News

85A Alumni Tourcation – Exploring the Laboratories of Structural Engineering, Water and Waste

On 11 June 2022 morning, 34 alumni and their friends gathered at PolyU to join the first “85A Alumni Tourcation”. Jointly organised by the Alumni Affairs Office (AAO) and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Civil and Environmental Engineering Alumni Association (CEEAA), and supported by the Federation of PolyU Alumni Associations (FHKPUAA), this activity featured two laboratory visits: the Structural Engineering Research Laboratory and the Water and Waste Teaching Laboratory. Before setting off, Ms Wanze Li, Section Head (Alumni Affairs and Associations) of AAO, Ir Edmond Wong, President of CEEAA, and Ir Yau Kwok-fai, President of FHKPUAA, gave a warm welcome to the participants at the Alumni Atrium. The group started by passing along the lawn area of the Atrium to Stephen Cheong Kam Chuen Memorial Plaza, and then entered Block Y, where the heavy machinery of structural engineering is located. Staff from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering introduced in detail the laboratory facilities and their state-of-the-art equipment. After that, the group walked across the distinctive pedestrian footbridge in the northeast boundary of PolyU, travelling from the main campus to Block Z to visit the Water and Waste Teaching Laboratory for experiments and demonstrations. The event attracted overwhelming registrations and was well received by all participants, who expressed that they looked forward to more Tourcations in the future. To celebrate PolyU’s 85th Anniversary, a series of alumni campus tours will be organised. Apart from exploring various favourite campus spots and iconic buildings, the tours will feature different PolyU blocks and teaching facilities. Stay tuned and don’t miss out on the upcoming events.

Activate your Alumni eCard now to get a special edition of PolyU Pin

We would like to welcome you to come back to join PolyU’s 85th Anniversary celebrations as the pandemic has subsided. Active your Alumni eCard now so that you can access the campus, join homecoming events while enjoying various privileges.  You can get your PolyU Alumni eCard within minutes. Simply use your Alumni NetID to sign in the “My Profile & eCard” webpage, upload a recent photo and update your personal profile. If you do not have Alumni NetID, register now, and you can proceed with eCard activation seamlessly thereafter. Act now and complete the steps by 15 June - you may get a special edition of PolyU 85th Anniversary Pin. First-come, first-served, while stock lasts.  Don’t miss it!    Get My Alumni eCard     FAQ Remarks: 1.   All alumni who have successfully applied for PolyU Alumni eCard on or before 15 June 2022 may have chance to get a          special edition of PolyU pin. 2.   Each alumnus will be entitled to a maximum of one pin, and will be notified by the Alumni Affairs Office (AAO) via email. 3.   AAO reserves the right to modify or withhold the souvenirs without prior notice.  

A new cohort of PolyU Graduating Class Ambassadors

More than 250 final year students from various faculties and schools of PolyU as well as the Hong Kong Community College have been appointed as PolyU Graduating Class Ambassadors (GCAs) this year.  They are committed to helping their alma mater to maintain close ties with graduates and promoting the latest development of the University and alumni activities to classmates. The briefing sessions held on 30 and 31 May 2022 at Alumni Atrium were joined by 84 GCAs. The ambassadors learned about their important role in alumni connection. They were pleased to meet with other enthusiastic graduating students and visited various facilities in the Alumni Atrium. They looked forward to participating in the PolyU 85th Anniversary celebration activities.

