Welcome to the 51st edition of CUHK in Focus.
CUHK celebrated its Foundation Day on 17 October 2024 with a special flag-raising ceremony. The happy occasion prompted reflections on how the University has prospered into a leading institution known for its academic excellence, groundbreaking research and unwavering commitment to society since the day when its three founding colleges, Chung Chi College, New Asia College and United College, officially joined forces to form a new university. I was delighted to see students, faculty and alumni come together to share the pride and joy of this historic moment.
Info Day 2024
CUHK is eager to connect with the community and the annual Information Day for Undergraduate Admissions (Info Day) gives us an ideal opportunity to do so. Info Day 2024 was held on 19 October. Over sixty thousand prospective students, parents, teachers and members of the public were greeted with enthusiasm and warmth by CUHK students and faculty staff as they embarked on an exciting journey on campus to discover the University’s diverse academic offerings and the vibrant essence of the transformative CUHK experience.
This year’s theme, “Chasing Your Dreams”, embodies our dedication to helping young people realise their aspirations. From engaging admission talks and interactive Q&A sessions to exhibitions, demonstrations and guided tours, participants were immersed in a range of activities meticulously designed to showcase the abundant opportunities for intellectual and personal enrichment available at CUHK. I would like to thank everyone who attended the event, and hope that the day you spent at CUHK was one filled with inspiration and joy, fostering a sense of anticipation for the promising campus life that awaits you at CUHK.
Distinguished Alumni-in-Residence Programme
While CUHK cherishes its connection with the community, it has been maintaining an active alumni network to encourage graduates to stay connected with one another and with their alma mater. We are grateful for the consistent support we have received from our dedicated alumni, who are eager to share their professional experiences and insights into various industries with current CUHK students to enrich their learning experience.
The Distinguished Alumni-in-Residence Programme is a signature campaign launched in 2018 in which outstanding alumni are invited to return to the University to share their knowledge and expertise with the CUHK community. This year’s Programme was held from 17 to 19 October, featuring Dr Louis Ng Chi-wa, Museum Director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, who obtained his Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD degrees in History at CUHK. Dr Ng has held research, curatorial and managerial positions at various museums throughout his career. He oversaw the planning and construction of the HKPM and is currently responsible for its overall management and operation, positioning it as a platform for dialogue among cultures around the world. During the three-day programme, Dr Ng drew on his decades of experience in museum planning and management to inspire students and staff with profound knowledge about cultural heritage. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Dr Ng for enriching the intellectual atmosphere on campus.
The HKPM has the important missions to support Hong Kong’s development as a centre for cultural and artistic exchanges between China and the West, to promote education about traditional culture and to facilitate intercultural dialogues. These align closely with the mission of CUHK. It is essential for us to gain a deep understanding of our own traditional culture in order to broaden our global perspectives. Therefore, the work of the University and the HKPM is equally arduous and crucial.
As I was preparing to assume the position of CUHK’s Vice-Chancellor and President in 2017, I strongly perceived our alumni, whose footprints span the globe, as invaluable assets of the University. Hence, I hoped to establish the Distinguished Alumni-in-Residence Programme to allow outstanding alumni to be the torchbearers of CUHK’s excellent traditions and spirit. I sincerely thank the Alumni Affairs Office and all alumni organisations for their continuous support of the Programme, making it highly successful for the past six years, inspiring countless young minds.
THE World Academic Summit
In recent years, CUHK has been increasingly playing a role as a super-connector in higher education, and strengthening its global engagement efforts to promote international collaboration and academic exchange. It gave me great pleasure to attend the Times Higher Education World Academic Summit held at the University of Manchester earlier this month, where over 550 delegates and 130 speakers from around the world came together to discuss topics about social responsibility and the obligation of universities to make a real difference in people’s lives in a rapidly changing world. I was honoured to speak at the Presidents’ Forum and the leadership reflection session, and exchanged views with fellow educators on how universities can serve as a pathway to upward mobility and effectively address today’s time-critical global challenges to ensure a sustainable and equitable tomorrow. I was delighted to participate in such a meaningful event where thought leaders and changemakers convened to explore how the higher education sector can act as the driver of positive changes in the world.
Outstanding scholar acknowledged
The CUHK community was thrilled to learn that Professor Amos Tai Pui-kuen of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences was named among this year’s Ten Outstanding Young Persons by the Junior Chamber International Hong Kong. The prestigious award is a fitting recognition of Professor Tai’s distinguished scholarship and achievements in community engagement. His dedication to research into atmosphere-biosphere interactions and public education on climate and the environment has been an inspiration to many. I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to Professor Tai and best wishes for his future endeavours as an educator, a scientist and an advocate, who will continue to motivate others to build a bright future for all.
Pushing the frontiers
I sincerely invite you to visit the special exhibition titled “Pushing the Frontiers of AI: CUHK’s Journey through Innovation” jointly organised by the Faculty of Engineering and University Library at the Learning Garden on LG/F of the University Library. It showcases over 30 artificial intelligence (AI) innovations from the fields of health, visual arts and educational technology, demonstrating the University’s commitment to advancing AI technology in various aspects of life. The event will also pay tribute to the late Professor Tang Xiao’ou in partnership with SenseTime, the first CUHK-bred unicorn proudly founded by Professor Tang. The exhibition is running on campus until 17 November. Please come to see for yourselves the cutting-edge technologies developed by CUHK and explore the limitless possibilities of AI in reshaping the world.
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
