Professor Jin-Guang Teng, JP
President of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
President's Address
Council Chairman, honoured guests, graduates, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,
On behalf of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, let me offer my heartfelt congratulations to the distinguished recipients of our honorary doctorates, Professor Yang Mengfei and Mr Edgar Cheung Ka-long, and all our doctoral degree recipients.
This year, the University has awarded PhD degrees to 363 graduates. Well done, graduates! Earning a PhD degree is an exceptional accomplishment that requires many years of hard work and determination, as well as high levels of academic ability and intellectual creativity. The fact that you earned your degree amid the unprecedented and challenging circumstances brought about by the pandemic makes your achievement even more remarkable. The strength and resilience you have demonstrated during your studies shall serve you well in your journey ahead.
This congregation ceremony is also an occasion for us to sincerely thank the PolyU supervisors, professors and teachers who have provided priceless guidance to our graduates and made their achievement today possible. Let us also express our great appreciation to the families and friends of our graduates who have rendered invaluable support and helped pave the way for their success.
Dear graduates, you have earned your degrees at a critical moment in time. Hong Kong is entering an exciting new chapter of development, in which our city is being transformed into an international innovation and technology hub. At the national level, the 14th five-year plan seeks to make our country a global leader in cutting-edge science and technology, with Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area playing an essential part in the Nation’s technological development.
As a University with a robust culture of research excellence and strong background in STEM disciplines, PolyU is proud to have nurtured outstanding researchers such as yourselves who can play a leading role in this new era. At the global level, you can also help to address complex challenges such as climate change, poverty, the pandemic, energy shortages, and an ageing society. In all these important ways, you can demonstrate your commitment to social responsibility, applying your research skills for the greater good of society and living up to our University’s motto of “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind”.
An excellent example of using your knowledge to serve humanity is Professor Yang Mengfei, one of our honorary graduates. As an accomplished and visionary researcher in space technology, he has made remarkable contributions to the Nation’s space projects. PolyU’s scientists are honoured to have collaborated closely with Professor Yang and his team in contributing to the Nation’s historic Chang’e-5 lunar sample return mission, and they are also working together for the upcoming Chang’e-6 mission. Professor Yang’s devotion to advance the Nation’s scientific development is an inspiration for us all.
Another one of our honorary graduates is local sports hero and foil-fencer Mr Cheung Ka-long, who brought honour to our city after winning a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games for Hong Kong. To become an Olympic champion and achieve the highest levels of sporting excellence, Mr Cheung Ka-long has been courageous in setting big goals for himself, and has demonstrated outstanding qualities such as perseverance and determination, making him a brilliant role model for the younger generation.
I am delighted that Professor Yang and Mr Cheung Ka-long have joined the PolyU family and that from today onwards they will be a part of PolyU’s future.
Let me also pay tribute to Professor Zhong Nanshan, who kindly provided us with an inspirational speech earlier at this ceremony. Professor Zhong, a world-leading respiratory disease specialist, has been at the forefront of the Nation’s efforts to combat COVID-19 and other epidemics, helping to save lives and safeguard the health and well-being of the public. Thanks to the tireless contributions of distinguished leaders like Professor Zhong, the local and central government, and other sectors of the community, the pandemic situation is under better control, and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel and the gradual return to normality.
Dear graduates, I hope that the exemplary personalities I have just mentioned will motivate you to achieve your aspirations and seek breakthroughs.
This year marks the 85th Anniversary of our University. It is a time for us to share with the community our developments and accomplishments, and to redouble our commitment to world-class education and research. Indeed, our pursuit of excellence has been internationally recognised, with PolyU being ranked 79th in the world according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023 released just a few weeks ago.
In conclusion, let me once again reiterate my sincerest congratulations to all our graduates. Today is a celebration of a major milestone in your life. I look forward to hearing about your continued accomplishments and noteworthy contributions, using your exceptional research talents to foster a brighter future for Hong Kong, our Nation and the world.
