PolyU marked a significant milestone during its 31st Congregation held on 10 May, where 226 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees were conferred. The ceremony took place in the Jockey Club Auditorium, presided over by PolyU Council Chairman Dr Lam Tai-fai and President Professor Jin-Guang Teng.

In his address, Professor Teng warmly congratulated the graduates and shared PolyU’s vision of being an innovative world-class university that pursues excellence in education, research, and knowledge transfer for the benefit of Hong Kong, the Nation, and the world. He said, “We aspire for our graduates to be able to connect their academic research to societal needs and to solve complex problems by driving innovation, contributing to building a better future for the world.”

Professor Teng added, “PolyU has proactively evolved its initiatives and strategic directions to meet the needs of the Nation’s strategic development and the changing demands of society. Embracing the opportunities and challenges brought about by artificial intelligence (AI), PolyU established the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences earlier this year and the PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence (PAAI) recently, promoting AI research and applications while elevating Hong Kong as a global centre for generative AI development.”

Furthermore, he mentioned that PolyU has developed an innovative proposal for Hong Kong’s third medical school. Building on its strong foundation in health sciences, engineering, and AI, PolyU aims to nurture the next generation of socially responsible and technologically adept medical professionals. This initiative is designed to support  Hong Kong's development into an international health and medical innovation centre, addressing critical healthcare needs, including primary healthcare and preventive medicine. PAAI will furthermore play a crucial role in reinforcing PolyU’s leadership in AI-driven healthcare.

This Congregation Session celebrated PhD graduates from October 2024 to March 2025, with additional sessions for PhD students who graduated between April and September 2025, as well as for graduates of all other award levels, scheduled for November this year.

Prof. Teng addressed the Congregation.