Professor Jin-Guang Teng, BBS, JP
President of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
President’s Address at the 31st Congregation (May Session) for the Doctor of Philosophy
Council Chairman, honoured guests, graduates, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon. It is my great honour and privilege to address you all on this special occasion of the 31st Congregation of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
We are gathered here today to recognise the outstanding achievements of our Doctor of Philosophy graduates. At this May Congregation, we are proud to award PhD degrees to 226 exceptional graduates. Congratulations, graduates! Throughout your rigorous academic journey, you have demonstrated extraordinary dedication, perseverance, and a passion for pushing the boundaries of knowledge, earning you the highest academic degree. The skills you have developed during your PhD, including critical thinking, research competence, and clear communication, will equip you to excel in diverse fields and make a positive impact on the world at large. Celebrate today—you’ve earned it. And as you celebrate, remember to express your gratitude to those who have supported you along the way, including your parents, teachers, mentors, and peers, whose guidance and encouragement have been instrumental in your journey.
You should also be proud that you are graduating from a university that is now a research powerhouse. Indeed, over the past five years, our research staff has more than doubled, and our external research funding has also more than doubled. Moreover, 355 PolyU scholars are now among the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists, based on career-long and single-year citation impact according to a Stanford University index. PolyU has also risen to 57th place in the QS World University Rankings, with 26 of our subjects ranked among the top 100 globally. These remarkable achievements all testify to our academic and research excellence. As PhD graduates, you have all played a vital role in advancing our research strengths, contributing to our vibrant research community and its far-reaching impact.
Nevertheless, our achievements should not make us complacent. During the Two Sessions conference held in Beijing in March, which I had the great privilege of attending, President XI Jinping placed a significant emphasis on the education sector’s critical role in cultivating capable talent and driving scientific and technological advancement. To meet this national priority and to maintain our position as a world-class university, we must proactively evolve our initiatives and strategic directions to meet changing societal needs. In this regard, from July this year, we will implement the University’s new six-year Strategic Plan, themed “Unite to Meet Challenges, Innovate to Benefit Society”. This visionary plan has enabled us to enhance our Vision and Mission statements, ensuring they align with our latest aspirations and accomplishments. In particular, PolyU’s enhanced Vision is “to be an innovative world-class university that pursues excellence in education, research, and knowledge transfer for the benefit of Hong Kong, the Nation, and the world”.
Let me now briefly share some of the key initiatives we are undertaking that will enable us to thrive as an innovative world-class university in the years to come.
In the realm of research, we have embraced an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach, recognising that solutions to the most significant societal challenges can no longer be found within isolated disciplines, but rather require interdisciplinary efforts and diverse expertise. Our PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research, also known as PAIR, embodies this philosophy, bringing together 19 research institutes and centres to conduct mission-driven interdisciplinary research in key areas of socio-economic importance.
To further expand the reach and impact of our research, we are establishing translational research institutes focused on technology and innovation in various cities across the Mainland. These institutes will conduct high-impact translational research and development work, addressing the industrial and societal needs of each city and contributing to the Nation’s scientific and technological progress. We have secured agreements for 11 translational research institutes to date, several of which have already commenced operations.
In terms of education, to provide our students with a broader educational base and greater flexibility in forging their future career paths to meet societal needs, we will transition towards a Faculty-based admission system from the upcoming academic year. Under this system, all students within the same Faculty will follow a common year–one curriculum. After the first year, students can decide whether to continue with their initial programme choice or switch to another choice within the same Faculty based on their aspirations and year-one performance. Complementing this initiative, we are also introducing a Bachelor’s Degree Scheme in Interdisciplinary Studies, offering high-calibre students the opportunity to be considered for entry into any of PolyU’s programmes after year one.
Another major strategy of ours is to fully embrace the opportunities and challenges brought about by artificial intelligence. For example, to address the growing demand for talent and technological expertise in the age of AI, our tenth Faculty, called the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, was established in January this year. This new Faculty currently comprises three departments, including the Department of Applied Mathematics, the Department of Computing, and the Department of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. Building on this momentum, we have also recently set up the PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence, with the acronym PAAI, which will position PolyU as a leader in sustainable and inclusive AI research and applications, while elevating Hong Kong as a global centre for generative AI development.
Last but not least, we have formulated an innovative and forward-looking proposal for Hong Kong’s third medical school, which is currently under consideration by the Hong Kong Government. Our proposed medical school will nurture the next generation of socially responsible and technologically proficient medical talents for the future AI-driven healthcare landscape by leveraging our strong foundation of excellence in health sciences, engineering, and artificial intelligence, as well as over 45 years of experience in training more than 50,000 healthcare professionals across various disciplines. It will contribute to Hong Kong’s development as an international health and medical innovation hub and address the city’s critical healthcare needs, including primary healthcare and preventive medicine. The PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence, which I just mentioned, will also play a pivotal role in strengthening our leadership in AI-driven healthcare and medicine, giving us an even stronger foundation for the new medical school.
In closing, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations once again to all of our graduates. Your academic studies at PolyU may have come to a close, but your journey as innovators and leaders is just beginning. Indeed, you now join a global network of nearly half a million PolyU graduates driving positive change across countless fields. Stay connected with your alma mater, support one another, and carry forward PolyU’s spirit of innovation and excellence. The world awaits your impact.
