President’s Newsletter for Alumni
December 2022

 


Dear Alumni

The year-long celebrations of PolyU’s 85th Anniversary recently came to a successful close. Over the past 12 months, we held a wide range of Anniversary activities including the Main Entrance Unveiling Ceremony, InnoTech Open Day, Art and Culture Series, Distinguished Lecture Series, Sportathon, the Grand Concert, the Celebration Dinner and many more. We also held events dedicated to alumni, such as the Alumni Tourcation Series and homecoming activities. Thank you for supporting your alma mater through your enthusiastic participation in these activities.

For decades, PolyU and its predecessors have answered the call of our times, making significant contributions at home and beyond. I am pleased to share with you that PolyU has attained an encouraging result in the newly released Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023, ranking 79th in the world, up 12 places from the 2022 rankings, and rising in the rankings for three consecutive years. In addition, PolyU was recently ranked 65th by the QS World University Rankings 2023. These results are a testament to the University’s excellence in research and education.

With close to 460,000 graduates around the globe, PolyU has nurtured many bright minds who have become a positive force for society’s advancement. I am pleased that the University has just honoured a new batch of recipients of the Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award at a presentation ceremony.

Backed by the continued support of the entire PolyU community, including all of our alumni, I am sure that PolyU will continue to scale new heights in the years to come, making further contributions to the prosperity and development of Hong Kong, the Nation and the world.

May I extend my best wishes to you and your loved ones for a Merry Christmas and a healthy, happy and prosperous 2023.

Yours sincerely


Jin-Guang Teng
President

   

   

   

Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award (OPAA) 2022

The OPAA award presentation ceremony and dinner was held on 13 December 2022. Eight alumni were bestowed the “Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award 2022” by the Selection Panel chaired by the Council Chairman, in recognition of their significant achievements in their fields as well as their contributions to their alma mater and society. They are (in alphabetical order of last name):
 


 

   

  

Ir Dr Goman Ho Wai-ming, Arup Fellow and Director of Innovation, Arup
Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award in Professional Achievement

  

Mr Peter Lam Wing-chap, Principal Consultant, Business and Networking Consulting Department, Huawei Technologies Company Limited
Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award in Professional Achievement

  

Ir Ricky Lau Chun-kit, JP, Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), HKSAR Government
Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award in Professional Achievement

  

Professor Edman Tsang Shik-chi, Professor of Inorganic Chemistry and Director of Wolfson Catalysis Centre, University of Oxford
Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award in Scholarly Achievement

Under the enhanced structure of the OPAA, recognition is also given to outstanding young alumni. Recipients of the Outstanding PolyU Young Alumni Award, in alphabetical order of their last names, are:
 


 

   

  

Mr Bayern Chui Kin-pong, Partner, KPMG China
Outstanding PolyU Young Alumni Award in Professional Achievement

  

Mr James O Hing-pong, Co-Founder and Head of Marketing and Advertising, GOGOX
Outstanding PolyU Young Alumni Award in Entrepreneurial Achievement

  

Dr Gilman Siu Kit-hang, Associate Professor, Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Outstanding PolyU Young Alumni Award in Scholarly Achievement

  

Dr Bruce Wang Lei, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, EcoFlow Inc.
Outstanding PolyU Young Alumni Award in Entrepreneurial Achievement

   

Main Entrance Unveiling Ceremony

PolyU’s iconic main entrance was officially unveiled! The high-profile unveiling ceremony was officiated by Mr John K. C. Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR and Chancellor of PolyU, and joined by about 600 community leaders, distinguished guests, PolyU staff, students and alumni who gathered to celebrate the joyful occasion.

Located near Core A on Cheong Wan Road, the new main entrance signifies PolyU’s new stage of development to the next level of excellence for the advancement of Hong Kong, the Nation and the world, leveraging the University’s strengths in research and education. I sincerely invite you to come back to campus to learn more about our new developments.

   

   

   

Homecoming events for local and mainland graduates

   

Alumni Tourcations to rediscover their alma mater : Over the past few months, twelve tours for alumni were organised by the Alumni Affairs Office to celebrate the University’s Anniversary. The tours took alumni to some favourite campus spots and iconic buildings, and introduced PolyU’s state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment. Alumni also had the chance to talk to current students, which reignited their fond memories of studying at their alma mater. This Tourcation series was jointly organised by different PolyU departments and local alumni associations, and supported by the Federation of PolyU Alumni Associations.

