Professor H.K. Chang received his B.S. in civil engineering from National Taiwan University (1962), M.S. in structural engineering from Stanford University (1964), and Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Northwestern University (1969).

Having taught at State University of New York at Buffalo (1969-76), McGill University (1976-84) and the University of Southern California (1984-90), he was appointed founding dean of the School of Engineering at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (1990-94) and dean of School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh (1994-96). Chang served as president and university professor of City University of Hong Kong from 1996 to 2007.

In recent years,  Chang has taught general education courses at Tsinghua University, Peking University, and Bogazici University in Istanbul. Besides being an honorary professor at Peking University, Tsinghua University, and others, he has been Yeh-Lu Xun Chair Professor at Peking University since 2008.

Chang has published over 100 research articles and two research treatises in biomedical engineering and holds one Canadian patent. In addition, he has published 11 books in Chinese, mainly on education, cultures, and civilizations. His academic interests now focus on the civilizations and cultural exchanges across the Eurasian landmass, particularly along the Silk Road. 

Chang is a foreign member of Royal Academy of Engineering of the United Kingdom and a member of the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences. 

He was named Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur of France in 2000, decorated as Commandeur dans l’Ordre des Palmes Academiques in 2009, and was awarded a Gold Bauhinia Star by the Hong Kong SAR Government in 2002.

Chang served as chairman of the Cultural and Heritage Commission of Hong Kong (2000-2003), a member of Hong Kong’s Council of Advisors on Innovation and Technology (2000-2004), and of Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission (1999-2005).

He is currently an independent non-executive director of Hong Kong Telecom Ltd, Hon Kwok Land Investment Company Ltd., Brightoil Petroleum (Holdings) Ltd., and Nanyang Commercial Bank, Ltd.

Professor Chang will serve as a distinguished visiting professor for the Wellesley/Peking University academic program.