University Mace

The University Mace is about 1.25M in length and 8KG in weight. The head-piece is of gold-plated and is topped by a silver colored reproduction of a blooming flower with a globe in its core. Each of the four sides of the head-piece features the crest of HSUHK. The shaft is made of metal decorated in gold, featuring several corrugated bamboo joints. The base is decorated with clusters of bamboo leaves set in bas-relief.

In designing the mace, the bamboo motif, which characterizes the University’s new campus and its furniture, is chosen because of the plant’s hardiness, greenness and high tensile strength. In Chinese culture, it is the symbol for a “Confucian gentleman” (junzi 君子) – it has “jie”節 (joint), which is the same jie character in “qijie” 氣節 (integrity or moral courage; “spine”); and it is hollow in the core, a metaphor for an open mind without bias or prejudice.

For the top, a globe is placed on the HSUHK crest to indicate the University’s global perspective. The four fan-shaped blades surrounding the globe symbolize the University’s four desired graduate attributes (iGPS):

Intellectual Competence (i): a solid foundation in relevant academic disciplines, and the ability to think critically, to solve problems proactively, and to engage in life-long learning.

Generic Skills (G): the development of skills in: • Languages, in both English and Chinese (Cantonese and Putonghua); • use of information technology and data analysis; • interpersonal communication; • teamwork and leadership.

Personal Development (P): self-awareness, ethical values, emotion management, personal effectiveness and character.

Social Engagement (S): the willingness to serve the community and a commitment to acting for the betterment of the society.