Thanks to Supporters

PolyU Foundation holds appreciation reception to honour members

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) Foundation held an appreciation reception on 6 October 2023 to show appreciation to its members for their long-standing support to the University. Among the guests invited were new and upgraded members in the PolyU Foundation membership categories of Honorary Life Member, Life Member and Senior Member. Dr Sunny Chai, Chairman of the PolyU Foundation, took the opportunity to express his heartfelt thanks to the members for their generosity and long-standing support, which have continuously driven us forward. Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, PolyU President, warmly welcomed the guests and shared with them PolyU’s latest developments in education and research. He acknowledged members for their ardent support to the University, which has enabled PolyU to make significant contributions to society. As a token of thanks, a Certificate of Appreciation was presented to the members by Prof. Teng and Dr Chai. Following the appreciation reception, the members also paid a visit to the Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations and School of Design, where they learned more about PolyU’s accomplishment and ongoing progress.

PolyU and Accel Group establish Metaverse+ Joint Laboratory to promote the development and innovation of smart cities related fields

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Accel Group Holdings Limited (Accel Group) have established the “PolyU-Accel Group Metaverse+ Joint Laboratory” (Joint Lab). The Joint Lab aims to foster the research and application of metaverse technology in various sectors, accelerate the ongoing development of Hong Kong as a green and smart city, strengthen industry-academia-research collaboration and cultivate professional talents. The Accel Group plans to donate HK$10 million to PolyU in the next five years to support the project development and operation of the Joint Lab. The kick-off ceremony was held today on the PolyU campus, officiated by Ms Lillian CHEONG, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry; Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU; Mr KO Lai-hung, Chairman and CEO of Accel Group; Ms Iris Ping-fan WONG, Hong Kong delegate to the National People’s Congress; Mr CHAN Han-pan, LegCo Member; Dr Miranda LOU, Executive Vice President of PolyU; Prof. LI Qing, Chair Professor of Data Science and Head of the Department of Computing of PolyU; together with other guests. Prof. Jin-Guang Teng said, “To better equip students for societal needs, PolyU has taken the lead in launching new Master’s degree programmes in areas including blockchain technology, metaverse technology, and artificial intelligence and big data computing. ‘Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics’ (AIDA) and ‘Innovation and Entrepreneurship’ (IE) have also been incorporated into the undergraduate curriculum. PolyU is committed to becoming an innovative world-class university and its contributions to blockchain technology and Web3 development have been widely recognised. The University topped the ‘Best Universities for Blockchain 2022’ list by CoinDesk, and our scholars recently won the international ZPRIZE award to recognise the breakthroughs achieved by the team in zero-knowledge crypto technology in Web3.” Dr KO Lai-hung said, “The establishment of the Joint Lab with PolyU will benefit the diversification of our business development and as such is a milestone in the Group’s process of technological innovation. We will cooperate with academia by integrating our extensive industry experience and leveraging our financial resources into research in order to propel the construction of a more competitive and sustainable Hong Kong with the utilisation of metaverse technology. Our Group will also seize the enormous business opportunities brought by the metaverse and actively apply innovative outcomes in our business so as to increase our competitive advantage and support our long-term development.”  The Joint Lab will conduct diversified research, including into the metaverse’s role in enterprise cooperation, industrial applications, green and smart city initiatives, energy management, and sustainable supply chain systems. It is expected that the establishment of the Joint Lab will improve production efficiency and quality while at the same time reducing risk and cost, accelerating the ongoing development of Hong Kong as a green and smart city, and cultivating professional talents. Weaving together the knowledge and research capability of academia with the experience and resources of industry, this collaboration between PolyU and Accel Group will further strengthen cross-disciplinary cooperation and explore the potential and value of metaverse technology in industrial applications and environmental protection.  

