The HKUST(GZ) opening ceremony of the 2024 academic year was held grandly and President Lionel M. NI delivered the "First Lesson for the New Semester"
On the morning of September 1st, the opening ceremony of the 2024 academic year at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) was held grandly in the Sports Hall. This marks the beginning of the third academic year since the establishment of HKUST(GZ). This year, nearly 1,300 undergraduate and postgraduate students from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, as well as countries such as ltaly and Malaysia, have been enrolled, infusing this innovative interdisciplinary university with even more diverse energy.
President Professor Lionel M. Ni, Party Secretary Prof. Shaobing QU, Vice-President (Teaching & Learning) Prof. Jingshen WU, Vice-President (Graduate Support) Prof. Charles W. W. NG, Vice-President (Administration & Business) Prof. Ting Chuen PONG, Vice Party Secretary Ms. Biru LIANG, Associate Vice-President (Research) Prof. Kaishun WU, Associate Vice-President (Knowledge Transfer) Prof. Hui XIONG, Associate Vice-President (Teaching & Learning) Prof. Yang YANG, Dean of Function Hub Prof. Weijia WEN, Dean of Systems Hub Prof. Ricky Shi-Wei LEE, Acting Dean of Society Hub Prof. Ye QI and Chief Engineer Prof. Quanke SU attended the ceremony. All the freshmen of the class of 2024, newly joined faculty members, and representatives of the academic and administrative staff from all departments of the university attended the opening ceremony.
At the opening ceremony, President Lionel M. NI delivered the "First Lesson for the New Semester" with the theme "Perspectives and Infinity." He advised the students, "As you venture forth in the life journey, bear in mind that perspectives are one of the keys to unlocking the infinity. Each new viewpoint you embrace is a step into a broader world."
Why Choose HKUST(GZ)? This Is What They Say
At 9 a.m., the opening ceremony commenced to the majestic sound of the national anthem.
Professor Shaobing QU, the Party Secretary of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), delivered a speech on the theme "Positioning the University, Positioning Oneself." He emphasized that understanding one's position in relation to the university, the city, the era, and the nation is a crucial question for every student stepping into university life. He highlighted the close link between the university and the city, stressing the significant responsibility and impact that universities have on the future development of cities. Being situated on the axis of technological innovation in the city, HKUST(GZ) shoulders the responsibility and mission of nurturing talent and technological reserves for the city, the era, the nation, and the people.
Prof. QU also referenced the response given by Yingsha SUN, the table tennis champion at the Paris Olympics, to a journalist's question, highlighting the relationship between personal positioning, responsibility, and dreams. He encouraged the new generation of youth to have a broad perspective and a sense of responsibility in serving the collective and society, prioritizing national honor. Finally, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 40th Teachers' Day, Secretary Shaobing QU specially composed a piece titled "Ode to Education," encouraging every teacher and student at HKUST(GZ) to "gaze across the vast ocean, feeling the winds from the other shore; stand on solid ground, amplifying the voice of China."
Han XIAO, a student from Sichuan, spoke on behalf of the undergraduate freshmen. He reflected on his experience of arriving three weeks early to participate in the HKUST(GZ) international summer camp, PLACE (Playshop for Language and Cultural Exchange). During this summer camp, which gathered nearly 300 students from 23 countries worldwide, Han XIAO quickly found a sense of belonging through interactions with teachers and fellow students. He expressed, "I firmly believe it doesn't matter where we come from or how we get here. What really matter are what we will become when we graduate." Han XIAO urged his peers to approach their university years with passion and confidence, not wasting the four years of university life, but instead working together to create a bright future.
Ann Cloos, a student from Luxembourg, spoke on behalf of the international freshmen. She graduated from the University of Cambridge, obtaining both a Bachelor's degree in Natural Sciences and a Master's degree in Neuroscience. She mentioned that her decision to pursue a doctoral degree at HKUST(GZ) was influenced by the university's innovative DNA and its ethos of openness and freedom. "Moving to a new country will pose some challenges for me, but I do not want to shy away from the unknown out of fear. I am convinced that pursuing a PhD at HKUST(GZ) will bean enriching and eye-opening experience from a scientificand cultural perspective and I look forward to embarking on this adventure."
Kunlin LI, a Master's student from the Red Bird MPhil Program, spoke on behalf of the new Master's research students. He shared that during his year of study and life at HKUST(GZ) as a research assistant, he deeply felt the innovative and friendly atmosphere of equal cooperation among students and faculty striving towards a common goal. "The Red Bird MPhil project encourages innovation across various disciplines. We can see the collision between traditional manufacturing and advanced design ideas. I hope that through further study in the Red Bird MPhil program, I can continue to explore valuable research, inject my own strength into China's industry, and promote positive changes through innovation."
