As we commemorate the 30th anniversary of City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) this year, it is the perfect time to reflect on our accomplishments and look forward to our future. Our celebration theme “Innovating into the Future” echoes the trailblazing initiatives we have taken over the decades to pioneer forward.

This month, we celebrate the commencement of the Class of 2024. As our new graduates embark on their journey into the professional world, I want to wish them the very best. At CityUHK, our students receive not just a degree, but also an enriching journey of Inspirational, Interactive and Innovative Learning. We hope our graduates continue to carry these values with them as they innovate into the future.

We are immensely proud of our alumni, who have leveraged their expertise and skills gained at CityUHK to have a positive impact globally. Our Alumni Reunion Dinner in Shenzhen on 31 May brought together over 200 alumni and guests from different cities for an unforgettable and heartwarming evening. I was impressed by the unity among our alumni leaders’ network and thankful for the enthusiastic support from all alumni. We look forward to meeting more alumni members at upcoming events in various locations, including Beijing, Shanghai and Singapore. Another 30th anniversary celebratory programme is the Alumni Homecoming, which will be held on the Hong Kong campus on 2 November. We welcome all local and global alumni to plan your visit and see the development of your alma mater.

Our alumni have continued to demonstrate remarkable excellence in diverse fields. School of Creative Media (SCM) alumnus Mr Nick Cheuk won Best New Director at the 42nd Hong Kong Film Awards with his highly acclaimed feature film Time Still Turns the Pages, and Ms Grace Lau – also an SCM graduate – won a bronze medal in the Karate 1 (K1) Premier League in Casablanca, Morocco. These alumni serve as inspiring role models for our students, showcasing the power of perseverance and persistence of CityUHK Heroes.

CityUHK continues to soar and reach new heights worldwide. The University has risen 41 places to 79th in the latest 2024-25 Best Global Universities Rankings published by the U.S. News and World Report. Regarding subject rankings, CityUHK has 14 subjects ranked in the World Top 50, with four subjects (Condensed Matter Physics, Materials Science, Physical Chemistry, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology) entering World Top 10. In the latest QS World University Rankings, we were ranked 62nd, up eight places from last year, were ranked a record 4th among 673 universities under 50 years old in the Times Higher Education (THE) Young University Rankings 2024, and received the “Research Project of the Year: STEM” at the THE Awards Asia 2024, the only university in Hong Kong to win the prestigious award. We have continued to make significant strides in academic and student development through more institutional initiatives, including the Student Hostel Project at Whitehead, Ma On Shan, the University Farm, Jockey Club One Health Tower and the International Centre. Adding to the excitement, the Ministry of Education officially approved the establishment of CityU (Dongguan) in April, which further solidified our leading position in innovative education and talent development. Additionally, our Institute of Digital Medicine was officially established in the same month, in partnership with leading academic, clinical and industry partners around the world for future healthcare innovation.

Thanks to our dedicated University members, our research and innovation efforts have led to significant breakthroughs. For the eighth consecutive year, we again topped local institutions for the most US patents granted. The CityUHK team triumphed at the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, winning 36 awards for the second year. Our research team also secured funding for five projects from HKSAR Government’s RAISe+ Scheme, continuing to deliver high-quality research with a commercial and social impact. Starting on 15 June, we partnered with TVB to produce a five-episode TV series titled “港城大．科創未來”, which will highlight CityUHK's groundbreaking research achievements in the fields of green energy and sustainability. In the first episode, I had the opportunity to share my vision for our new Institute of Digital Medicine. Please stay tuned.
 

Meanwhile, our global ties have continued to strengthen and expand. Notably, we recently signed Memoranda of Understanding with the University of Cambridge and its Lucy Cavendish College to enhance academic and research collaboration by providing CityUHK with exchange and study opportunities. Collaboration with other prestigious partners includes Cornell University, the University of Exeter, Sun Yat-sen University, the University of Johannesburg, Satbayev University, and CentraleSupélec, Paris-Saclay University. All these facilitated invaluable dialogue and fostered collaborative partnerships in the fields of education and scientific research.

In closing, I invite you to visit the Indra and Harry Banga Gallery on campus, where the exhibition A Passion for Silk: The Road from China to Europe is open until 1 September. This exhibition showcases the 2000-year history of silk, with exquisite artifacts from around the globe. You are also welcome to visit the new campus gift shop when you are around, which offers a range of exclusive souvenirs, including the new Smiley Series, for you to take home.

I wish you a great summer filled with abundant sunshine and happiness.

Professor Freddy Boey
President and University Distinguished Professor