Spread your wings and soar
CUHK’s 94th Congregation celebrates both academics and students
As autumn descended on Hong Kong, purple and gold banners began popping up once again on the CUHK campus. The large steel archways, a now-familiar fixture every November, rose up on the University Mall, while the paving stones underneath were bathed in a golden glow. All this culminated in the 94th Congregation of the University, held this year across two separate days.
This year, CUHK awarded 691 PhDs, 8,393 master’s degrees and 5,420 bachelor’s degrees. The graduation ceremony was due to be held on 14 November, but the intervention of Typhoon Toraji meant that it was rescheduled for three days later. The suspension of the event was initially a disappointment to some, but thanks to the concerted efforts of various university units, the graduates were ultimately able to celebrate the end of their university days in the open air of the University Mall, which was transformed into a sea of black robes, cuddly toys and flowers.
This was the last congregation for CUHK Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Rocky S. Tuan, set to leave in January 2025. Delivering his final speech at the Congregation, he remarked on the contingency arrangements, saying that it was “a reminder for us that while challenges in life are inevitable, and often as unpredictable as weather, we must respond to setbacks with resilience and agility.” He expressed his gratitude to colleagues who had made these ad-hoc plans responsible. He then segued into a discussion of the “five V” qualities he hoped that the University had imparted to its students, namely vigour, virtue, venture, vision, and vibrancy; finally, he concluded with the words of an old Irish prayer, urging the gathered students to “spread your wings and soar high”.
After the ceremony. Professor Tuan chatted casually with parents on his way out, and several graduates came to take selfies with the Vice-Chancellor and thank him for his seven years of service. Meanwhile, students milled around the University Mall amid the drizzle, posing for pictures and reuniting with their old friends, savouring the last drops of their university life, delighted to be back after such a long wait. Colleges and faculties also held ceremonies for their students, who came back during the week just to attend.
Earlier on in the week, CUHK also conferred honorary degrees on four outstanding individuals, who came from three different continents to gather at the Lee Hysan Concert Hall on 13 November. Although their fields of work differ vastly from one another, they are united in their ceaseless dedication to their respective domains, a dedication recognised by the University. Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Nick Rawlins and Professor Tang Sze-wing of the Department of Chinese Language and Literature presented citations for the four honorands, reminding attendees of their accomplishments.
One of the honorands was Professor Victor Joseph Dzau, a giant of medical research. Born in Shanghai before moving to Hong Kong at a very young age, Professor Dzau decided to train as a doctor and developed his career in the United States. After years of research on the proteins and genes that cause cardiovascular disease, the professor’s work has proved invaluable in the development of drugs that combat these life-threatening illnesses. He currently sits at the head of multiple international councils that aim to tackle global health problems and build a better world, and continues to be widely respected for his work and charitable endeavours.
His conferment was followed by that of former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell. The professor started out as a physiologist studying how metabolism affects body weight, before switching lanes and becoming a neurologist specialising in brain injuries. Her findings have been widely disseminated within the neuroscientific community, and she is currently leading clinical trials of stroke-treating medication. She balances all this research with her work as an educator: besides delivering a number of public science lectures, she has also chaired the prestigious Russell Group of British universities. Even after her 14-year tenure at Manchester ended in July, she continues to play an ambassadorial role, continually helping its fundraising efforts and external relations.
The University also bestowed an honorary degree on Dr Carlson Tong Ka-shing, a certified accountant who has held a number of leading positions at different financial institutions, including the chairmanship of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and the Securities and Futures Commission. Over the years, Dr Tong has also devoted himself to causes beyond the world of finance; he has also chaired the University Grants Committee, as well as the board of the Hong Kong Sports Institute, helping to develop it into a powerhouse that produces stellar alumni, which in turn has translated into impressive hauls of medals for Hong Kong at successive Summer Olympics.
The honorary degree of Deng Xiaohua, better known to the world as Can Xue (殘雪), was conferred in absentia. After publishing her first work in the mid-1980s, Deng has since been prolific, writing novels, short stories and criticism. A pioneer of avant-garde literature within China, her work is noted for its dense introspection, deep philosophical engagement and idealistic tone. It is an approach that has garnered her acclaim: besides the sea of awards that she has received across the world, multiple academic journals have been established to discuss the meaning and impact of her work.
After the conferment of honorary degrees by CUHK Council Chairman Professor John Chai Yat-chiu, Professor Rothwell gave an acceptance speech on behalf of her fellow honorands. Speaking of her own experience in managing a global university, she discussed the role of such places in tackling global conundrums, saying: “I would argue there has never been a time when we have needed more outstanding universities such as CUHK to train the next generation of global citizens to tackle world problems.” She also spoke of the need to reach out and collaborate with different institutions, and strive towards a better world in an age of geopolitical unrest. CUHK in Focus will run feature articles on each of the honorary graduates in the coming issues; readers can discover more about them throughout December.
By Chamois Chui