PolyU Foundation has launched a new initiative – PolyU Foundation Luncheon Series

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Foundation has launched a new initiative – PolyU Foundation Luncheon Series to promote insightful exchanges between PolyU and our supporters. Three luncheon seminars have already been organised and have received enthusiastic responses from members and friends of the PolyU community. Each seminar in the series focuses on a captivating topic that is closely related to our daily lives. Renowned PolyU experts are invited to share their insights and knowledge with the participants. We kicked start the inaugural luncheon on 20 March 2023 to explore the topic of Youth Development. Dr Grace Ngai, Head of the Service-Learning and Leadership Office, introduced PolyU’s award-winning Service-Learning (SL) programme, which aims to foster students’ sense of social responsibility. She together with a group of PolyU students, shared their life-changing experience in SL, providing inspiration to all attendees. The second luncheon, held on 12 May 2023, delved into the topic of Food Science and Nutrition. Dr Wong Ka-hing, Director of Research Institute for Future Food, and Prof. Wong Man-sau, Director of Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation, elaborated on their interdisciplinary research efforts to address the critical challenges of food sustainability and human health. Their impressive presentations engaged participants in thought-provoking discussions. The third seminar, held on 30 June 2023, focused on Sports Science and Technology. Ir Prof. Ming Zhang, Director of the Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology, demonstrated with real-life examples the scientific and engineering solutions created by his team to make sports more interesting, more rewarding and safe for everyone. Participants were amazed by the newly developed technologies. More different types of events will be organised in the coming months. All friends are welcome to join us.

PolyU and CUHK jointly develop revolutionary drug for multiple metabolic diseases with support from charity foundation, the Government and the University

Prof. Thomas LEUNG Yun-chung, Professor of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology and Lo Ka Chung Charitable Foundation Professor in Pharmaceutical Sciences of PolyU, and Prof. Alisa SHUM Sau-wun, Associate Professor, School of Biomedical Sciences of the Faculty of Medicine of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), have jointly made a groundbreaking drug discovery in treating multiple metabolic diseases related to obesity and insulin resistance like diabetes and fatty liver disease. The joint research project is supported by the Lo Ka Chung Charitable Foundation Limited, the Health and Medical Research Fund of the Health Bureau and the State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery of PolyU. The inter-institutional collaboration between PolyU and CUHK has sparked innovative ideas and possibilities for researching this new and one-of-a-kind drug. It has also maximised the coordination between research experts and the use of equipment and facilities in different specialised areas. The new drug, ABarginase, opens a new path for safe, long-lasting cures to multiple obesity related diseases simultaneously through an ingenious treatment mechanism. ABarginase shows promise for the effective treatment of multiple metabolic diseases including prediabetes, type 2 diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The fabrication process of ABarginase is inexpensive and highly efficient, making it affordable and widely adoptable for clinical applications. In preclinical studies, diet-induced obese mice were injected with ABarginase once a week. Researchers found that within eight weeks of treatment, the mice’s body weight, fat mass, fatty liver and characteristic features of diabetes such as high blood glucose, insulin resistance and glucose intolerance were entirely reversed. The research team is now scaling up the production for manufacturing ABarginase in preparation for conducting clinical trials. Prof. Leung appreciated the Lo Ka Chung Charitable Foundation for supporting his research through the Endowed Professorship Scheme. “Thanks to the Foundation, I have been able to pursue my research on the rational design of cancer drugs by protein engineering and chemical biology with sustainable funding support. Subsequently, I have also discovered a possible solution to invent a new drug that could potentially treat obesity-related cancers and other ailments. Upon sharing this exciting news with the Foundation, they generously provided additional funding to further our research in this new direction”.  In an affirmation of its potential benefit to patients and positive impact on global health, as well as a testament to the research excellence of inter-university collaboration, ABarginase recently won one of the two prestigious Grand Prizes awarded to Hong Kong in this year’s International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva – the International Federation of Inventors’ Associations (IFIA) Best Invention Award.

