PolyU honours Harbin Institute of Technology President and Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Prof. Han Jiecai at its 32nd Congregation
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) held its 32nd Congregation (May Session) today, presided over by PolyU Council Chairman Dr LAM Tai-fai. At the ceremony held in the Jockey Club Auditorium on campus, the degree of Doctor of Engineering honoris causa was conferred upon Prof. HAN Jiecai, President of the Harbin Institute of Technology and Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (please refer to the Appendix for the recipient’s biography), while 301 graduates were awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
PolyU President Prof. Jin-Guang Teng extended his warmest congratulations to Prof. Han and all the PhD graduates. In a time when artificial intelligence (AI) and new technologies are reshaping the world at an extraordinary pace, he encouraged the graduates not merely to keep pace with change, but also to help shape it in ways that bring meaningful benefits to humanity, carrying forward the PolyU spirit of innovation and excellence, and making a positive difference in the world.
He added, “As an innovative world-class university, PolyU not only pursues world-leading basic research but also aims to be a world leader in translating its research into impactful solutions and innovations that address pressing societal challenges. To fulfil this goal, the University has established the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) and the PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence (PAAI). At the same time, the University has also established a network of 12 Mainland Translational Research Institutes (MTRIs) in key cities across the Chinese Mainland to translate PolyU research outcomes into high-impact solutions that meet local industrial and societal needs. Looking ahead, the PolyU Aerospace Research Academy (PARA) will be established 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.”
Prof. Teng stated that the University was determined to lead and to innovate in the realm of education and had launched the PolyU Education 4.0 initiative, which transforms 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.
Prof. Teng noted that PolyU will soon celebrate its 90th anniversary. To mark this historic milestone, the University has launched a major recruitment drive to attract 90 world-class scholars who lead in frontier fields to join PolyU over the next three years. This is a bold investment that will further strengthen the University’s talent base and reinforce PolyU’s standing as an academic institution that is home to some of the world’s leading minds.
This Congregation Session (May Session) was held for the presentation of awards to PhD students who graduated between October 2025 and March 2026. The Congregation Sessions for PhD students who graduated between April and September 2026, as well as for graduates of all other award levels, including professional doctoral degrees, Master of Philosophy degrees, taught master’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees and postgraduate diplomas will be conducted from late October this year.
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