LOOKING FROM OUR PAST TO THE FUTURE 承先啟後繼往開來

2017年，香港理工大學(理大)建校八十周年的全年慶祝活動隨著在12月7日舉行的盛大晚宴而圓滿結束。當晚有近二千名本地和海外嘉賓出席，香港特別行政區行政長官林鄭月娥女士更擔任主禮嘉賓。

我們緬懷光輝歷史的同時，亦不忘重申大學的願景，在全球推動意義深遠的改變。多年來，理大一直活躍於世界舞台，在專業教育領域廣建夥伴關係，並將從創新科研中創造的知識轉移業界。展望未來，理大將繼續致力在策略聯盟和國際網絡方面擔當領導角色，為本地和世界帶來裨益。

Embracing internationalisation in education and research

One example of this leadership role was the President’s forum hosted by PolyU in December 2017. Entitled “Transformative Power of Universities for Our Future”, the Forum brought together over 100 global leaders from 30 leading institutions of higher education in 20 countries and regions. Participants shared their unique experiences and perspectives on how universities can look to the future and transform society through re-examining their roles, innovating in education and research, and undertaking impactful knowledge transfer. 

Also in late 2017, PolyU, as one of the founders of the University Social Responsibility Network, joined with Times Higher Education to organise a Social Impact Metrics Workshop for exploring the use of metrics to assess work and capture the engagement of the higher education sector with their own communities. Workshop participants generated possible metrics to capture the social impact of universities in five focus areas: teaching and learning, research, community, environmental sustainability, and responsible processes.

教育科研面向國際

理大在2017年12月舉辦的「校長論壇」正是這領導角色的其中一例。論壇以「大學：改變現狀•成就未來」為題，有逾百位環球領袖出席，他們來自二十個國家及地區的三十所高等教育頂尖院校。與會者就大學如何籌劃未來，如何透過重新檢視大學的角色、推動創新教育與科研，以及進行具影響力的知識轉移以改進社會的議題上，分享了各自的獨特經驗與觀點。

理大作為「大學社會責任網絡」始創院校之一，更在2017年底與《泰晤士高等教育》合辦「社會影響力衡量標準研討會」，研究採用指標制度來評估和記錄高等教育界在所屬社區的工作和參與活動的情況。與會者建立可行指標，以記錄大學在教與學、科研、社區參與、環境可持續性和具責任感的辦事程序這五大重點範疇的社會影響力。

Addressing societal needs

While we look to the future, we have not lost sight of our pledge to find solutions for pressing societal problems. I am delighted that our effort in this regard is backed up by encouraging philanthropic support. In 2018, PolyU Outstanding Alumni Award recipient and University Fellow Ir Dr Otto Poon generously donated HK$100 million to the University in the name of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation. The funding will be dedicated to supporting our research endeavours in the fields of smart city, smart mobility, as well as smart and sustainable energy. The donation will also enable us to establish two research institutes and two endowed professorships in related disciplines.

In the area of clinical research, PolyU and its alliance partners from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (including Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen University, and Macau University of Science and Technology) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with The State University of New York at Buffalo and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center to establish the first biotechnology and translational medicine collaborative research platform in the United States and the Greater Bay Area (GBA). The aim of the partnership, which draws on our collective expertise and networks, is to promote research in biotechnology and to develop cancer drugs, genomics, translational medicine and other related areas in order to capitalise on opportunities in the GBA.

Another Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with Axis Therapeutics to establish the PolyU-Axis Therapeutics Joint Center for Immunotherapy. Through this arrangement, PolyU will provide full support to the Center in undertaking research on genetic models to develop cancer immunotherapy technologies.

積極回應社會所需

在展望將來的同時，我們仍沒有忘記曾承諾致力為社會迫切問題尋找解決方案。我喜見我們在這方面的努力獲得善長鼎力支持。2018年，「傑出理大校友」兼「大學院士」潘樂陶博士工程師以「潘樂陶慈善基金」名義，慷慨捐贈港幣一億元予大學，支持我們在智慧城市、智慧出行及智能與可持續能源方面的研究工作，捐款亦同時用作設立相關領域的兩所研究院和兩個勵學教授席。

在臨床研究方面，理大聯同粵港澳大灣區的聯盟院校(包括中山大學、深圳大學和澳門科技大學)，與美國紐約州立大學水牛城分校及美國羅斯維爾帕克癌症研究所簽訂合作備忘錄，共同建立美國和粵港澳大灣區首個生物科技與轉化醫學的協作研究平台。該計劃成立的目的，是透過各合作夥伴的專長和網絡，把握大灣區的機遇，推動生物科技的研究和研發癌症藥物、基因組學、轉化醫學及其他相關領域的發展。

大學亦與AxisTherapeutics公司簽署另一項合作備忘錄，成立「理大－AxisTherapeutics免疫治療合作研究中心」。透過這項安排，理大將全力支援該中心進行遺傳學模型的研究，以開發癌症免疫療法技術。

PolyU is committed to engaging closely with business and industry. During the year, the University and Boeing extended their five-year partnership in developing the co-founded Aviation Services Research Centre (ASRC). The ASRC opened a new facility in September 2017 that combines robotics and artificial intelligence to identify and repair defects in compressors and turbine discs, thereby reducing man-hours and the possibility of human error. The opening of the facility is a vivid example of collaboration between academia and industry in what has come to be known as Industry 4.0, the fourth industrial revolution.