"Choosing to return to my homeland is because I see China taking a leading position in AI development, and I aspire to contribute to this exciting field. Opting for HKUST(GZ) is because it offers everyone the freedom to explore new ideas and push boundaries." Meixi CHEN, a doctoral student who completed both her undergraduate and master's degrees at the University of Cambridge, spoke on behalf of the new doctoral students, sharing the reasons for her decision to return to her home country and pursue further studies at HKUST(GZ). She stated, "At HKUST(GZ), we are not just students, we are innovators,creators, and leaders. As we stand at the forefront of new discoveries, let us embrace the waves of change, be bold in our pursuits, and I am confident that, we, will build our future here."
Associate Professor Xuechao WANG, jointly appointed in the Thrust of Financial Technology of the Society Hub and the Thrust of Internet of Things of the Information Hub, spoke as a representative of the faculty. He shared his educational and professional experiences at Tsinghua University and in various institutions in the United States, encouraging students to embrace independence, curiosity, and creativity. "From this moment on, take ownership of your life and be proactive in shaping your future. Remember that independence doesn’t mean doing everything alone. Seek out mentors, collaborate with your peers, but always stay true to your own path." Prof. Xuechao WANG also reminded students to always remain curious, stating, "The world is full of mysteries waiting to be uncovered. Explore different fields, engage with new ideas, and never settle for the first answer you find." He urged students to strive to be the creator, not the creation. "Only creativity will never be replaced."
First Lesson for the New Semester: Exploring "Perspectives and Infinity"
Following this, President Lionel M. NI delivered the "First Lesson for the New Semester" to all new students with the theme "Perspectives and Infinity." He elaborated on perceiving the world from multiple perspectives and expanding horizons beyond boundaries.
During the "First Lesson for the New Semester," President Lionel M. NI first presented a series of engaging images, data graphs, and audiovisual materials to interact with the entire audience of faculty and students, aiming to reveal a reality: our perceptions are often limited when it comes to cooperating with others, viewing things, receiving information, and facing challenges. We tend to capture only fragments of things and fail to fully grasp their essence. To truly understand a perspective, it is essential not only to be aware of what is seen before us but also to deeply comprehend how our unique perspectives shape the manifestation of things. A complex project requires expertise from various fields. According to President NI, perspectives are not just a way of looking at problems but also determine how problems are studied and ultimately dictate the methods used to solve them.
President Lionel M. NI pointed out that the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) is dedicated to establishing the world's first university that integrates disciplines, creating a unique academic structure that merges "hubs" with "thrusts" to nurture "T-shaped talents" capable of adapting to the future world changes. He cited examples such as the "Campus Inspection Unmanned Vehicle" project of the Red Bird MPhil Program, the nanofilm in the 2024 undergraduate admission gift box, the student entrepreneurial project "Skin Patch Sweat Sensor for Precautionary Diagnostics" (which recently won the championship at the 2024 Entrepreneurship World Cup China Finals), and the establishment of the Low Altitude Systems and Economy Research Institute to introduce the school's project-based teaching model and the fruitful results of multidisciplinary integration. He emphasized that interdisciplinary studies do not mean neglecting specialized knowledge, nor are they superficial or meaningless combinations of disciplines. It is not about avoiding conflicts arising from different disciplinary cultures, languages, and expectations, nor is it solely for experts to study complex matters. Moreover, it is not a one-size-fits-all solution.
Finally, President Lionel M. NI pointed out the differences between university and high school to the students: high school requires you to provide correct answers, but university requires you to pose the right questions, learn critical thinking, become problem solvers, creators of new knowledge, future leaders who break boundaries, and hone interpersonal communication skills. He advised the students, "As you venture forth in the life journey, bear in mind that perspectives are one of the keys to unlocking the infinity. Every new perspective you embrace is a step towards a broader world, a world full of empathy, innovation, and endless mysteries, with boundaries that are infinite."
Putting on the emblem, singing the university anthem, touching the university flag, becoming a HKUST(GZ)er!
During the ceremony, 13 student representatives took the stage as university leaders personally handed them the school emblem. All the new and existing faculty and students in the audience also put on the school emblem together.
As the ceremony drew to a close, all the faculty and students stood up and sang together the common university anthem of HKUST and HKUST (GZ), carrying forward the genes of patriotism and innovation, aspiring to lead the world academically.
At the same time, a gigantic flag of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) was slowly carried and touched by everyone, passing through the crowd. The flag fluttered as the ceremony came to a close amidst the singing, marking the beginning of a new academic year.
The opening ceremony this time was held in a hybrid format, combining both online and offline participation. The faculty, students, students' family and friends, as well as invited guests, took part in the event either by attending in person or watching the live broadcast.
On the afternoon of September 1st, HKUST (GZ) also held a welcome party. On September 2nd, the autumn semester for the 2024-2025 academic year officially commenced.
