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AlumNews (May 2023) – New Souvenir, VIP Dining, and All May-nificent Happenings

This month, we have prepared our AlumNews based on a variety of exciting activities to reconnect with you. Come and join us for a memorable experience that only PolyU can provide!

Alumni Survey 2023

[UPDATE] The survey was closed on 20 August 2023. This week, we are going to launch our large-scale Alumni Survey to solicit your views about PolyU’s alumni engagement initiatives. For recent graduates, we would also like to know about your learning outcomes, and receive your feedback on the programme and Faculty/School.  The survey will be conducted on a selective basis. Invited parties will receive an email from “PolyU Alumni Survey”, in which there is an URL directing respondents to the online questionnaire powered by Qualtrics. There may also be follow-up calls and messages from the Alumni Affairs Office in relation to this survey. As a token of our appreciation, respondents who have successfully completed the questionnaire will receive eVouchers/memorable gifts, which are available on a first-come-first-served basis and while stock lasts. Don’t hesitate to make your voice heard and get your reward if you receive our invitation! Thank you in advance for supporting this University-wide exercise!       

Get Campus Access QR Codes for Your Guests in Advance

Apart from obtaining your QR code for campus access through your Alumni eCard, you can now also get QR codes for your guests in advance using the Alumni Campus Access Registration (ACAR) system. The visitors no longer need to go to the Information Counter for access registration. They can simply scan their QR codes at the entrance turnstiles.  Please visit here for a step-by-step guide, and contact the Information Technology Services Office at 2766 5900 for enquiries. We would love to see you and your friends attend University events, enjoy catering facilities, and much more!

Exclusive to PolyU Alumni: Ju Yin House and Jiangnan Delight VIP Card

Exciting news! Holders of PolyU Alumni eCard or Federation of PolyU Alumni Associations Card can now apply for a new VIP Card to enjoy discounts and a range of promotional offers at Ju Yin House and Jiangnan Delight on campus*. This VIP Card is limited to the first 2,000 applicants on a first-come-first-served basis. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible! Steps for Application Fill out and submit the online form on or before 31 August 2023. Wait for the confirmation notice, which will be sent within 5 to 7 working days. Bring the confirmation notice and your PolyU Alumni eCard/ Federation of PolyU Alumni Associations Card to Ju Yin House to get the physical VIP Card. It must be collected no later than 31 October 2023. Activate the VIP Card by enjoying at least one time of VIP dining offers at Ju Yin House on or before 31 October 2023. Dinner Offers at Ju Yin House (Communal Staff Restaurant) Discounts: 5% off from Mondays to Fridays; 10% off on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays. A group of 4 people can receive 1 free designated snack, a group of 8 can receive 2, so on and so forth. Complimentary desserts will also be provided after dinner. Corkage fee of $50 will be waived. Cakeage fee of $50 will be waived. Members who provide proof of their birthday month are entitled to a one-time birthday benefit: purchase $200 or more to get a half piece of Crispy Roasted Chicken, or $400 or more to get a full piece. Members can enjoy various additional dishes and discounts, the details of which are listed on the tent card placed on the table. Special Offers at Jiangnan Delight (Communal Student Restaurant) New special set dinner menus are available for members. Members can receive a complimentary drink with any purchase when using their VIP Card. For enquiries, please contact Ms Yeung from the Catering Services Team at the Campus Facilities and Sustainability Office, at 3400 8008. *Membership dining discounts are only applicable for dine-in consumption and are not valid for Banquet Menu, Set Menu and Blackout Dates. The cardholder must present the VIP Card to enjoy the discounts and promotional offers. Ju Yin House and Jiangnan Delight reserve the right to make the final decision in case of any dispute.  

Strategic Planning Consultation Session for Alumni

Effective communication between alumni and the alma mater is crucial for the growth and success of PolyU. Following the President’s Dialogue with Alumni last month, the Strategic Planning Consultation Session for Alumni was held on 11 May 2023 in preparation for the University’s next 6-Year Strategic Plan (2025/26-2030/31). During the session, President Prof. Jin-Guang Teng provided attending alumni with a comprehensive overview of PolyU’s recent achievements, major initiatives implemented since 2019, as well as strategic directions for the next phase. The session also allowed for in-depth questions from graduates on alumni engagement, Mainland development, student support and entrepreneurial education, fostering supportive interaction between PolyU and the alumni community.

