President’s Address at the PhD and Honorary Degrees Session

Mr Council Chairman, Honoured Guests, Graduates, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon. It’s my great privilege to address you all on this meaningful occasion of the 29th Congregation of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

On behalf of the University, I’d like to begin by expressing my heartfelt congratulations to the following esteemed honorary degree recipients: The Honourable Mrs Laura Cha, Professor Gong Qihuang, Mr Charles Li, Professor Xu Ningsheng, and Professor Zhong Nanshan. Their remarkable accomplishments and significant contributions to the development of Hong Kong and our country are truly inspiring. They all embody the spirit of excellence and social responsibility we uphold at PolyU. It’s an honour to welcome them into the PolyU family.

Today, we also celebrate our Doctor of Philosophy degree recipients. This year, we have proudly conferred PhD degrees upon 375 graduates. Congratulations, graduates! Obtaining a PhD is more than just an academic achievement; it is a testament to your relentless pursuit of knowledge, your unwavering commitment to research, and your perseverance in the face of complex intellectual challenges. As you step into the next chapter of your lives, let the diligence and determination you’ve shown throughout your studies guide you in overcoming future obstacles and seizing new opportunities.

In terms of opportunities, you’ve earned your degrees amid a period in which innovation and technology are evolving at an extraordinary pace, especially with the emergence of game-changing technologies such as generative AI, among others, that are rapidly transforming the way we work, study and live. As graduates of a university renowned for its excellence in research, innovation, and STEM disciplines, you are in a very strong position to drive progress in this new technological era. You have the talent to contribute significantly to Hong Kong’s vision of developing into an international innovation and technology hub, and to propel the scientific and socio-economic advancement of our Nation and beyond.

You are also graduating at a time in which PolyU is growing from strength to strength. We are now ranked as the 65th best university in the world according to QS. Equally impressive is the fact that over 200 PolyU scholars have been named among the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists according to an index by Stanford University.

These accolades make us proud but also inspire us to excel even further. In this regard, our University is in the process of formulating its next strategic plan which will outline our important objectives and directions over the coming years. I’d like to share a few of these objectives with you.

One of our primary goals is to strengthen our positioning as an innovative world-class university. Innovation carries a triple meaning for us. Firstly, we aspire to produce graduates who will become leaders and drivers of innovation. Secondly, we are committed to ensuring that our research leads to innovations with direct societal benefits. Thirdly, we strive to embed innovation in all aspects of our operations, from developing new programmes and exploring fresh research directions to formulating new policies and management systems.

In terms of ensuring our research fosters societal benefits, we have launched a major initiative to set up translational research institutes focused on technology and innovation in various cities across the Mainland. Our aim is to conduct research and development work that not only has a significant impact but also facilitates the transfer of knowledge to meet the industrial and societal needs of each city.

To strengthen our ability to nurture talents who can respond to the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and drive the next wave of technological innovations, we are also planning to establish a new Faculty at PolyU focused on computing, mathematical sciences, and digital technology.

Starting from the 2025/26 academic year, we aim to implement a University scheme-based admissions process. Under this arrangement, students will be admitted into streams such as Science, Engineering, Business, Art and Design, Health Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences. This model will provide students with a broader educational base, enabling their development into well-rounded graduates who can address societal needs.

In addition, by the 2027/28 academic year, we will ensure that every undergraduate student has a non-local study opportunity. This initiative will deepen our students' cultural awareness, international perspective, and sense of social responsibility. Last but not least, we will reinforce our reputation as one of the best universities in engineering and technology in the whole country, and strive to be world-leading in our many unique disciplines.

In other words, the future is very bright for PolyU, and with the continued support of our staff, students, alumni, and partners, we will continue to scale new heights in the years to come.

Let me conclude by once again congratulating all of our graduates today. We wish you every success in your future endeavours, and please remember that no matter what you do next, you will always remain part of the PolyU community. Stay connected, share your successes, and make a positive difference to the world around you, living up to our motto, "To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind".

Thank you!