Professor Jin-Guang Teng, BBS, JP
President of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
President's Address
Council Chairman, Honoured Guests, Graduates, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good afternoon. It is my great privilege to address you all on this special occasion of the May session of the 32nd Congregation of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
On behalf of the University, I would first like to extend our warmest congratulations to our honorary degree recipient, Professor HAN Jiecai, President of the Harbin Institute of Technology and Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Professor Han is a distinguished and visionary scientist whose outstanding achievements include pioneering contributions to major national aerospace projects. Moreover, his exemplary leadership in higher education and steadfast commitment to talent cultivation have played an important role in nurturing the next generation of engineering and technology leaders for the Nation. His remarkable career exemplifies the conviction that scientific excellence, when placed in the service of national and societal needs, can truly change the world.
Today, we also celebrate our Doctor of Philosophy degree recipients. At this May Congregation, we are delighted to award PhD degrees to 301 graduates. Congratulations, graduates! The journey to a doctorate is never easy. It demands perseverance, determination, and a willingness to venture beyond the boundaries of established knowledge. You should take immense pride in this remarkable achievement. I also encourage you to take a moment to express your gratitude to the family members, supervisors, mentors and friends who have supported you throughout your journey.
You are graduating at a moment when artificial intelligence and new technologies are reshaping the world at an extraordinary pace. As trained researchers, you possess qualities that are more valuable than ever in this age of AI: the ability to ask the right questions, to think critically and independently, to create new knowledge, and to translate knowledge into real-world impact. I urge you to draw on these strengths as you engage with AI and emerging technologies in your careers—not merely to keep pace with change, but to help shape it in ways that bring meaningful benefits to humanity, living up to PolyU’s motto: “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind.”
Allow me now to highlight a few strategic initiatives through which PolyU is strengthening its position as an innovative world-class university, starting with research.
At PolyU, we pursue not only world-leading basic research but also aim to be a world leader in translating our research into impactful solutions and innovations that address pressing societal challenges. To fulfil this goal, we place a strong emphasis on mission-driven, interdisciplinary research.
A key driver of this effort over the past few years has been the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR), which brings together 20 research institutes and centres focused on key areas of socio-economic importance. Building on this foundation, we have established our second research academy, the PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence (PAAI), which is being nurtured to lead the AI transformation of our research landscape and support Hong Kong’s advancement into a leading hub for inclusive, high-impact AI development. Looking ahead, a third academy — the PolyU Aerospace Research Academy (PARA) — will be established by July this year, strengthening PolyU’s role as a pioneer in cutting-edge aerospace solutions and reinforcing Hong Kong's standing as a leading international aviation hub.
At the same time, we have established a network of 12 Mainland Translational Research Institutes (MTRIs) in key cities across the Chinese Mainland to translate PolyU’s research outcomes into high-impact solutions that meet local industrial and societal needs. This supports Hong Kong’s integration into national development, contributes to the country’s scientific and technological strength and self-reliance, aligns with the goals of the national 15th Five-Year Plan, and amplifies the impact of PolyU’s research endeavours.
In the realm of education, we are equally determined to lead and to innovate. Our recently launched “PolyU Education 4.0” initiative is transforming learning and teaching by integrating AI and smart technologies into a student-centred educational model that fosters innovation, enables personalised learning, and empowers students to succeed in an AI-driven world.
We are also introducing new programmes to nurture graduates who become leaders in innovation. For instance, we recently launched our Master of Technology Entrepreneurship programme, which leverages our network of MTRIs to enable students to implement entrepreneurial projects and help them transform innovative ideas and cutting-edge research into successful tech startups, cultivating the next generation of high-calibre tech leaders.
Internationalisation is also a major priority for our University, in line with our commitment to nurturing socially responsible professionals and leaders with a strong sense of national pride and a global perspective. To broaden our students’ horizons, we are working to ensure that all undergraduates graduating in or after the 2027/28 academic year will have the opportunity to participate in at least one non-local learning experience before graduation. To support this goal, we are engaging in partnerships with prestigious institutions, including the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford, so that our students can benefit from truly world-class non-local study opportunities.
Finally, I am delighted to share with you that PolyU will proudly celebrate its 90th anniversary in 2027. To mark this historic milestone, we have launched the "90 Scholars for the 90th Anniversary" campaign, a major recruitment drive to attract 90 world-class scholars who lead in frontier fields to join PolyU over the next three years. It is a bold investment that will further strengthen our talent base and reinforce PolyU's standing as an academic institution that is home to some of the world's leading minds. More exciting initiatives to mark the 90th anniversary will be announced in due course.
In closing, let me once again offer my heartfelt congratulations to all our graduates. I am confident that wherever your path leads after today, you will carry forward PolyU's spirit of innovation and excellence, and make a positive difference to the world. May your next chapter be one of purpose, achievement, and lasting impact. Thank you!
