PolyU held the May Session of its 32nd Congregation earlier this month, celebrating the academic achievements of doctoral graduates. During the ceremony, held at the Jockey Club Auditorium, PolyU conferred the degree of Doctor of Engineering honoris causa upon Professor Han Jiecai, President of the Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) and Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to engineering and academic leadership. The ceremony was presided over by PolyU Council Chairman Dr Lam Tai-fai, alongside President Professor Jin-Guang Teng, and saw the graduation of 301 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students.

Professor Han Jiecai is a world-renowned expert in ultra-high temperature composites and aerospace materials. His pioneering research has been critical to China’s deep-space exploration and high-speed flight missions. Beyond his scientific achievements, which include over 400 papers and prestigious state awards, he is a visionary leader in higher education. His conferment as Doctor of Engineering honoris causa celebrates his instrumental role in fostering elite talent and underscores the deep strategic ties between PolyU and HIT in driving global technological innovation.

Prof. Teng encouraged graduates to go beyond merely keeping pace with technology.

In his address, Professor Teng extended his warmest congratulations to Professor Han and the doctoral graduates. Highlighting the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI), Professor Teng encouraged graduates to move beyond merely keeping pace with technology. He urged them to shape emerging tools in ways that bring meaningful benefits to humanity, carrying forward the PolyU spirit of innovation to address global challenges.

Professor Teng emphasised that PolyU is dedicated to bridging the gap between basic research and impactful solutions. To this end, the University has established the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) and the PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence (PAAI). Furthermore, a network of 12 Mainland Translational Research Institutes (MTRIs) has been developed to meet industrial and societal needs across the Chinese Mainland.

Looking ahead, Professor Teng announced the upcoming establishment of the PolyU Aerospace Research Academy (PARA) this year. This initiative will reinforce PolyU’s role as a pioneer in aerospace solutions and strengthen Hong Kong’s position as an international aviation hub.

As PolyU approaches its 90th anniversary, the University is launching a major recruitment drive to attract 90 world-class scholars in frontier fields over the next three years. This bold investment aims to strengthen the University’s talent base and its standing as a home to the world’s leading minds.

Prof. Han was conferred the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Engineering for his engineering and academic contributions.