A New Chapter Begins: HKUST(GZ) celebrates its second graduating cohort while inaugurating Outstanding Teaching Award
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) held its Graduation Ceremony 2025 on Oct 25, celebrating 417 graduates who have completed their studies and embarked on new journeys.
At the ceremony, LEUNG Chun-ying, Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, delivered a keynote speech. Professor Nancy IP, Chairperson of the HKUST(GZ) Governing Board and President of HKUST, and Professor Lionel NI, President of HKUST(GZ), delivered speeches, extending their best wishes to the graduates.
Addressing the ceremony, Prof. IP highlighted the HKUST(GZ)'s mission to drive interdisciplinary breakthroughs and become an innovation engine in the Guangdong-Hong Kong- Macao Greater Bay Area and beyond. "The collaborative framework of 'United HKUST, Complementary Campuses' is accelerating this mission," she said, adding that the excellence of the graduates is the most powerful testament to the educational success of HKUST(GZ).
Prof. NI emphasized the urgent need for China to cultivate innovators who can challenge the scientific status quo, saying that HKUST(GZ) is committed to being an explorer of cutting-edge technology and a leader in the development of innovative education.
"HKUST(GZ) has a clear mission to support China's technological self-reliance," he said, adding that the key to excellence in education lies in nurturing students with curiosity and the desire to pursue excellence.
He urged faculty to integrate cutting-edge technology and interdisciplinary thinking into their teaching and encouraged graduates to embrace AI as a powerful tool.
In his keynote speech, LEUNG praised the University's English-medium instruction for providing students with a strong bilingual foundation. He encouraged graduates to continue enhancing their language skills post-graduation.
The Outstanding Teaching Award, named after the couple Prof. Lionel NI and Yin CHING was launched at the ceremony. The award, endowed with a generous donation of 10 million yuan ($1.41 million) by the couple, recognizes one exemplary teacher annually who has demonstrated excellence in teaching.
The establishment of the award is significant in two ways—it honors HKUST's tradition of valuing teaching excellence and reflects the enduring support and expectations of NI and CHING for the young university's future.
Associate Professor Yunlong ZI from the Sustainable Energy and Environment Thrust, became the first winner of the University's highest teaching accolade, with a prize of 200,000 yuan ($28,180). He employs a "flipped classroom" approach, integrates assessments to motivate student engagement, and uses AI and metaverse tools to create a student-centered learning ecosystem. His methods ensure that students not only acquire knowledge but also enjoy the learning process.
Two representatives of the graduates spoke at the ceremony.
Zhao Zixuan, a master's graduate from the Systems Hub's Bioscience and Biomedical Engineering Thrust, shared her journey from clinical medicine to research. She emphasized the courage to break down disciplinary barriers and the dual-thinking approach fostered at HKUST(GZ).
Lin Rungu, a doctoral graduate from the Information Hub's Computational Media and Arts Thrust, spoke of his decision to pursue a PhD at HKUST(GZ) after graduating from MIT. Driven by the motto "Made in China, Serving the World", he co-founded two creative tool brands reaching over 80 countries. He asked his fellow graduates to bring China's creativity and innovation to the global stage.
Following the inaugural 230 graduates last year, HKUST(GZ) has 417 graduates in its second cohort this year, including 340 Master of Philosophy, 52 Master of Science and 25 PhD.
Around 50 percent of the new graduates are employed by leading companies like Huawei, Tencent, Alibaba, and ByteDance or top universities such as the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and McGill University; around 40 percent will pursue further studies at prestigious institutions such as Imperial College London, Oxford University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Peking University; and around 10 percent are launching startups in strategic emerging industries and future industries.
The diverse career paths of HKUST(GZ) graduates demonstrate the value of the University's commitment to interdisciplinary education and academic innovation.
