The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) Holds Inaugural Graduation Ceremony

On November 30, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) (HKUST(GZ)) held its Inaugural Graduation Ceremony, celebrating 229 graduates who have completed their studies and are embarking on new chapters in their lives. 

Professor Harry SHUM Heung-Yeung, Chairperson of the HKUST Council, Professor Nancy Y. IP, Chairperson of the HKUST(GZ) Governing Board and President of HKUST, Professor Lionel M. NI, President of HKUST(GZ), representatives from the HKUST(GZ) Governing Board and HKUST Council, and senior executives and graduate tutors from two universities attended the Graduation Ceremony as honored guests. And they, together with guests from the government, industry and academia, and relatives and friends of graduates, witnessed this historic moment.

Since its establishment, HKUST(GZ) has traversed over two years of development. With its pioneering “Hub” and “Thrusts” academic structure, the University is aimed to develop into the world’s first cross-disciplinary university. Today, HKUST(GZ) has borne the first fruit. 229 graduates will march towards a new journey with vigorous efforts, to lead the trend of the times with patriotism and innovation.

Professor Nancy Y. IP, Chairperson of the HKUST(GZ) Governing Board and President of HKUST

You will always have the power to turn obstacles into achievement, ideas into reality, and dreams into lasting impact.

Professor Nancy Y. IP, Chairperson of the HKUST(GZ) Governing Board and President of HKUST, sent her wishes and blessings to all graduates. She stated that HKUST(GZ) is the world's first university to experiment with an innovative cross-disciplinary academic structure, which focuses on interdisciplinary learning to foster creativity and critical thinking. Since its establishment two years ago, HKUST(GZ) has been deeply committed to driving positive changes through innovation and social responsibility, striving to cultivate leaders who are not only academically accomplished but also socially conscious. As a result, the University has emerged as a preeminent institution in the Greater Bay Area.

“HKUST(GZ)'s innovative academic framework and approach to talent development perfectly complement the disciplinary approach at HKUST, and our two campuses embody the university of the future,” she said. “Under the 'Unified HKUST, Complementary Campuses' framework, the two campuses synergize their strengths and resources to create a vibrant environment where faculty and students can thrive, and ideas can flourish.

Professor Ip also reminded graduates to “always remember we are One-HKUST!”. “As you step into the world, carry with you the values that have shaped your journey here— integrity, perseverance, and a can-do spirit. With this mindset, you will always have the power to turn obstacles into achievement, ideas into reality, and dreams into lasting impact,” she added.

Professor Lionel M. NI, President of HKUST(GZ)

Never doubt that you are a creative problem-solver.

Professor Lionel M. NI, President of HKUST(GZ), delivered a speech, noting that the graduates this year are at the intersection of two important points: the Inaugural Graduation Ceremony in the history of HKUST(GZ) and the beginning of the Age of AI. HKUST(GZ)’s distinct mission is to become China’s center of innovative teaching and technology. The University’s goals are students’ personal growth and society’s technological progress. HKUST(GZ) and HKUST shares the same pursuit of excellence, the hunger for innovation, the same impatience for achievement and the same desire for social impact. Together with HKUST, HKUST(GZ) grows stronger and flies higher.

President NI explained in depth three ways to cultivate creativity in the Age of AI.

First is by reading. “Reading helps you to find yourself, by provoking questions in your mind about who you are, and to be experimental and be hungry for new ideas.”

Second is to be yourself. “This requires you to think critically and independently and seek for your own interest. If you follow your passion, you will find fulfillment, happiness and success.”

Third is curiosity. “The ability to ask thought-provoking questions is far more important than the ability to provide correct answers.”

According to President NI, China not only needs engineers and scientists, it also needs great cross-cultural communicators for this interconnected world troubled by too much misunderstanding. He hoped that graduates could meet challenges in a broader world, never fear failure, and keep being themselves and being curious. He encouraged the students that “Be proud of your diploma. Be proud of HKUST(GZ). You are the graduate of one of the world’s most intelligently designed universities. No matter what challenges you face as stepping out into the world, never doubt that you are a creative problem-solver.”

Professor Harry SHUM Heung-Yeung, Chairperson of the HKUST Council and Foreign Member of the US National Academy of Engineering

Step outside your comfort zone, be bold. Try. Fail. Try again and keep pushing.  You might just surprise yourself with what you could achieve.

Professor Harry SHUM Heung-Yeung, Chairperson of the HKUST Council and Foreign Member of the US National Academy of Engineering, delivered the Keynote Speech. He called the inaugural graduates “co-founders” of HKUST(GZ) and pointed out that they are the first graduating class of HKUST(GZ), the first students to be offered HKUST degrees outside Hong Kong and the first to receive a truly cross-disciplinary education under the innovative academic structure.