PolyU Foundation Appreciation Lunch

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Foundation (PolyU Foundation) held an appreciation lunch on 28 April 2023 to express our profound gratitude to members who have offered their support to the University. The event welcomed new and upgraded members in the categories of Honorary Life Chairman, Honorary Life President and Honorary Life Vice President. During the luncheon, Dr Sunny Chai, Chairman of the PolyU Foundation, expressed his utmost appreciation to members for their contributions over the years, which have propelled PolyU to scale new heights in research and education. PolyU President Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, after thanking members for their support, gave a presentation on the latest developments of PolyU in education and research, which included PolyU’s ranking as the sixth Most International Universities in the 2023 Times Higher Education World rankings. As a token of gratitude, members were presented with a Certificate of Appreciation and a special souvenir by Prof. Teng and Dr Chai. Please follow this photo link to revisit the luncheon: https://oia.pixieset.com/polyufoundation_appreciationlunch/

Appreciation Reception for Scholarship and Bursary Donors 2022/23

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) held an appreciation reception on 14 April 2023 at the Global Student Hub on campus to thank donors who have set up scholarships and/ or bursaries for students in the academic year 2022/23. During the year, we are grateful to have received from over 270 donors a total of HK$43 million in the forms of scholarships /bursaries, financial assistance and subsidies for student activities, benefiting over 2,200 PolyU students. The event allowed the students to express their gratitude to donors in person. PolyU President Prof. Jing-Guang Teng and Chairman of PolyU Foundation Dr Sunny Chai, expressed their deepest appreciation to all donors for their continued support and guidance as PolyU works to create a favourable environment for educating the young generation. They also presented certificates of appreciation to donors who have supported the University’s scholarship/bursary scheme for over 15 years. Two talented scholarship awardees performed violin and yangqin recitals to express their heartfelt gratitude to the donors, which spiced up the event. Representatives from two donors, Croucher Foundation and Hong Kong Woollen and Synthetic Knitting Manufacturers’ Association, that have been supporting the University’s scholarship/ bursary scheme for over four decades, shared their beliefs and aspirations to support education and PolyU. Reception photo link: https://oia.pixieset.com/appreciationreceptionforscholarshipandbursarydonors/ Programme Booklet:

Business leader supports PolyU to advance development of humanities and technology

The Endowed Professorship Scheme recognises the achievements of world-renowned researchers in their specialised discipline, and enables the Endowed Professors to explore and advance cutting-edge research projects for the betterment of mankind. Sin Wai Kin Foundation made a generous donation to PolyU for the inauguration of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Sin Wai Kin Chinese Humanities Development Fund, with a mission to promote learning, academic exchange and research related to Chinese culture, language, history and philosophy. In the same vein, Sin Wai Kin Foundation Endowed Professorship in Humanities and Technology was established to drive advanced research and education in humanities and technologies. Professor Li Ping, Dean of Faculty of Humanities and Chair Professor of Neurolinguistics and Bilingual Studies, is appointed as Sin Wai Kin Foundation Professor in Humanities and Technology. Dr David Sin Wai Kin is a pioneering business leader whose achievements have been well-recognised across multiple sectors, including but not limited to property development, hotel business, jewellery manufacturing, banking and financial services. Dr Sin, who lost the opportunity to further his studies at a young age due to the Second World War, has been a fervent supporter of higher education in Hong Kong and the Mainland, especially in preserving traditional Chinese culture and promoting Chinese literature and humanities. Sin Wai Kin Foundation was founded by Dr Sin, not only to support students and organisations in need, but to also drive academic progress in humanities among tertiary institutes. An internationally renowned scholar, Professor Li Ping’s research focuses on the neurocognitive and computational bases of language acquisition, bilingualism, and reading comprehension in both children and adults. He uses digital technologies and cognitive neuroscience methods to study neuroplasticity and individual differences in learning, so as to understand the relationships among languages, cultures, technology, and the brain. This professorship has given PolyU a strong impetus to make further contributions to the research and education in humanities and technology.  We hope that like-minded philanthropists will witness the powerful impact of the Endowed Professorship Scheme in the appointment of the aforesaid professorship. Please browse the Scheme website or contact Office of Institutional Advancement for more information.

