08 May 07

Hong Kong entrepreneur Dr Stanley Ho is endowing a new University Lecturership in Chinese History, associated with a Tutorial Fellowship at Pembroke College. The holder of these posts will be responsible for research and teaching the history of modern and ancient China.

Dr Ho was formally thanked for the benefaction by the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Dr John Hood and Mr Giles Henderson, Master of Pembroke, at a reception and dinner in Hong Kong on Monday 7 May.

The creation of this new post forms part of a broader strategy to develop Chinese Studies at Oxford. The University is one of the leading institutions in Europe for Chinese Studies, which is based on a strong knowledge of Chinese languages but also covers a range of academic disciplines including Chinese literature, history, politics, geography and art. Oxford is also playing a leading role in the development of Chinese Studies throughout the UK and is one of the three founding institutions of the British Inter-University China Centre.

The holder of the Lecturership and Fellowship will take up post in October 2007 and will be amongst several new China specialists being recruited by Oxford. The University is also keen to build on its tradition of working with universities in China, and is currently involved in several joint projects across China including language training, the sciences, the social sciences and political philosophy.

Commenting on the donation Dr John Hood, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, said: 'China is of growing economic and cultural significance, Oxford University wishes to develop the study of China and to build a closer academic relationship with Chinese institutions. Dr Ho's generous gift will enable Oxford to continue to offer the highest quality Chinese Studies teaching and research.'

Mr Giles Henderson, Master of Pembroke College, where the Tutorial Fellowship will be based, said: 'The College would like to express its thanks to Dr Ho for this generous gift. Pembroke has for some years placed great emphasis on developing our specialism in Oriental Studies and is keen to promote Chinese Studies as part of this commitment. This benefaction represents a major step forward.'

Dr Stanley Ho said: 'I am keen to see greater intellectual engagement between Britain and China and am particularly keen to recognise and strengthen the long academic and scholarly relationship between Hong Kong and the University of Oxford. Many of our Hong Kong students have graduated from Oxford and are now contributing to Hong Kong society.'

As well as a University Lecturership holding an associated Tutorial Fellowship at Pembroke College the benefaction will fund associated academic initiatives in Chinese Studies at Pembroke.