Thank you!
Good afternoon. It is my great honour and privilege to address you all on this special occasion of the 31st Congregation of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
We are gathered here today to recognise the outstanding achievements of our Doctor of Philosophy graduates. At this May Congregation, we are proud to award PhD degrees to 226 exceptional graduates. Congratulations, graduates! Throughout your rigorous academic journey, you have demonstrated extraordinary dedication, perseverance, and a passion for pushing the boundaries of knowledge, earning you the highest academic degree. The skills you have developed during your PhD, including critical thinking, research competence, and clear communication, will equip you to excel in diverse fields and make a positive impact on the world at large. Celebrate today—you’ve earned it. And as you celebrate, remember to express your gratitude to those who have supported you along the way, including your parents, teachers, mentors, and peers, whose guidance and encouragement have been instrumental in your journey.
You should also be proud that you are graduating from a university that is now a research powerhouse. Indeed, over the past five years, our research staff has more than doubled, and our external research funding has also more than doubled. Moreover, 355 PolyU scholars are now among the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists, based on career-long and single-year citation impact according to a Stanford University index. PolyU has also risen to 57th place in the QS World University Rankings, with 26 of our subjects ranked among the top 100 globally. These remarkable achievements all testify to our academic and research excellence. As PhD graduates, you have all played a vital role in advancing our research strengths, contributing to our vibrant research community and its far-reaching impact.
Nevertheless, our achievements should not make us complacent. During the Two Sessions conference held in Beijing in March, which I had the great privilege of attending, President XI Jinping placed a significant emphasis on the education sector’s critical role in cultivating capable talent and driving scientific and technological advancement. To meet this national priority and to maintain our position as a world-class university, we must proactively evolve our initiatives and strategic directions to meet changing societal needs. In this regard, from July this year, we will implement the University’s new six-year Strategic Plan, themed “Unite to Meet Challenges, Innovate to Benefit Society”. This visionary plan has enabled us to enhance our Vision and Mission statements, ensuring they align with our latest aspirations and accomplishments. In particular, PolyU’s enhanced Vision is “to be an innovative world-class university that pursues excellence in education, research, and knowledge transfer for the benefit of Hong Kong, the Nation, and the world”.
Let me now briefly share some of the key initiatives we are undertaking that will enable us to thrive as an innovative world-class university in the years to come.
In the realm of research, we have embraced an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach, recognising that solutions to the most significant societal challenges can no longer be found within isolated disciplines, but rather require interdisciplinary efforts and diverse expertise. Our PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research, also known as PAIR, embodies this philosophy, bringing together 19 research institutes and centres to conduct mission-driven interdisciplinary research in key areas of socio-economic importance.
To further expand the reach and impact of our research, we are establishing translational research institutes focused on technology and innovation in various cities across the Mainland. These institutes will conduct high-impact translational research and development work, addressing the industrial and societal needs of each city and contributing to the Nation’s scientific and technological progress. We have secured agreements for 11 translational research institutes to date, several of which have already commenced operations.
In terms of education, to provide our students with a broader educational base and greater flexibility in forging their future career paths to meet societal needs, we will transition towards a Faculty-based admission system from the upcoming academic year. Under this system, all students within the same Faculty will follow a common year–one curriculum. After the first year, students can decide whether to continue with their initial programme choice or switch to another choice within the same Faculty based on their aspirations and year-one performance. Complementing this initiative, we are also introducing a Bachelor’s Degree Scheme in Interdisciplinary Studies, offering high-calibre students the opportunity to be considered for entry into any of PolyU’s programmes after year one.
Another major strategy of ours is to fully embrace the opportunities and challenges brought about by artificial intelligence. For example, to address the growing demand for talent and technological expertise in the age of AI, our tenth Faculty, called the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, was established in January this year. This new Faculty currently comprises three departments, including the Department of Applied Mathematics, the Department of Computing, and the Department of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. Building on this momentum, we have also recently set up the PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence, with the acronym PAAI, which will position PolyU as a leader in sustainable and inclusive AI research and applications, while elevating Hong Kong as a global centre for generative AI development.
Last but not least, we have formulated an innovative and forward-looking proposal for Hong Kong’s third medical school, which is currently under consideration by the Hong Kong Government. Our proposed medical school will nurture the next generation of socially responsible and technologically proficient medical talents for the future AI-driven healthcare landscape by leveraging our strong foundation of excellence in health sciences, engineering, and artificial intelligence, as well as over 45 years of experience in training more than 50,000 healthcare professionals across various disciplines. It will contribute to Hong Kong’s development as an international health and medical innovation hub and address the city’s critical healthcare needs, including primary healthcare and preventive medicine. The PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence, which I just mentioned, will also play a pivotal role in strengthening our leadership in AI-driven healthcare and medicine, giving us an even stronger foundation for the new medical school.
In closing, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations once again to all of our graduates. Your academic studies at PolyU may have come to a close, but your journey as innovators and leaders is just beginning. Indeed, you now join a global network of nearly half a million PolyU graduates driving positive change across countless fields. Stay connected with your alma mater, support one another, and carry forward PolyU’s spirit of innovation and excellence. The world awaits your impact.
Thank you!
