The University of Strathclyde has conferred an honorary degree on distinguished alumnus, global business leader, investor and philanthropist Dr Charles Huang.
Dr Huang was presented with the Honorary Degree of Doctor of the University by the Principal & Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stephen McArthur, at a ceremony in the Barony Hall.
The award recognises Dr Huang’s achievements in international business and investment, his commitment to entrepreneurship and innovation, and his sustained support for education and the development of future leaders.
International career
After graduating from Strathclyde with an MBA in 1989 and a PhD in Marketing in 1994, Dr Huang went on to build an international career in business and investment. In 2016, he founded Pasaca Capital Inc., a California-based evergreen fund whose portfolio includes companies operating across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East in sectors including medical devices, pharmaceuticals, technology, media and telecommunications, industrial automation and entertainment.
Alongside his business achievements, Dr Huang has maintained a strong commitment to creating opportunities for others. In 2021, through the Charles Huang Foundation, he made a £50 million donation to Strathclyde, the largest single gift in the University’s history.
The donation has supported the Stephen Young Institute for International Business, established in memory of Dr Huang’s former PhD supervisor; the Stephen Young Global Leaders Scholarship Programme; and the Stephen Young Entrepreneurship Awards. It has also underpinned the creation of the Charles Huang Advanced Technology & Innovation Centre, known as CHATIC, which is under construction in the former Strathclyde Students’ Union building on John Street.
Through the programmes supported by the gift, 78 entrepreneurship awards have been made, eight PhD students have entered the Global Leaders Programme, and 15 MBA awards and two MSc scholarships have been awarded.
Business leader
Professor McArthur said: “Charles’s career has been marked by ambition, enterprise and a strong international outlook. From his time as a student at Strathclyde, he has gone on to achieve considerable success as a business leader and investor, operating across industries and markets around the world.
“Just as importantly, he has used that success to create opportunities for others. His support for students, entrepreneurs and innovators reflects his belief in the power of education, enterprise and useful learning to change lives.
“This honorary degree recognises the breadth of Charles’s achievements and his commitment to helping others fulfil their potential. We are proud to count him among our alumni and our honorary graduates.”
Dr Huang said: “Strathclyde gave me the education, global perspective and opportunities that helped shape my life and career, so it is a great honour to receive this degree.
I am proud to see my support helping talented students and entrepreneurs, advancing innovation and enabling people to turn their ambitions into achievements that can benefit society.
During his visit to Glasgow, Dr Huang met scholars and entrepreneurs supported through the programmes and toured the CHATIC development.
Ventures supported through the Stephen Young Entrepreneurship Awards include Biosers, which is developing food-safety technology and has secured £400,000 in further funding; Metacarpal, whose upper-limb prosthetics business has raised more than £1.3 million; and digital health company Seluna, which is undertaking NHS clinical validation of technology for diagnosing paediatric sleep apnoea.
CHATIC will provide a focal point for innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration, bringing together researchers, students, businesses and partners in flexible spaces for co-location, enterprise support, events and partnership activity.
Born in Hubei, China, Dr Huang received a British Council scholarship to support his studies at Strathclyde. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Wuhan University, as well as his MBA and PhD from Strathclyde.