Welcome to the 60th edition of CUHK in Focus.
Building connections with international partners has always been a priority for CUHK in fostering academic collaboration. I was honoured to meet with a delegation from the University of Manchester (UoM) led by its President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Duncan Ivison, in late February. This was the first international delegation I received since assuming the role of Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK, and it coincided with Professor Ivison’s inaugural overseas trip since he began his presidency in August of last year. The meeting was a significant occasion for us to review the successes of the decade-long partnership between the two universities, spanning areas including student exchange, dual undergraduate degree programmes, joint research fund, and innovation through CUHK’s Centre for Perceptual and Interactive Intelligence under the InnoHK initiative. We also took the opportunity to explore potential collaboration in the areas of medicine, artificial intelligence and innovation. It was a fruitful meeting and I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Professor Ivison and the UoM delegation for their commitment to strengthening strategic partnership with CUHK.
I also had the chance to meet with different mainland partners on campus over the past few weeks. A delegation of Central South University (CSU), headed by its President, Professor Li Jiancheng, visited CUHK in late February. I was glad to strengthen institutional ties with them. In 2021, CUHK joined the China Hospital Research Integrity Alliance spearheaded by CSU’s Xiangya Hospital. The two universities have been working hand in hand to promote research integrity in medical sciences since then. I am eager to see closer collaborations between CSU and CUHK in talent cultivation and research, enabling us to jointly contribute to our country’s development as a global education powerhouse.
Last week, I was delighted to welcome representatives from the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) led by its President, Professor Liu Chenli. Jointly set up by CAS, the Shenzhen municipal government and CUHK in February 2006, SIAT was the first establishment of CUHK in the mainland, defining our pioneering role among local higher institutions in gaining a solid foothold across the border. Over the past two decades, SIAT has evolved into a vibrant ecosystem that integrates cutting-edge research, graduate education, industry collaboration, and technology commercialisation. With innovation carrying bigger strategic importance in national development, I believe SIAT will continue to be a key driver of impactful scientific breakthroughs and in nurturing the next generation of research talents in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and beyond. We look forward to working more closely with SIAT to make significant contributions to our country.
Engaging with CUHK stakeholders
Recently, our campus has been enveloped in an exciting wave of activities engaging staff, students and alumni. On 1 March, Chung Chi College held its Spring Homecoming Carnival, where over 2,000 teachers, students, alumni and friends gathered for a heartwarming reunion. I was happy to participate in this joyful event celebrating the strong sense of unity among different generations of Chung Chi members. The Carnival featured not only a pop-up market, game booths and handicraft workshops, but also a storytelling session and a concert by the Lake Ad Excellentiam by the renowned singer-songwriter, Serrini Leung Ka-yan, who graduated from Chung Chi’s Department of English. I deeply appreciate Serrini’s artistic prowess and her ability to touch souls with her music. I am grateful for her dedication to her alma mater, immersing fellow Chung Chi members in the fascinating world of her stories and unique music. The success of this event not only reflected the strong cohesion of the Chung Chi community, but also demonstrated how our unique collegiate system fosters a sense of belonging among members of the University.
It gave me great pleasure to participate in the annual Walking Campaign organised by the University Medical Service Office on 7 March. This year, approximately 450 representatives from different units and departments joined the event, taking a walk uphill together from the Station Piazza to New Asia College. The CUHK community is fortunate to be able to enjoy readily the benefits of walking on our beautiful campus, where refreshing greenery and scenic views abound. I strongly encourage all members of the University to support our Walk for Green programme by commuting between different locations on campus on foot instead of getting straight onto a shuttle bus so as to reduce carbon footprint. As a greener alternative to vehicle transport, walking also enables us to explore the beauty of our stunning campus, which is truly a luxury to everyone who works and studies at CUHK.
Riding on last year’s success, CUHK and Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) co-hosted the Counsellor Fly-in Programme 2025 from 5 to 7 March. This event brought together more than 30 high school counsellors and educators from different countries in Asia and Africa for visits to both campuses to find out more about the higher education opportunities in Hong Kong for their students. Through the three-day Programme, we were glad to introduce to our overseas visitors the unique features of the CUHK educational experience, including our academic offerings, the collegiate system, the CUHK Co-operative Education Programme, postgraduate study opportunities, and student support, and engage them in interactive faculty fairs and guided tours. The Counsellor Fly-in Programme aims to inspire international educators about the latest trends in higher education in Hong Kong and how they can refine their strategies to encourage students to further their studies overseas. It also allows CUHK and HKBU to take on a leadership role in supporting our city’s development as a global hub for post-secondary education.
Our University has received a donation of over HK$400 million from the estate of Choa Leong Kwai-chiu, Peggy. On 7 March, a ceremony was held to express our gratitude to the late Mrs Choa, the wife of the late Professor Gerald Choa, Founding Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of CUHK, for her generous support for the development of CUHK’s Gerald Choa Neuroscience Institute (GCNI). I would like to thank the Executrices of the estate of Choa Leong Kwai-chiu, Peggy, Ms Linda Leung and Ms Catherine Por, for gracing us with their presence at the event. Over the years, Professor Choa and Mrs Choa exemplified an unparalleled commitment to CUHK, staunchly supporting every aspect of our education and research endeavours. CUHK deeply values our partnership with them and other philanthropists who have been putting their trust in the University’s ability to drive positive impact in society. I am confident that the generous donation will further empower GCNI to advance neuroscience research for the betterment of humanity.
Good news to celebrate
The University organised a ceremony earlier this month for the inauguration of Choh-Ming Li and Wei Lun Professorships and the presentation of University Teaching and Research Awards. This annual event much anticipated by the entire CUHK community gives us the opportunity to honour colleagues with outstanding achievements. The four newly inaugurated Choh-Ming Li and Wei Lun Professors received this well-deserved recognition for their dedication to teaching and research. I hope the endowed professorships will also encourage them to further open up new opportunities for driving research and innovation, and consolidate the University’s position at the forefront of global knowledge. I would also like to congratulate the 30 distinguished scholars who were presented the University Education Award, the Vice-Chancellor’s Exemplary Teaching Award, the Young Researcher Award and the Postgraduate Research Output Award this year in recognition of their professionalism and diligence. Their crucial contributions have established CUHK as a beacon of knowledge and inspired students to strive hard for their personal goals. I wish them many more successes in the years to come.
CUHK innovators hailing from the Faculties of Medicine, Engineering and Science performed remarkably at the 15th International Invention Fair in the Middle East (IIFME), the largest specialised exhibition of inventions and innovations in the Middle East and the second largest in the world. Our project teams brought home eight awards, including four Gold Medals with the Congratulations of the Jury, two Gold Medals, the World Intellectual Property Organisation National Award for Inventors, and a special prize awarded by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Such impressive achievements exemplified the top-level capabilities of CUHK scholars in translating research and innovation into socially impactful products. I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to them.
I look forward to sharing more stories with you in our next edition.
Best wishes,
Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming
Vice-Chancellor and President
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