With so many "Firsts", Professor SHUM took his professional experience as an example where he led the development of the Web search engine Bing in Microsoft to compete with Google. “Do not despair if you get an occasional number two. Sometimes being the underdog gives you the courage to take wild leaps which you wouldn't otherwise try.” “Step outside your comfort zone, be bold. Try. Fail. Try again and keep pushing. You might just surprise yourself with what you could achieve,” he advised graduates.

Talking about the development of AI, he quoted Sir Isaac Newton’s famous saying “We build too many walls and not enough bridges” to emphasize the importance of understanding and respecting differences beyond technology. He encouraged the graduates to become HKUST ambassadors and continue to spread its core values: integrity, empathy, tolerance and inclusivity. He said that the world has become so interconnected that it is truly a global village. "As a scientist, I believe we can and must create AI that works for the benefit of everyone," he added.

In the end, Professor SHUM told all graduates that “Seek out opportunities that let you experience different cultures and perspectives. Go somewhere far away, meet new people, learn a new language, and keep an open mind. Your thinking will be enriched as a result, and you will be able to create better products for everyone. Be emphatic, be responsible, do good. And lastly, come home often to visit. The success of our University will depend on the journeys you will be on for next 10, 30, 50 years.”

Graduate Representative Cai Yihan

MPhil in Innovation, Policy and Entrepreneurship

Failure isn't something to shy away from—we take it as a badge of progress.

Cai Yihan, a student from the Innovation, Policy and Entrepreneurship Thrust of Society Hub, delivered a speech as a graduate representative. In his opinion, HKUST(GZ) is not just a university, it's a place where thinkers and doers come together to challenge the status quo. He shared his classmates’ and his own experiences in cross-disciplinary study or project-based entrepreneurship at HKUST(GZ). One of his classmates studied psychology in his undergraduate years is now an “intelligent logistics expert” and another classmate, who majored in economics, is now working toward environmental protection and sustainable development. And Cai himself, together with his teammates, has so far turned out seven books on Chinese essay-writing techniques. According to him, HKUST(GZ)’s students are brave in exploration and don't fear failure, because “failure isn't something to shy away from — we take it as a badge of progress. Our university does not simply tolerate failure — it celebrates it as part of the creative process.”
Cai said that he gained a degree of freedom at HKUST(GZ), a freedom to explore, to question, to create, and to fail without fear here, as well as a degree of understanding, of how deeply one can know and love what he does. He expressed his deepest thanks to HKUST(GZ), and encouraged the peers that “we’re not taking the easy road — we choose to go to the ‘moon’, not because it is easy, but because it is hard. And now, we the first Red Birds are ready to fly.”

Program-based teaching cultivates students' comprehensive transferable skills

Most of the 229 graduates this year are from the Red Bird MPhil Program (RBM) of HKUST(GZ). The program is an MPhil degree program designed to cultivate transdisciplinary leaders. This year, the first cohort of graduates marks the completion of a full cycle of training. The program is the first step in HKUST(GZ)’s “Hub-Thrust” structure, practicing the mission of an innovative transdisciplinary university. It adopts a group project-based learning approach, aiming to cultivate students into compound innovative and entrepreneurial leaders with distinctive professional expertise, broad transdisciplinary knowledge, comprehensive transferable skills and outstanding humanistic qualities.

Project group consists of students from diverse professional backgrounds. They collaboratively solve real-world problems. Students receive comprehensive guidance and support from a multidisciplinary supervisor team. Academic supervisor guides students in conducting in-depth research, project supervisor focuses on cultivating students’ transferable skills and industry advisor helps students understand real industry needs. With the support of the supervisor teams, RBM graduates will have diverse paths to becoming future leaders capable of confidently addressing future challenges.

HKUST(GZ) aims to cultivate compound innovative and entrepreneurial talents urgently needed by the country. Among the inaugural graduates, around 60% are pursuing further studies at world-renowned universities, such as Stanford University, University of Cambridge, Tsinghua University, HKUST and HKUST(GZ), and more than 30% are heading for employment, not just in any company, but leading companies such as Huawei, Tencent, BYD and Bank of China. The University is delighted to find that many graduates are launching start-ups in emerging industries and future industries. Those graduates embody the innovative spirit of HKUST and HKUST(GZ).

The Inaugural Graduation Ceremony not only is another HKUST(GZ)’s remarkable achievement, but also mark a new milestone in the development of both HKUST and HKUST(GZ).