PolyU 85th Anniversary Grand Concert

On 21 November 2022, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) presented the PolyU 85th Anniversary Grand Concert at the Jockey Club Auditorium, featuring a dazzling lineup of internationally acclaimed musicians and revered artists performing an array of Chinese and Western music from different eras. Guests joined members of the PolyU community on the nostalgic musical journey reliving the University’s evolution in tandem with Hong Kong’s development over 85 years, and witnessing the University embarking on a new journey towards a brighter future. Internationally renowned musician Mr LEUNG Kin-fung was music director of the Grand Concert. Sharing the stage were renowned Hong Kong artist Dr Liza WANG, world-renowned violinist Ms YAO Jue, guzheng virtuoso Dr Lunlun ZOU, Steinway artist Dr Vivian CHENG Wai, renowned singer Ms Sophie CHEN, erhu master Mr GUO Gan, choir conductor Mr Alex TAM, as well as aspiring music talents from Academy Choir of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and the PolyU Community – PolyU Orchestra, PolyU Choir and The Federation of PolyU Alumni Associations Chinese Orchestra. "Internationally renowned musician Mr Leung Kin-fung was music director of the Grand Concert." The audience was taken on a captivating musical journey, which opened with the theme song of the PolyU 85th Anniversary, followed by memorable performances of music and songs from different generations performed by the talented musicians and artists against the backdrop of PolyU’s four stages of development. The concert rose to a crescendo with everyone on stage and in the audience joining in a chorus of “Below the Lion Rock”. Dr LAM Tai-fai, Council Chairman of PolyU, remarked, “PolyU is committed to whole-person education to nurture graduates who have positive values and a strong sense of national identity, who are socially responsible and willing to shoulder greater responsibilities for the betterment of Hong Kong, the Nation and the world. Holding art and cultural events is part of our efforts to foster the whole-person development of our students, in order to broaden their horizons beyond academic studies. Over the years, we have been promoting art and culture in collaboration with acclaimed outstanding artists on campus. My sincere thanks to their tremendous support.” Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU said, “PolyU is delighted to promote art and culture among the PolyU community and the wider community through the anniversary Grand Concert. Looking forward, PolyU will continue to fulfil our mission of providing the best holistic education and nurture leading talents who live up to the University’s motto of ‘To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind’.” Our thanks to the generous sponsors of our ‘Art and Culture Development Fund’, through which we support unique programmes and collaborative activities on campus for developing students of special talents and promoting art and culture at PolyU and in the community. Premium Support:  International Genius Company  Gold Support: Dr Raymond Chan 陳煒文博士, JP   Ms Marjorie Yang Mun-tak 楊敏德女士, GBS, JP   Cally K Jewellery 鄺美雲珠寶   PricewaterhouseCoopers Limited 羅兵咸永道會計師事務所 Pearl Support: Mr Chan Kai-tuen 陳啟端先生   Ms Ella Cheong 張淑姬律師, JP   Dr Katherine Ngan Ng Yu-ying 顏吳餘英博士, MH, JP   Mr Richard Sun Po-yuen 孫寶源先生, JP   CLP Power Hong Kong Limited 中華電力有限公司   FANCL 無添加   Lenovo 聯想   NWS Holdings Limited 新創建集團有限公司   The 12th Class of the PolyU-RU DMgt Program 工商管理博士12班博睿班 Crystal Support: Dr Tony Cheung Shi-pang 張仕鵬博士   Mr Pui Kwan-kay 貝鈞奇先生, SBS, MH   Dr Allen Shi Lop-tak 史立德博士, BBS, MH, JP   Ms Jennifer Tan Yuen-chun 陳婉真女士   Dr Raymond Wong King-kwok 黃經國博士   Mr Yeung Chi-hung 楊志雄先生, MH   Fook Tin Group Holdings Ltd 福田集團控股有限公司   Golden Resources Development Limited 金源米業   Innovation Technology Company Limited 易路達科技有限公司   King’s Flair Development Limited 科勁發展有限公司 Other Support: Mr Fong Wang-hoo, Martin 方宏浩先生   Mrs Nina Lam 林李婉冰女士, MH   Ir Prof. Tsui Tack-kong 崔德剛教授工程師   Mr Yu Tung-shan 余統山先生 Renowned Hong Kong artist Dr Liza Wang performed two famous songs, namely “Love and Passion” and “The Brave Chinese”. World-renowned violinist Ms Yao Jue, performed “Tone Poem of Seashore” and “Marche Miniature Viennoise (Miniature Viennese March)” in video recording format. Virtuoso of Guzheng Dr Lunlun Zou, performed “Fighting with Typhoon” together with PolyU Orchestra. Steinway artist, Dr Vivian Cheng Wai, performed “L’isle joyeuse, L. 106 (The Joyful Island)”. Renowned singer Ms Sophie Chen performed two songs, including “O mio babbino caro” (Oh my dear Papa) from Gianni Schicchi and a Chinese song. Erhu master Mr GUO Gan, performed “Horse Racing” together with PolyU Orchestra. Choir conductor Mr Alex Tam participated in the Grand Concert. Academy Choir of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts performed “Ballade to the Moon”, “Antiphonal Flower Song” and “Life Has Loveliness to Sell”. Mr Alex Tam is the choir conductor. PolyU Orchestra performed “Medley” with famous songs of the 1970s and 1990s. Mr Leung Kin-fung is the conductor of the orchestra. PolyU Choir performed “PolyU 85th Anniversary Theme Song”, “Festival Sanctus” and “Trusting the Rainbow”. Mr Alex Tam is the choir conductor. The Federation of PolyU Alumni Associations Chinese Orchestra performed “Medley” with famous songs of the 1930s and 1940s.  