To increase understanding of this new era of industrialisation, PolyU has launched a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) called “Industry 4.0: How to Revolutionise your Business”. The course shares insights into the major systems and technologies of Industry 4.0, and the potential impact of smart products and services on business and society.

理大一直致力與工商業界緊密合作。年內，大學與波音公司再次簽訂為期五年的合作協議，繼續發展共同創立的「航空服務研究中心」。該中心的全新設施已在2017年9月啟用，結合機械人技術與人工智能以檢測和維修飛機壓縮機及渦輪盤的損毁部分，以期減少所需工時和人為錯誤。該項新設施的落成正是在「工業4.0」－第四次工業革命中，學界與業界協作的明顯例子。

為提高大眾對這個工業化新時代之認識，理大更開辦了名為「工業4.0 : 如何改革業務」的大型開放式網絡課程。該課程分享有關工業4.0的主要系統和技術的見解，以及智能產品與服務對商業和社會的潛在影響。

Creating synergy in the Greater Bay Area

With the nation’s launch of new initiatives in fostering innovation and technology in the GBA, we believe that collaboration between Hong Kong and other cities in the region offers tremendous opportunities for synergy and the development of a comprehensive industrial chain.

To that end, PolyU and Shenzhen University have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish The Greater Bay Area International Institute for Innovation. Under this agreement, we will assist groups and institutions in the GBA to internationalise. We will also provide a platform for training innovative talent, advancing technology, incubating start-ups, and commercialising their innovations. All of these initiatives will be carried out through collaboration and exchange with global institutions and enterprises.

大灣區內協同效應

我們相信，隨著國家就促進大灣區的創新科技發展推行新措施，香港與區內其他城市的合作將有很好的協同效應，並為發展全方位工業鏈帶來良好機遇。

有鑑於此，理大與深圳大學簽訂合作備忘錄，共同成立「大灣區國際創新學院」。根據此項協議，我們將協助大灣區的團體和院校走向國際，同時建立平台栽培創意人才、促進技術發展，以及孕育科技初創企業，並把他們的創新發明商品化。該學院將透過與世界各地的院校和企業的合作交流進行這些活動。

Nurturing future-ready students

On the education side, a hallmark of PolyU’s curriculum is its forward-looking approach to meeting the changing needs of students and equipping them with an international outlook for the world beyond. To prepare students to start their own businesses, PolyU has created many opportunities for entrepreneurship and innovation through seed funding for and education focusing on venturing into new start-ups.

Two of this year's Outstanding Student Award recipients, Amy Chan Chi-in and Paul Szeto Chun, exemplify the success of this approach. They not only started their own businesses, but also gave back to society through their start-ups. Amy organised English cultural exchange camps and life-coaching activities for secondary school students, while Paul founded an online platform for restaurants to sell leftover dishes at discounted prices to help reduce food waste.

培育學生面向未來

在教育方面，理大課程的特點是以前瞻性的教學模式，配合學生不斷演變的需要，培養他們的國際視野，以面對世界的挑戰。為協助學生創業，理大透過提供種子基金和創業教育，締造了大量創新和創業的機會。

陳智妍和司徒駿這兩位奪得今年「卓越學生獎」的同學，正好體現了這種教學模式的成功之處。他們不僅努力創辦自己的公司，亦透過他們的初創企業回饋社會。陳同學為中學生開辦英語文化交流營和生涯規劃活動，司徒同學則為餐廳創立網上平台，以折扣價錢售賣剩餘菜餚，減少浪費食物。

A note of appreciation

Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my sincere thanks to all staff, students, alumni and partners of PolyU who made 2017/18 a year of remarkable achievements.

In particular, I would like to acknowledge President Prof. Timothy W. Tong, who will be retiring at the end of 2018. His contributions to the University during his 10-year tenure have been instrumental in making PolyU the world-renowned institution it is today.

Incidentally, I will also be stepping down from my role as PolyU Council Chairman at the end of this year. My chairmanship serving the University has been most fulfilling. I treasure all my encounters with Council Members, senior management, staff and students. Together, we have worked toward the steady advancement of PolyU. 

In the years ahead, the University counts on the support from all members of the PolyU community to achieve the objectives detailed in the new Strategic Plan for the next two triennia with the theme “Shaping the Future”. I am very confident that PolyU will continue to scale new heights and make our stakeholders proud.

T.C. Chan, BBS, JP

Chairman of Council

December 2018

衷心感銘

藉此機會，我謹向理大所有教職員、學生、校友和合作夥伴衷心致謝，他們的努力令大學在2017/18年度取得卓越成就。

我特別要向將於2018年年底退休的校長唐偉章教授致意，他在任十年，貢獻良多，理大現今能夠成為世界知名學府，唐校長厥功甚偉。

我亦將於今年年底離任理大校董會主席一職。我能在主席崗位上為大學服務，對我而言是非常有意義的。我很珍惜期間能與校董會成員、高級管理層、教職員和學生衷誠合作，一起推動理大平穩發展。

理大已落實未來兩個三年期、以「成就未來」為主題的策略發展計劃，並制訂各項目標。展望將來，大學將有賴全體仝人和持分者同心協力，使各項目標得以實踐。我深信理大定必更上層樓，讓我們的持分者引以為傲。

校董會主席

陳子政, BBS, JP

2018年12月