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22 March 2021

Dear alumni,
 

Spring is the season for new beginnings and vibrancy. As we usher in the Year of the Ox, we have unveiled an array of exciting projects. Among them is our newly born CityU Anthem themed “Beyond Boundaries”. I hope it gives you a fresh impetus about the CityU spirit and encouragement to excel and realise your dreams.

 
“Beyond Boundaries” is chosen as the theme because it signifies our desire to reach out and invite the rest of the world to experience the CityU story. As one of the most rapidly rising universities in the world, and one that is highly internationalised, CityU wants to showcase its multicultural environment, where different perspectives are respected and where creativity and intellectual development are prioritised..

As I penned the lyrics, I took inspiration from ancient Chinese wisdom. For example, “in harmony, not conformity”, a maxim found in The Analects of Confucius, emphasises CityU’s dedication to embracing different views. Members of the CityU community respect one another while pooling ideas to sharpen the mind and plough fresh pastures for unexplored knowledge. Echoing the ancient idea of “lofty mountains and vast seas”, which comes from the title of The Classic of Mountains and Seas, CityU physically backs onto lofty hills and looks over the distant Victoria Harbour.

CityU community members, including staff, alumni and students from Croatia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, mainland China and Norway, have taken part in the production of a music video for the song. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to making this CityU Anthem a reality, and most of all, I hope you enjoy it! Find out more about the Anthem and view the video HERE. 

Another recent milestone is the commencement of the superstructure work for the Jockey Club One Health Tower that was unveiled at a ceremony on 2 March. Equipped with first-class facilities, the Tower signifies CityU’s unique mission to promote multidisciplinary collaboration that can enhance the health of humans, animals and the environment under the One Health paradigm.

We have obtained enormous support from the community for this project, in particular the $500-million donation in 2017 from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, which is the largest single donation ever received by the University. A total of $2.3 billion has been invested on this self-financed state-of-the-art building for enhancing our academic and research capabilities in related fields and building new sports facilities. Upon completion, it will provide first-class teaching and research facilities for the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences and other units at CityU.

I am also delighted that our world-class scholars have once again been recognised as some of the top researchers in the world. According to metrics compiled by Stanford University, over 140 CityU faculty members are listed among the top 2% of the world's most highly cited scientists, reflecting the high academic standard of our faculty and our excellent research performance. Compared to faculty size, CityU's percentage of the world's top 2% most highly cited scientists is among the highest in Asia. 

Our faculty members are also working on high-impact research to fight against the pandemic. As stated in our Strategic Plan 2020–2025, the guiding principle for the next 25 years is to advance knowledge, improve lives, sustain livelihoods and strengthen society. Our response to the pandemic is an example of our strategic approach. Our interdisciplinary researchers from disciplines such as veterinary medicine, biomedical sciences, engineering, data science, and building technology are targeting methods and solutions to safeguard public health. 

For my part, I have urged the community to look to powerful data analytics for understanding how the various elements involved in a crisis like the pandemic today interact. Read more details HERE.

Best wishes to you all, good health and success in all your endeavours.

Way Kuo
President and University Distinguished Professor

CityUpdate
President's Blog ─ Way to Kuo