies abroad and then returned cultivating local and regional talent to advance
to the School to start or continue their academic both the academic development of our School and
careers. Their contributions have played a pivotal the broader intellectual landscape of Hong Kong.
role in the development and growth of the School, This dedication to fostering a generational legacy
shaping it to be one of the world’s leading centres is what makes our MPhil programme special and
for communication research and scholarship. unique, making it an invaluable part of our School’s
Notable alumni who returned included Joseph tradition.
Chan, Clement So, and Paul Lee, representing the
Nurturing Local Academics
An equally important and significant contribution
to the School’s academic legacy comes from our
PhD programme. Since its establishment in 1993,
we have trained 100 graduates, many of whom
have gone on to build successful and impactful
careers in academia and industry. For example,
Grace Leung and Allan Au graduated from our PhD
programme in 2003 and 2016 respectively. They

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