Alumni scholars of health technology and informatics give webinar on virus detection and tracing

Organised by the Alumni Affairs and Development Office, the alumni webinar “Sherlock Holmes and John Watson amid Pandemic – Virus detection and tracing” was successfully held on 26 May 2022. Two alumni scholars were invited to “decode” the mysterious scientific letters in our life under COVID-19. They also talked about how their professions helped combat the virus and safeguard public health. Prof. Yip Shea-ping, Professor and Head of Department of Health Technology and Informatics (HTI), began his presentation by explaining the everyday COVID-19 terms and various virus detection methods. He then shared his team’s innovation of a portable nucleic acid testing device, which enables fast and accurate results on-site to contribute to anti-pandemic measures.   Dr Gilman Siu, Associate Professor of Department of HTI and Limin Young Scholar in Medical Laboratory Science, told his behind-the-scene stories of identifying local transmission chains with his rapid whole-genome sequencing technique across the different waves of outbreak. He illustrated the “Geo-phylogenetic database for COVID-19 in Hong Kong”, and revealed his recent findings on variants and strains of the virus. Dr Siu specially thanked his team for conducting whole genome sequencing round the clock since the first wave of COVID-19. We are also grateful to Prof. Yip and Dr Siu for their outstanding contributions towards the containment of virus. The informative webinar drew many questions from the audience, including our MC Ms Lesley Tang, one of the HTI graduates. The event attracted around 250 registrations and was well received by the participants.

Xi’an Jiaotong University and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Joint Collaboration

On 16 May 2022, Xi'an Jiaotong University and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) celebrated the 20th anniversary of the joint establishment of the Xi'an Tongli International College. Alumni of the PolyU Tongli Alumni Network and staff of the College gathered together to wish the College the best. During the event, Mr Xiong Jianlong, President of Xi’an Jiaotong University Science Park Company Limited and Vice President of PolyU Tongli Alumni Network, reviewed the history of the collaboration and recognised the contribution of both Universities. Dr Zhu Changxin, Director of Xi’an Tongli International College, expressed his gratitude to all management, teaching and administrative staff, students and alumni for their contributions. Mr Li Yubing, President of PolyU Tongli Alumni Network, emphasised that the Alumni Network would be committed to maintaining close ties with its members and getting alumni connected. The alumni shared their precious memories at the College and wished the College to strive for better future.

MICHELIN Guide Recommended Restaurant Above & Beyond – Mother’s Day 8-course Set Dinner Menu

To celebrate mothers who are passionate about Cantonese delicacies, Executive Chinese Chef Chi Ki Wong has meticulously curated 8-course set dinner menu using the finest ingredients, available from 6 to 8 May. With stunning views of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong skyline, the celebratory feast begins with Above & Beyond Chinese Platter featuring Honey-glazed Barbecued Pork, Mango Salad with Scallop, Deep-fried Prawn Ball in Yuzu Sauce, followed by the golden-brown Baked Stuffed Crab Shell with Avocado. Sample the Double-boiled Chicken Soup with Medlar Fruit and Sea Whelk that has delicate and sweet flavours and helps nourishing your body. Other not-to-be-missed creations include Braised Vegetable Sprouts with Fish Maw and Conpoy in Superior Oyster Sauce; Steamed Garoupa Fillet with Yunnan Ham, Ginger and Spring Onion; Baby Pigeon with Chinese Premium Soy Sauce and Fried Rice with Crab Meat in Shrimp Head Oil. Round off the menu with the nourishing Sweetened Almond Cream with Egg White and Bird’s Nest and Chinese Petits Fours. The menu costs HK$828* per person (minimum 2 persons) with additional wine pairing recommended by Sommelier Mike Liu at HK$380* per person. *Subject to 10% service charge Book online: https://dining.hotel-icon.com/en/reservation/?rid=107 Enquiries and reservations: (852) 3400 1318 or aboveandbeyond@hotel-icon.com

PolyU’s Magazine – Excel x Impact (Spring 2022)

The latest issue of PolyU's magazine, Excel x Impact, is out! Check out the cover story to learn how PolyU fosters world-class interdisciplinary research and innovation in Hong Kong. There are also stories about the PolyU community's efforts to fight against COVID19 and the University's latest achievements and developments.  