Good afternoon. It is my great privilege to address you all on this special occasion of the May session of the 32nd Congregation of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
On behalf of the University, I would first like to extend our warmest congratulations to our honorary degree recipient, Professor HAN Jiecai, President of the Harbin Institute of Technology and Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Professor Han is a distinguished and visionary scientist whose outstanding achievements include pioneering contributions to major national aerospace projects. Moreover, his exemplary leadership in higher education and steadfast commitment to talent cultivation have played an important role in nurturing the next generation of engineering and technology leaders for the Nation. His remarkable career exemplifies the conviction that scientific excellence, when placed in the service of national and societal needs, can truly change the world.
Today, we also celebrate our Doctor of Philosophy degree recipients. At this May Congregation, we are delighted to award PhD degrees to 301 graduates. Congratulations, graduates! The journey to a doctorate is never easy. It demands perseverance, determination, and a willingness to venture beyond the boundaries of established knowledge. You should take immense pride in this remarkable achievement. I also encourage you to take a moment to express your gratitude to the family members, supervisors, mentors and friends who have supported you throughout your journey.
You are graduating at a moment when artificial intelligence and new technologies are reshaping the world at an extraordinary pace. As trained researchers, you possess qualities that are more valuable than ever in this age of AI: the ability to ask the right questions, to think critically and independently, to create new knowledge, and to translate knowledge into real-world impact. I urge you to draw on these strengths as you engage with AI and emerging technologies in your careers—not merely to keep pace with change, but to help shape it in ways that bring meaningful benefits to humanity, living up to PolyU’s motto: “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind.”
Allow me now to highlight a few strategic initiatives through which PolyU is strengthening its position as an innovative world-class university, starting with research.
At PolyU, we pursue not only world-leading basic research but also aim to be a world leader in translating our research into impactful solutions and innovations that address pressing societal challenges. To fulfil this goal, we place a strong emphasis on mission-driven, interdisciplinary research.
A key driver of this effort over the past few years has been the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR), which brings together 20 research institutes and centres focused on key areas of socio-economic importance. Building on this foundation, we have established our second research academy, the PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence (PAAI), which is being nurtured to lead the AI transformation of our research landscape and support Hong Kong’s advancement into a leading hub for inclusive, high-impact AI development. Looking ahead, a third academy — the PolyU Aerospace Research Academy (PARA) — will be established by July this year, strengthening PolyU’s role as a pioneer in cutting-edge aerospace solutions and reinforcing Hong Kong's standing as a leading international aviation hub.
At the same time, we have established a network of 12 Mainland Translational Research Institutes (MTRIs) in key cities across the Chinese Mainland to translate PolyU’s research outcomes into high-impact solutions that meet local industrial and societal needs. This supports Hong Kong’s integration into national development, contributes to the country’s scientific and technological strength and self-reliance, aligns with the goals of the national 15th Five-Year Plan, and amplifies the impact of PolyU’s research endeavours.
In the realm of education, we are equally determined to lead and to innovate. Our recently launched “PolyU Education 4.0” initiative is transforming learning and teaching by integrating AI and smart technologies into a student-centred educational model that fosters innovation, enables personalised learning, and empowers students to succeed in an AI-driven world.
We are also introducing new programmes to nurture graduates who become leaders in innovation. For instance, we recently launched our Master of Technology Entrepreneurship programme, which leverages our network of MTRIs to enable students to implement entrepreneurial projects and help them transform innovative ideas and cutting-edge research into successful tech startups, cultivating the next generation of high-calibre tech leaders.
Internationalisation is also a major priority for our University, in line with our commitment to nurturing socially responsible professionals and leaders with a strong sense of national pride and a global perspective. To broaden our students’ horizons, we are working to ensure that all undergraduates graduating in or after the 2027/28 academic year will have the opportunity to participate in at least one non-local learning experience before graduation. To support this goal, we are engaging in partnerships with prestigious institutions, including the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford, so that our students can benefit from truly world-class non-local study opportunities.
Finally, I am delighted to share with you that PolyU will proudly celebrate its 90th anniversary in 2027. To mark this historic milestone, we have launched the "90 Scholars for the 90th Anniversary" campaign, a major recruitment drive to attract 90 world-class scholars who lead in frontier fields to join PolyU over the next three years. It is a bold investment that will further strengthen our talent base and reinforce PolyU's standing as an academic institution that is home to some of the world's leading minds. More exciting initiatives to mark the 90th anniversary will be announced in due course.
In closing, let me once again offer my heartfelt congratulations to all our graduates. I am confident that wherever your path leads after today, you will carry forward PolyU's spirit of innovation and excellence, and make a positive difference to the world. May your next chapter be one of purpose, achievement, and lasting impact. Thank you!
