Biography
Professor Xu Ningsheng, an academician of The Chinese Academy of Sciences, graduated from Sun Yat-sen University in 1982 and later received his PhD degree from the University of Aston in the United Kingdom. He returned to his home country as a professor at his alma mater, Sun Yat-sen University in 1996 and was promoted to the position of President in 2010. In 2014, he moved to Fudan University, Shanghai, where he assumed the position of President until his retirement in 2021. A Changjiang Scholar, Professor Xu requested universities to “shoulder the important responsibility of scientific and technological innovation entrusted to them by history”. He also encouraged universities to collaborate with overseas top-tier institutions on various educational endeavours. An internationally renowned researcher, he has been involved in vacuum nanoelectronics for a long time and was the Director of the State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies. He has also played a pivotal role in the 973 Programme, 863 Programme, 13th 5-Year Plan, and various projects supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
A prolific author, Professor Xu has published more than 400 papers in prestigious journals both at home and abroad, and has authored a number of books, and has been granted more than 60 patents. He is actively involved in many international academic associations and has been honoured with many professional titles. He has received numerous awards including the esteemed Second-Class State Natural Science Awards. Under the leadership of Professor Xu, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has embarked on a number of academic and research collaboration projects with Sun Yat-sen University and Fudan University respectively with promising results.
Citation
Mr Council Chairman,
In June 2021, Professor Xu Ningsheng, an Academician of The Chinese Academy of Sciences, presided over the undergraduate graduation ceremony for the last time as President of Fudan University. He advised the students, saying that “in the face of the great changes that have not been seen in the last century, you should be more proactive in grasping the future, and be steadfast in your ideals and beliefs, and work relentlessly towards national rejuvenation, the well-being of the people, and the advancement of human civilisation.” Professor Xu believes that the ultimate objective of university education is to nurture capable and committed individuals who will serve as pillars of society, and he has been pursuing this mission tirelessly over the years.
Originally from Chenghai, Guangdong Province, Professor Xu graduated from Sun Yat-sen University in 1982 and received his PhD degree from the University of Aston in the United Kingdom in 1986. He stayed on continuing teaching and research for 10 years before returning to his home country as a Professor of Physics at his alma mater, Sun Yat-sen University, where he was promoted to the position of President in 2010. In 2014, he moved to Fudan University, Shanghai, where he assumed the position of President until his retirement in 2021.
During his tenure at the helm of Sun Yat-sen University, Professor Xu was actively engaged in nurturing students to become leaders with three core qualities: a multi-dimensional perspective, a global outlook, and a humanistic concern. His efforts to foster collaboration with some of the world’s top universities, including Carnegie Mellon University and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the United States, have been pioneering and have set an excellent example for universities in China.
After assuming the presidency of Fudan University, Professor Xu, a Changjiang Scholar, requested universities to “shoulder the important responsibility of scientific and technological innovation entrusted to them by history”. He articulated his expectations for research universities by saying, “We should help researchers to identify the focus of their research, to pursue thoughtful scholarship and scientific research conducive to the development of the economy and society, and to work on problem-solving and application-oriented research. The emphasis should be on translating the outcomes of basic research into tangible solutions.” This vision is aligned with the direction of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Even after his retirement as President of Fudan University, Professor Xu has remained active. He continues to share his thoughts with government officials, universities, industries, and research sectors on how to make our country rich and strong, and how young people can survive and prosper. His visionary advice on the need to incorporate knowledge of the digital economy in basic education, his advocacy for universities to develop new cross-disciplines and nurture talents with diverse expertise, and his urge for the integration of advanced technologies and industries with the specific needs of regional development are all instrumental to the advancement of our society.
Professor Xu is not only a highly accomplished educator, but also an internationally renowned researcher who has been involved in vacuum micro-nano-electronics for a long time. The State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies at Sun Yat-sen University was established under his leadership. He has twice been honoured with the esteemed Second-Class State Natural Science Awards.
A prolific author, Professor Xu has published more than 300 papers in prestigious journals both at home and abroad, and has authored a number of books, and has been granted more than 60 patents in China, the United Kingdom, the European Union and other countries and regions.