Alumni Webinar shares how "Blinking and Stretching" help us stay energised

The Alumni Affairs and Development Office hosted an alumni webinar “Blinking and Stretching – How to stay energised at home” on 19 April 2022 evening. Two alumni speakers, namely an optometrist and a physiotherapist, were invited to address the common health risks of studying and working long hours at home under the pandemic. They also recommended ways to stay healthy and energised. Dr Rachel Chun, Research Assistant Professor at PolyU School of Optometry, began her presentation with symptoms and illnesses that we potentially suffer from staring at computer screens for a long time. She continued to tell how blue light affects our eyes, and finished her session with recommendations and protective measures that help reduce eye discomfort. Mr Elton Ng, Founder and CEO of Centre of Rehabilitation & Exercising Specialist, talked about common muscle discomfort caused by poor posture and lack of exercise. Illustrated lively on how to relax our muscles with proper postures for reading and working, Elton concluded his session by demonstrating some easy at-home workout moves. The speakers provided more handy tips on eye care and muscle strengthening exercises in the question-and-answer session. The event attracted about 500 registrations and was well received by the participants. In celebration of PolyU’s 85th Anniversary, the Alumni Affairs and Development Office organises a series of alumni webinars, which bring together distinguished alumni in various fields to discuss compelling topics and share their insights with the alumni community. For details of the upcoming webinars, please stay tuned.

OPAA Master Class 2021/2022 Speaker Forum on “Art is Life, Life is Art”

The Outstanding PolyU Alumni Association hosted the Master Class 2021/22 Speaker Forum online successfully on 11 April 2022, attracting over 240 registrations of PolyU students, staff, alumni, as well as mentors and mentees of the INSPIRE Mentorship Programme. The Forum was presented by two outstanding alumni, Mr Tino Kwan Wing-kuen, Founder and Principal Consultant of Tino Kwan Lighting Consultants Limited, and Ms Mary Yu Wah, Founder of Mary Yu Design. The panel discussion was moderated by one of the OPAA Directors, Mr Elton Ng Chun-ting, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Centre of Rehabilitation & Exercising Specialist. He was joined by his mentee Mr Henry Guo. Mr Kwan shared his art life adventures spanning across lighting design, photography, music, fashion, cooking and so on, during which he emphasised that passion fuels motivation, and art and life are inseparable. Ms Yu talked about her entrepreneurial achievements, especially on how she developed her skill set during the pandemic to expand her professional competency in art and design. The inspiring talks drew many questions from participants. The Forum was concluded by the OPAA President, Ir Eric Ma Siu-cheung, GBS, JP, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of NWS Holding Limited. “The two speakers are our role models, as they have never been complacent and keep pushing their professional boundaries.” He also encouraged us to learn the art of appreciating little things in life, through which we would be amazed by the great concepts and efforts behind that build our better life.

The Second Run of Self-paced MOOC on Interdisciplinary Innovations for Population Ageing

Population ageing is a global phenomenon profoundly affecting the well-being of communities. Disciplines such as Social Sciences, Design, and Engineering offer unique, insightful innovations for ageing societies. Along with providing solutions catering to their professional niche, these disciplines achieve creative and practical innovations through interdisciplinary collaboration. This course intends to explore and examine the process of incubating innovations in these three disciplines and help the learners to appreciate the synergy created when working toward innovations by adopting an interdisciplinary approach.    Welcome to the world of active ageing! The second run of the course has already started on 1 Apr, 2022. Learn more about this course and get enroll by checking the links below.   Register NOW, and get your 100% off coupon by contacting us at innovage.mooc@polyu.edu.hk. (50 coupons are available on a first-come, first-serve basis)   Second Run of the MOOC: 1 Apr - 31 Aug, 2022 (Due date for enrollment and upgrade: 27 May 2022, HKT 12:00 p.m.) Course Enrollment: https://www.edx.org/course/interdisciplinary-innovations-for-population-aging Course Trailer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12U0bgpqufY8VtW-6kEVvRMtz45CEsBQj/view?usp=sharing