PolyU Establishes Tan Siu Lin Innovation Hub to Advance Hospitality and Tourism Education

The School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is privileged to announce the establishment of the Tan Siu Lin Innovation Hub with the generous support of the Tan Siu Lin Foundation. An opening ceremony was held on 18 October 2022. The Tan Siu Lin Innovation Hub is committed to providing students with an inspirational and flexible learning environment conducive to creativity and innovation. Located on the third floor of SHTM, it is equipped with state-of-the-art digital equipment and specialised software for the industry, ensuring an environment in which students are empowered to reach their full potentials. Mrs Jennifer Su Tan, Executive Director of Tan Siu Lin Foundation, hoped that the Tan Siu Lin Innovation Hub would give students opportunity to stay up-to-date with technological advances which are very important to the future of the industry. Dr Miranda Lou, PolyU Executive Vice President thanked the Tan Siu Lin Foundation for their support which she believed would empower young people with opportunities to excel and nurture them to become global-minded leaders in the digital age. It would also give a fresh impetus to the SHTM’s ongoing efforts in the advancement of hospitality and tourism education and research.

The Tan & Fong Charitable Foundation generously gives to support Optometry Education and Clinical Services

The School of Optometry (SO) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has received a generous donation from The Tan & Fong Charitable Foundation for replacement of ophthalmic examination equipment used in the PolyU Integrative Community Health Centre (ICHC) in Lai King. The ICHC, operating under the School of Optometry (SO), is the first PolyU off-campus health centre and teaching clinic. Rooted in the community for years, it provides much convenience for citizens in the Kwai Tsing District. ICHC receives an average of 250 patients per month, that is around 3,000 people per annum, with the elderly and grassroots being the majority, the use of advanced equipment in the centre benefits many people. Donation from the benefactor will be used to replace the depreciated facilities in ICHC. There will be a new optical coherence tomographer (OCT) with a fundus camera and a new ocular biometer, an eye examination cubicle will also be renovated. The new OCT can ensure accurate diagnosis and timely management of ocular diseases. This is especially beneficial to the elderly in Lai King, giving them convenient access to these new facilities in their neighbourhood. Student optometrists can also take this opportunity to practise using various ophthalmic examination instruments on patients, to assess their visual acuity and eye health condition, and to conduct scientific research. We sincerely thank The Tan & Fong Charitable Foundation for their generous support. In addition to eye care services for patients, their donation has enabled SO to provide a conducive environment for optometric clinical training and research, nurturing optometry talents, making an impact on society.