Menu
Welcome to the 50th edition of CUHK in Focus.
On 1 October, the CUHK community gathered at a special flag-raising ceremony to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, a historical milestone that marks the country’s glorious achievements along a broad path towards great rejuvenation. The joy and festivity of the National Day celebration expressively demonstrated the strong sense of patriotism among university members.
Sino-US University Presidents’ Dialogue
It gave me great pleasure to co-host the Sino-US University Presidents’ Dialogue 2024 in the United States on 23 September. This meaningful event, taking place for the first time last year at CUHK as one of our diamond jubilee celebrations, was jointly convened by CUHK and Peking University, with the aim to bring together leaders from universities in China, including the premier C9 League, and prestigious American universities to discuss global challenges that face higher institutions in China and the US. I had fruitful face-to-face exchanges with university leaders on opportunities and challenges concerning the use of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in reshaping teaching and learning, and on how to advance academic collaborations between American and Chinese universities.
In a globalised world marked by growing geopolitical tensions, this meaningful dialogue underscores the essential role higher education plays in fostering mutual understanding and collaboration between the world’s two largest economies and educational powerhouses across the Pacific. We hope to inspire universities from both countries to leverage their strengths as drivers of social progress in today’s knowledge economy, and elevate the power of education and scholarly research to seek sustainable solutions on a global scale for the common welfare of humanity.
Aerospace ventures for a sustainable future
Riding on the abundance of research opportunities generated by our nation’s scientific advancements, CUHK is actively deepening our collaborations with mainland partners, with a special focus on innovative technologies. Lately, CUHK’s Institute of Space and Earth Information Science (ISEIS) celebrated the launch of the first remote sensing satellite, the “Hong Kong Youth Science and Technology Satellite”, co-developed with Adaspace Technology Co. Ltd., at Yantai, a port city in Shandong Province. The launch is an important step forward in our cooperation with mainland partners in the field of aerospace technology, big data analysis and smart city development. It also represents our close partnership with the China National Space Administration, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the HKSAR Government.
With the joint introduction of the Aerospace Science and Earth Informatics + X double major programme by CUHK and CUHK-Shenzhen in this academic year, CUHK hopes to enhance students’ understanding of the complex relationship between space exploration and the Earth’s environment, as well as expertise in a wide range of areas, including remote sensing, geoinformatics, and geospatial data analysis. The successful development and launch of the first locally-funded satellite are testament to the University’s firm commitment to sci-tech modernisation and sustainable development in the nation and globally. They also hold significant meaning for young people aspiring to engage in related research and mark an important milestone in the development of our city’s aerospace technology.
Historic exhibitions
I was honoured to attend the opening ceremony of two meticulously curated exhibitions at CUHK last week. “The Bei Shan Tang Legacy: Chinese Seals” exhibition at CUHK’s Art Museum was made possible by the support of the Bei Shan Tang Foundation, which has been generously championing education endeavours and the preservation of traditional Chinese art and culture at the University throughout the years. The Foundation has donated a rich collection of Chinese seals of significant academic and artistic values to the Art Museum, further demonstrating the CUHK Art Museum as a top-tier university museum for showcasing these artefacts. I sincerely invite you to visit the exhibition, which will continue until early February 2025, to trace the evolution of seals from the early Qin dynasty through to the modern era.
CUHK is proud to be the venue sponsor of the “Lost and Found in Hong Kong: The Unsung Chinese Heroes at D-Day” Exhibition, which showcases the accidentally discovered diary of a Chinese navy officer who lived in Hong Kong for two decades after World War II, and personal files and accounts of the 24 officers of the Chinese navy who took part in the Normandy landings that took place on 6th June, 1944 and was a key historical and fateful event that determined the outcome of World War II. The thematic exhibition is complete with photos as evidence of the forgotten history of China’s involvement in D-Day, often referred to as “The Longest Day” in history. CUHK’s longstanding mission to combine tradition with modernity, and to bring together China and the West, resonates deeply with the essence of this special exhibition that tells the shared history connecting East and West and transcending time and space. This exhibition gives us the opportunity to witness an intriguing yet unheard of narrative about D-Day. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all parties involved in bringing this exhibition to life and encourage all members of the public to visit this meaningful exhibition to embark on an amazing journey of discovery, gaining insights into wartime alliances and the multicultural aspects of military developments.
Promoting innovation and entrepreneurship
CUHK organises the Innovation Day and Entrepreneur Day annually to showcase achievements of the University community in promoting research, innovation and entrepreneurship. The CUHK Entrepreneur Day celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. A large-scale exhibition was held in Sha Tin in late August to highlight the fruitful outcomes of the innovative and entrepreneurial ventures of the CUHK community to enhance public recognition of our role in supporting Hong Kong as a leading international innovation and technology hub in the Greater Bay Area. In late September, a two-day event was held on campus, with a line-up of exciting programmes including exhibitions, networking sessions, one-on-one consultations, and workshops, as well as an entrepreneurship competition, where five start-up teams presented their research and development ideas to compete for trophies and monetary awards in support of their business ventures. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the CUHK Alumni Torch Fund for organising the Entrepreneur Day to connect alumni of different generations, carrying on the fine tradition of mutual support and encouragement to foster a productive innovation and entrepreneurship culture among the CUHK community.
The CUHK Innovation Day 2024 took place on 20 September, featuring more than 40 exhibitors, including CUHK InnoHK Centres, projects funded by the Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme (RAISe+), and other start-up projects established by staff, students and alumni. Thematic talks on the use of clean energy and advanced materials to achieve carbon neutrality were held. Business leaders and CUHK faculty members also gathered for a panel discussion to exchange insights on the societal needs in terms of clean energy and how CUHK could make an impact. Online guided tours were curated to further promote CUHK’s innovation and start-up ecosystem to the wider community.
New rankings announced
We welcomed the good news of CUHK reaching the 44th position in the latest Times Higher Education World Universities Rankings, going up nine places from last year and achieving our best performance ever since the launch of the rankings in 2010. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all CUHK members for their contributions to advancing the University’s work in education, research, innovation and community outreach. The impressive ranking result will motivate us to continue our pursuit of excellence with purpose and responsibility across all areas of strategic development.
Tribute to outstanding academic
I was pleased to attend the inaugural lecture delivered by Professor Anthony Ng Chi-fai, Department of Surgery of CUHK’s Faculty of Medicine, as Tzu Leung Ho Professor in Urology. The honour was bestowed upon Professor Ng with the generous donation from Dr Tzu Leung Ho, a distinguished urologist and long-standing benefactor of CUHK who has been lending his great support to CUHK with his family in different areas of institutional advancement, including the founding of the S.H. Ho College and the establishment of research projects, programmes and centres. I would like to congratulate Professor Ng once again for the well-deserved honour and offer my best wishes to his team in their continuing research on prostate health.
New leadership and future endeavours
I heartily congratulate Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming on his appointment as the ninth Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK. Professor Lo is an eminent molecular geneticist with groundbreaking contributions to global medicine. His pioneering innovations benefit millions of people in different parts of the world every year. Having worked at CUHK for an impressive 27 years in multiple important capacities, Professor Lo is equipped with leadership acumen and deep-rooted institutional knowledge, which position him well to steer CUHK towards substantial advancements in education, research, innovation, and entrepreneurship. I am confident that Professor Lo will guide CUHK to reach greater heights, while upholding its unique legacy and commitment to excellence. My heartiest congratulations to Professor Lo on his appointment.
I look forward to sharing more stories with you in the next edition.
Best wishes,
Professor Rocky S. Tuan
Vice-Chancellor and President
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