Thank you!
On behalf of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, let me offer my heartfelt congratulations to the distinguished recipients of our honorary doctorates, Professor Yang Mengfei and Mr Edgar Cheung Ka-long, and all our doctoral degree recipients.
This year, the University has awarded PhD degrees to 363 graduates. Well done, graduates! Earning a PhD degree is an exceptional accomplishment that requires many years of hard work and determination, as well as high levels of academic ability and intellectual creativity. The fact that you earned your degree amid the unprecedented and challenging circumstances brought about by the pandemic makes your achievement even more remarkable. The strength and resilience you have demonstrated during your studies shall serve you well in your journey ahead.
This congregation ceremony is also an occasion for us to sincerely thank the PolyU supervisors, professors and teachers who have provided priceless guidance to our graduates and made their achievement today possible. Let us also express our great appreciation to the families and friends of our graduates who have rendered invaluable support and helped pave the way for their success.
Dear graduates, you have earned your degrees at a critical moment in time. Hong Kong is entering an exciting new chapter of development, in which our city is being transformed into an international innovation and technology hub. At the national level, the 14th five-year plan seeks to make our country a global leader in cutting-edge science and technology, with Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area playing an essential part in the Nation’s technological development.
As a University with a robust culture of research excellence and strong background in STEM disciplines, PolyU is proud to have nurtured outstanding researchers such as yourselves who can play a leading role in this new era. At the global level, you can also help to address complex challenges such as climate change, poverty, the pandemic, energy shortages, and an ageing society. In all these important ways, you can demonstrate your commitment to social responsibility, applying your research skills for the greater good of society and living up to our University’s motto of “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind”.
An excellent example of using your knowledge to serve humanity is Professor Yang Mengfei, one of our honorary graduates. As an accomplished and visionary researcher in space technology, he has made remarkable contributions to the Nation’s space projects. PolyU’s scientists are honoured to have collaborated closely with Professor Yang and his team in contributing to the Nation’s historic Chang’e-5 lunar sample return mission, and they are also working together for the upcoming Chang’e-6 mission. Professor Yang’s devotion to advance the Nation’s scientific development is an inspiration for us all.
Another one of our honorary graduates is local sports hero and foil-fencer Mr Cheung Ka-long, who brought honour to our city after winning a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games for Hong Kong. To become an Olympic champion and achieve the highest levels of sporting excellence, Mr Cheung Ka-long has been courageous in setting big goals for himself, and has demonstrated outstanding qualities such as perseverance and determination, making him a brilliant role model for the younger generation.
I am delighted that Professor Yang and Mr Cheung Ka-long have joined the PolyU family and that from today onwards they will be a part of PolyU’s future.
Let me also pay tribute to Professor Zhong Nanshan, who kindly provided us with an inspirational speech earlier at this ceremony. Professor Zhong, a world-leading respiratory disease specialist, has been at the forefront of the Nation’s efforts to combat COVID-19 and other epidemics, helping to save lives and safeguard the health and well-being of the public. Thanks to the tireless contributions of distinguished leaders like Professor Zhong, the local and central government, and other sectors of the community, the pandemic situation is under better control, and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel and the gradual return to normality.
Dear graduates, I hope that the exemplary personalities I have just mentioned will motivate you to achieve your aspirations and seek breakthroughs.
This year marks the 85th Anniversary of our University. It is a time for us to share with the community our developments and accomplishments, and to redouble our commitment to world-class education and research. Indeed, our pursuit of excellence has been internationally recognised, with PolyU being ranked 79th in the world according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023 released just a few weeks ago.
In conclusion, let me once again reiterate my sincerest congratulations to all our graduates. Today is a celebration of a major milestone in your life. I look forward to hearing about your continued accomplishments and noteworthy contributions, using your exceptional research talents to foster a brighter future for Hong Kong, our Nation and the world.
Thank you!