As we approach the end of the year, I would like to express my sincerest appreciation for your unwavering support and invaluable contributions to the University. Your dedication has been instrumental in propelling CityU to unprecedented heights.
 

I am delighted to announce the latest achievements of our exceptional alumni and faculty. My heartfelt congratulations go to SCM alumnus Nick Cheuk Yick-him for winning the Best New Director Award at the 60th Golden Horse Awards. Nick’s success serves as an inspiration for all, reminding us to embrace courage and resilience in the face of challenges. This month, he shared with CityU students the challenges he faced and his coping strategies in making the film Time Still Turns The Pages after a screening on campus. I encourage you to read more about our CityU Heroes, who exemplify the quality education at CityU. I am also excited to share that the first Graduation Gala of CityU’s Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (BVM) programme was held in October. With dual accreditation attained from both the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council, this momentous occasion marked a significant milestone in CityU’s history, as all 11 BVM graduates obtained a license to practice as a registered veterinary surgeon.

Our world-class researchers and faculty continue to shine on the international stage. This month, CityU received a remarkable total of 24 awards at the 3rd Asia Exhibition of Innovations & Inventions Hong Kong, the highest number among local universities. Professor Alfred Ho Tat-kei was elected as a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, the sole Fellow elected from Asia this year. Professor David Lou Xiongwen was honoured with the prestigious Young Scientist SDGs Award, the sole recipient from Hong Kong, in recognition of his contribution to sustainable development. With the significant contributions from our excellent alumni and faculty, I am confident that CityU will continue to advance and play a pivotal role in driving innovation and research.
 

Besides, I am delighted to share the remarkable success of our recent fundraising endeavours. The CityU Foundation hosted a memorable dinner on 20 October under the theme “Together, We Spark Our New Chapter”, which was attended by over 550 distinguished guests including many alumni members, and raised a record HK$16.8 million to support CityU’s strategic research development. Recently, the Bright Future Engineering Talent Hub (the Hub) at CityU received another generous donation of over HK$8 million from the Bright Future Charitable Foundation to extend the development of the Hub and two scholarship schemes to nurture our young talent in engineering.

As I have emphasised in previous communication, engagement with the local and international community is crucial to the University's development. Locally, in October, CityU signed an MOU with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and four local universities to establish the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Expert Group, which aims to facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration between the HKMA and academia in CBDC research. In November, we organised a Principals’ Luncheon, at which CityU representatives engaged in meaningful conversations with secondary school principals and teachers, sharing how CityU prepares students to become future leaders.

On the international front, CityU has actively established collaboration with institutions in mainland China and overseas. Several delegation visits were hosted at CityU, including visits from Consuls General and senior officials from Singapore and Bangladesh, as well as Dongguan, Shenzhen and Futian, in mainland China. Recently, a CityU delegation visited Kazakhstan and signed a joint agreement to foster collaboration with Satbayev University. And a delegation this month to the UK enhanced collaboration between CityU and top British universities. These partnerships and cooperation will undoubtedly strengthen CityU’s network and position us for even greater achievements in the future.

With your continued support, we have successfully overcome challenges, fostered innovation, and cultivated a vibrant learning environment throughout the year. The involvement of our alumni remains integral to our journey. Thank you all for being an indispensable part of the CityU community.

In this festive season, may I wish you and your families good health, happiness and a prosperous New Year ahead.

Professor Freddy Boey
President and University Distinguished Professor