On 2 November 2012, the Learning Commons was officially named "Chevalier Learning Commons (其士綜合研習坊)"  to recognize a generous donation from Dr Chow Yei Ching (周亦卿), GBS, Chairman of Chevalier International Holdings Limited.

In appreciation of the $20 million donation from Dr Chow to support HKUST’s development, the University held a naming ceremony at the Learning Commons on 2 November.  Dr Chow Yei Ching, Mr Oscar Chow, HKUST Court and Council member and Executive Director of Chevalier, and Mr Ivan Tam, Deputy Managing Director of Chevalier, were among the invited guests.  Prof Tony Chan, University President, Prof Wei Shyy, Provost, Dr Eden Woon, Vice-President, and Ms Diana Chan, University Librarian, represented the University to welcome our guests.

At the ceremony, President Chan, Dr Chow, and Ms Chan each shared their thoughts on the donation and the naming of the Chevalier Learning Commons with the guests.  To express our gratitude, the University presented two special gifts to Dr Chow: a copy of the book Flight In Sight authored by Prof Shyy, and an aerial photo of HKUST’s beautiful campus.  The highlight was the ribbon-cutting, which concluded the naming ceremony.

Library staff gave guests a tour of the Learning Commons to let them see and feel this state-of-the- art facility after the ceremony.  The guests were amazed with the concept and design of the Learning Commons: a dynamic, flexible, interactive, and technology-rich space for innovative thinking and quality teaching and learning.  They firmly believed that the Learning Commons would foster a good knowledge exchange among students, which then benefits our society in the end.

More photos of the ceremony can be seen at http://library.ust.hk/info/lc/namingceremony.html