PolyU holds 32nd Congregation (Autumn Sessions), encouraging doctoral graduates to contribute to society through innovation
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) kicked off its 32nd Congregation (Autumn Sessions) today with a ceremony at the Jockey Club Auditorium on campus, at which 324 graduates were awarded Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. The ceremony was presided over by PolyU Council Chairman Dr LAM Tai-fai and President Prof. Jin-Guang TENG.
Prof. Jin-Guang Teng congratulated the doctoral graduates. He said, “Our Nation’s commitment to scientific and technological self-reliance and innovation-led growth, together with Hong Kong’s rapid development as an international innovation and technology hub, has created a vibrant landscape of opportunities for researchers and innovators. More than ever, society needs visionary leaders who can bridge the gap between frontier discovery and meaningful application.” He encouraged the graduates to seize the opportunities that present themselves and use their talents to serve our City, our Nation, and the world, living up to the PolyU motto, “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind”.
Speaking about PolyU’s development, Prof. Jin-Guang Teng said, “PolyU is committed to becoming an innovative world-class university that meets societal needs. Our strategic direction exemplifies what is known as a ‘fourth-generation university’: an institution that is demand-driven, problem-oriented, interdisciplinary in its approach and committed to academia-industry integration.” He added that PolyU was expanding its interdisciplinary platforms. Building on the success of its well-established PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR), PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence (PAAI) and PolyU Aerospace Research Academy (PARA), the University plans to establish a fourth research academy, the PolyU Academy for Lifestyle Medicine and Health Technology (PALM). Leveraging the University’s track record of excellence in nursing, rehabilitation sciences, food science and nutrition, and other relevant disciplines, PALM will aim to be a world-leading innovative and impactful lifestyle medicine research institute that will contribute to improving quality of life across our Nation and beyond.
To take the University’s innovation ecosystem to the next level of excellence, PolyU will also establish the School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SIE) in January 2027. The School is designed to be a launchpad that turns bold ideas into real-world ventures, incubating high-quality startups while cultivating a new generation of entrepreneurial leaders for our technology-driven era.
PolyU will soon enter a historic chapter as it celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2027. Prof. Jin-Guang Teng invited the graduates to join the upcoming celebrations, while encouraging them “to lead with excellence, pioneer solutions to the world’s toughest challenges and build a better future for all.”
The University is conferring academic awards on a total of 12,391 students this year, including 1 Doctor of Engineering honoris causa, 625 Doctor of Philosophy graduates, 223 professional doctorate graduates, 51 Master of Philosophy degree graduates, 6,886 taught master’s degree graduates, 4,594 bachelor’s degree graduates and 11 postgraduate diploma graduates.
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