As an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Third World Academy of Sciences, as well as a Fellow of the Institute of Physics of the United Kingdom, Professor Xu has been actively contributing his expertise through various roles. These include serving as the Chairman of the China Vacuum Society, the Director of The State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, and the Director of The Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Materials and Technology. He has also played a pivotal role in the National Basic Research Programme (973 Programme), the National High-Tech Research and Development Programme (863 Programme), the National 13th 5-Year Plan, and various projects supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the National Key Research and Development Programme of China on nanotechnology, among others. Professor Xu’s influence also extends to the international stage. He served as the Chairman of the International Steering Committee of the International Vacuum Nanoelectronics Conference. He has also held the position of Chairman of the Society for Information Display, Beijing Chapter. Beyond these roles, he has been elected as a member of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China and a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference of Guangdong Province, and is a member of the University Grants Committee of Hong Kong.
Professor Xu’s multifaceted and extensive contributions have garnered him a multitude of prestigious accolades throughout the years. These include the China Youth Science and Technology Award, the Changjiang Scholar Programme of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, the Qiaokou Ryokichi Award of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the National Award for Outstanding Contributions by Returned Overseas Scholars, and an Honorary Doctorate of Science degree from the University of Aston. He was also listed among the National Young and Middle-Aged Experts with Outstanding Contributions.
Dear Mr Council Chairman, in view of Professor Xu Ningsheng’s enormous contributions to the development of our country, especially in the areas of education and research, I respectfully request that you confer upon him the degree of Doctor of Science honoris causa.
Response Speech
Chairman Dr Lam, President Professor Teng, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am delighted to join the Honorary Degrees Conferment Ceremony today, and deeply honoured to be awarded the honorary doctoral degree by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. May I take this opportunity to offer my heartfelt thanks to the University.
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is renowned for its distinctive features in the higher education sector, particularly in applied disciplines and technology. It was this backdrop that brought me and PolyU together. Years ago, when I was the President of Sun Yat-sen University, I led a delegation to visit PolyU to learn about its unique development of university education. At that time, the University attracted us because its academic programmes were acquiring wide recognition, not only in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, but also in Greater China and around the world. Take one example. Our visit to PolyU’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management provided valuable insights for my colleagues and me for the advancement of the School of Tourism Management at Sun Yat-sen University and in my subsequent management work.
The growing demand for information technologies as well as research and development has helped boost the growth of electronic engineering and computing at PolyU in recent years. Their excellence can be reflected in various ranking exercises. Responding directly to societal needs, the academic programmes offered at PolyU provide innovative ideas for different industries, contributing to a boom in emerging industries, and making academic and social impact. Let me extend my heartiest congratulations to PolyU for its numerous achievements and remarkable contributions.
I am particularly impressed by the overall development of PolyU, which has made a significant impact on the world. Its success must be attributed to Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as well as the steadfast efforts of all members of PolyU, under the leadership of President Teng and the management team.
In order to promote the implementation of “One country, Two systems”, the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party has made a major decision to construct the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as planned and advocated by President Xi Jinping. On 18 February 2019, the Party’s Central Committee and the State Council issued the “Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area”. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has taken important steps to establish Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre with an aspiration to become a world-class city in I&T. I believe Hong Kong will play an increasingly crucial role in developing a vibrant world-class city cluster and an international I&T centre in the Greater Bay Area.
As one of the key players in the tertiary education sector, PolyU has been moving forward and upward. In the latest QS world university rankings, PolyU’s world ranking has risen to 65th place. In 2022, the employment competitiveness of PolyU graduates was ranked 71st globally. These achievements serve as compelling evidence that the influence of PolyU is constantly on the rise, fully demonstrating its capabilities in technology and education. PolyU possesses not only capabilities in independent technological research and development, but also the ability to promote the cultivation of high-level talents through technological initiatives. We look forward to more outstanding achievements from PolyU in the future!
Looking ahead, the development of technology and higher education will continue to open up new opportunities. With the emergence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, PolyU will make further advances in areas such as nanotechnology, semiconductor science, and digital technology. I look forward to more collaboration and exchanges with PolyU researchers and students. Let us work hand in hand to make remarkable contributions to building a strong nation in technology and education.
Lastly, may I wish you all good health and all the best in your endeavours.
Thank you very much.