   

Reunion of mainland graduates residing in Hong Kong : Our Mainland Development Office organised a homecoming reunion for mainland alumni living in Hong Kong to celebrate their ten-year graduation anniversary, which attracted more than 50 graduates to revisit their alma mater this November. They toured the campus and visited the new Main Entrance and the renovated Library and were deeply impressed. I was glad to share with them the University’s latest developments, while they shared with me their memories of university life.

   

   

Spectacular events mark climax to PolyU’s 85th Anniversary celebrations

   

Grand Concert : The PolyU 85th Anniversary Grand Concert, directed by internationally renowned musician Mr Leung Kin-fung (PolyU Fellow), brought together renowned artists, including Hong Kong artist Dr Liza Wang Ming-chun (PolyU Fellow); renowned violinist Ms Yao Jue (PolyU Fellow); guzheng virtuoso Dr Lunlun Zou (PolyU Fellow); Steinway artist Dr Vivian Cheng Wai; renowned singer Ms Sophie Chen; erhu master Guogan; choir conductor Mr Alex Tam; as well as aspiring music talents from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and the PolyU community – PolyU Orchestra, PolyU Choir and the Federation of PolyU Alumni Associations Chinese Orchestra. Members of the PolyU community, including students, staff and alumni enjoyed a heart-warming and memorable musical journey.

   

Celebration Dinner : The University hosted a dinner at Hotel ICON, its teaching and research hotel, on 25 November, which marked the finale of its year-long Anniversary celebrations. Officiating at the event were Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR; Dr Choi Yuk-lin, Secretary for Education of the HKSAR; Dr Lam Tai-fai, PolyU Council Chairman; senior members of the PolyU Council and University Court; and central management. Honourable guests including community leaders, government officials and industry partners joined PolyU staff, students and alumni at the memorable event. Backed by our strong foundation, we will keep striving to excel further in providing world-class education and conducting cutting-edge research.

   

   

   

   

Public lectures inspire the community

The University organised a series of lectures hosted by distinguished speakers, including:

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a talk titled ‘Knowledge and Self-cultivation’ by PolyU’s President Emeritus Professor Poon Chung-kwong

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a talk on Chinese Painting Appreciation by PolyU alumnus and University Fellow Mr Ho Sai-chu

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a lecture titled ‘A New Vision for Carrying the Traditional Culture Forward’ by Dr Louis Ng Chi-wa, Director of Hong Kong Palace Museum

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a talk titled ‘Splashing for Lights, Chasing our Dreams’ by Olympic Gold Medallist Ms Guo Jingjing

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a talk titled ‘The Dream Hunters’ by Mr Jack Chung, President and Co-founder of Mission Until Dawn (MUD) and PolyU Alumnus

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a talk on ‘An Ordinary Dreamer: Live with a Dream in the Reality’ by Mr Bayern Chui, partner of KPMG China, Hong Kong office, and Outstanding PolyU Young Alumnus

The lectures were well received by the PolyU community, including students, staff and alumni as well as by the public.

   

Alumni webinars discuss emerging technology trends

The Alumni Affairs Office has been organising webinars and other programmes to help our alumni community stay on top of emerging technology trends. The webinar entitled ‘The Hype of NFT – What’s Next?’ was held in October. It brought together four alumni – Mr Dick Fong, Mr Keith Wong, Dr Peter Ng and Professor Dicky Shek, to share their insights with the PolyU community. Apart from examining NFT fundamentals, the speakers also discussed trends and prospects with the audience. The event was well received, attracting 440 registrations.

   

   

   

Establishment of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Graduate School Mainland Alumni Network

PolyU recently established The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Graduate School Mainland Alumni Network (PolyUGSMAN). It aims to build a mutual platform for exchange and cooperation between PolyU and its alumni, and strives to promote research collaboration in the mainland. The Executive Committee and alumni members are from different research fields, reflecting the diversity of the PolyU Graduate School alumni community.

   

   

Inauguration of Endowed Professorships and Endowed Young Scholars

To express appreciation to our donors and to honour the appointment of Endowed Professors and Endowed Young Scholars, the University recently held the Fourth Inauguration of Endowed Professorships cum the First Inauguration of Endowed Young Scholars. In particular, we sincerely thank our alumni, including Dr Otto Poon, Ir Tsui Tak-kong, Dr Alex Wong and Ir Yau Kwok-fai who have given us generous support for the endowed positions. The Endowed Professors and Young Scholars specialise in a range of research fields, including Accounting and Finance, Aerospace Navigation, Civil Engineering, Data Science, Design, Medical Laboratory Science, Neuropsychology, Smart Buildings, Spatial Science, Sustainable Urban Development, Social Services, and many more. You can find the full list of the Endowed Professorships, Named Professorships and Endowed Young Scholar positions conferred at the ceremony here.