Alumni Seminar Explores the Exciting Potential of AI

The alumni seminar “ChatGPT Unravelled: Surfing the Wave of AI”, held on 4 May 2023, brought the PolyU community together both online and offline to explore this hot topic from various aspects. Our honourable speakers and panellists guided the audience through commercial applications, academic preparation and real-life usage, helping them to embrace this big wave. Mr Eric Chin, our Business graduate and Partner Development and Marketing Lead at Microsoft (Hong Kong), opened the topic by introducing the concept of AI and generative AI. Demonstrating with ChatGPT’s interesting responses, the audience was made aware of the technology’s usefulness and limitations. Mr Chin also showed potential use cases to illustrate the power of generative AI.  Prof. Wong Kwok-yin, our Vice President (Education), examined the matter from an academic perspective, starting with the University’s stance and related programmes offered. He then discussed guidelines and support for students and teaching units, depicting PolyU’s readiness to welcome this new era.  Moderated by Prof. Dicky Shek, our DBA graduate and Professor of Practice (MIS), the interactive panel discussion also featured Mr Darron Sun, President of The Computing Alumni Association and Head of Information Technology at the Hong Kong Housing Society. The speakers and panellists shared their views on the transformative technology and answered questions from the floor and via Zoom. The seminar ended with insightful discussion mixed with advice on adopting AI in work and daily life, and received astounding applause.  This event had overwhelming response with over 1,100 registrations. The Alumni Affairs Office is committed to organising more events to keep our alumni community up to date with emerging trends. Stay tuned for more programmes and activities.  For more photos of the event, please refer to our Facebook post.

Mainland Alumni Homecoming - Graduates of Master Degree in Business Management

On 29 April 2023, a delegation of Master Degree in Business Management visited PolyU. The group was warmly received by Dr Sean Xu, Assistant Director of Mainland Development Office. Dr Xu introduced the latest developments of PolyU, as well as its alumni engagement in the Mainland. Our alumni were so proud of their alma mater with its significant achievements. A campus tour was arranged for the delegation. The first stop of the tour is Alumni Atrium, which is a dedicated venue for alumni activities set up by the University.  Alumni were very impressed with the architecture and the environment of the campus. On this special occasion, Professor Vincent Leung and Professor Dicky Shek from Faculty of Business joined the networking luncheon, which was filled with laughter and endless sharing. 

Alumni Tourcation – It’s Time to Go Green!

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of “green”? At PolyU, green isn’t just a colour – it embodies the spirit of environmental protection. On the last Saturday morning in April, a group of green-spirited alumni gathered for a campus walk that featured sustainability facilities. By engaging with the campus and its offerings, our participants were glad to learn about PolyU’s latest developments in energy saving and sustainability engagement initiatives. These include the trail of lightweight, flexible PV panels at the covered walkway outside Shaw Amenities Building and Shaw Sports Complex; the PolyU GreenCoin initiative; as well as the academic collaboration project between the Campus Facilities and Sustainability Office and the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, which focuses on smart building energy management technologies for carbon neutral campus. Actions speak louder than words, especially when it comes to ESG. The group made the most of their tour by visiting the urban farm on campus, and by making their own tie-dye organic products during our exclusive DIY workshop. All of them left with happy faces, proudly bringing their own “green” works home as souvenirs. The green facilities, activities and greenery at PolyU can be a memorable experience for you too. We will organise the same Alumni Tourcation again in June. Register now to guarantee your spot!  For more photos of the event, please refer to our Facebook post.  

Delegation from Southern University of Science and Technology Visits PolyU

PolyU has been dedicated to strengthening collaboration with Mainland universities for multilateral benefits. On 26 April 2023, Dr Zhang Ling, Vice Chairperson of the University Council of Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), led a delegation to visit PolyU. They were warmly received by President Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, as well as Dr Miranda Lou, Executive Vice President of the University. The visit was organised on the theme of alumni affairs and institutional advancement. Ms Wanze Li, Interim Director of Alumni Affairs, and Dr Olive Wang, Section Head of the Office of Institutional Advancement, gave an introduction to the various endeavours made by PolyU. They also had a constructive exchange of views with the delegates. A campus tour was arranged afterwards, during which the delegation visited PolyU Main Entrance, Alumni Atrium and other landmarks. In the evening, President Teng hosted a dinner at Hotel ICON, the unique teaching and research hotel wholly owned by PolyU. They had a warm and pleasant evening with one another. We were grateful for visit. In the future, we look forward to more and more exchange and cooperation activities with SUSTech. Through promoting closer ties between universities in Hong Kong and the Mainland, we will continue to join hands to make greater contributions in the higher education context.  

AlumNews (Apr 2023) – All Roads Lead Home

There are many ways to stay involved and benefit from your alma mater! Read our AlumNews now to see what lifts up the PolyU community.