As the new academic year unfolds, we warmly welcome a new cohort of students from Hong Kong and around the globe at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK). The University is a hub for nurturing talent for the future through inspirational, interactive and innovative learning experiences.
On 2 September, CityUHK (Dongguan) held its Grand Opening Ceremony, marking a significant milestone in the University’s journey. As with CityUHK, CityUHK (Dongguan) aims to nurture students with an innovative spirit and an international perspective, while leveraging the strengths of the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area. It enrolled 120 undergraduate students and 442 postgraduate students in its first cohort. I had the pleasure of delivering the inaugural lecture at CityUHK (Dongguan) on the first day of the academic year, in which I welcomed the new students and encouraged them to actively explore the world, maintain their curiosity and fully enjoy university life.
Maintaining strong ties with alumni in different regions is crucial. On 17 August, I was delighted to meet CityUHK alumni in Singapore, who came together to celebrate the University’s 30th anniversary, and presented certificates of appreciation to the alumni organising committee, who supported the gathering and helped bond the alumni in Singapore together.
A reunion in Beijing on 24 August brought together more than 200 alumni and guests from various cities in mainland China. Their solidarity and enthusiasm were truly remarkable, and I was impressed by the unique kuaiban performance by an alumnus, which illustrated CityUHK’s successful development and achievements.
On 28 September, we had another heartwarming alumni reunion in Shanghai, where some 200 alumni gathered to celebrate the University’s 30th anniversary. Although it was held shortly after the Mid-Autumn Festival, the evening was filled with cherished memories, delightful singing and a sense of togetherness, perfectly capturing the essence of the Mid-Autumn Festival spirit. I am deeply grateful for the unwavering support of the CityUHK Alumni Chapters in mainland China to consolidate our mainland alumni network.
I would like to extend a warm invitation to all alumni to join us for the Alumni Homecoming on our Hong Kong campus on 2 November. This will be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the 30th anniversary of CityUHK, rediscover its transformation with family and friends, and reconnect with fellow alumni and faculty members. I look forward to meeting you at the Opening Ceremony to celebrate the University’s accomplishments and anticipate our journey of innovation into the future together. Additionally, there will be networking reunions hosted by the Colleges and Schools, as well as forums and sharing sessions on the latest research and knowledge created at CityUHK.
CityUHK has achieved a remarkable accomplishment in the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by securing the 80th position out of 2,092 ranked universities worldwide. We also achieved a perfect score in the "Industry" indicator, solidifying our position as a leading university globally. Additionally, we performed exceptionally well in the “International Outlook” category, ranking second globally for the sixth consecutive year, highlighting the University’s significant achievements in promoting academia-industry collaboration and international cooperation.
Nearly 210 scholars from CityUHK were named among the “World’s Top 2% Most-cited Scientists” compiled by a research team from Stanford University. Compared to the overall number of teaching and research staff at the University, this is the highest proportion of top scientists in Hong Kong, demonstrating the University’s exceptional research capabilities. CityUHK consistently nurtures business elites with a global perspective and offers diverse learning experiences for aspiring leaders. In the 2025 QS Business Master's Rankings, five of CityUHK's programmes achieved recognition. The Master of Science (MSc) in Marketing was ranked 1st in Asia and Hong Kong for the second consecutive year. Additionally, the Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme was ranked 99th in the 2025 Global MBA Rankings, marking the University’s inaugural entrance to the global top 100 in this ranking list.
Members of the CityUHK community have excelled in various fields. We were honoured to confer the title of Honorary Fellow on Mr Hing Chao, Ms Nancy Chau Sin-wo, and alumna Ms Grace Lau Mo-sheung, MH, OLY, for their significant contributions to the University and the community. Heartfelt congratulations to Grace for once again triumphing at the Asian Karate Championship! In the 2024 HKSAR Honour List, we proudly recognised over 20 community members for their notable contributions to Hong Kong and their dedicated public service.
CityUHK alumni are enthusiastic about giving back to their alma mater. In recognition of alumnus Mr Benjamin Kwok, Managing Director of Kwonnie Electrical Products Limited, and his family’s steadfast support for the University, CityUHK hosted the naming ceremony for the Benjamin & Anny Kwok Conference Room, on the 4/F of the Yip Kit Chuen Building. Mr Kwok's positive outlook and profound vision for success perfectly embody the spirit of CityUHK.
CityUHK is committed to fostering collaboration with esteemed global universities. For example, we signed an MoU with the KU Leuven in Belgium, the world's oldest Catholic university, with nearly 600 years of history, to explore the feasibility of developing joint bachelor’s degree programmes and collaboration in research.
Other global partners that have recently fostered collaboration with CityUHK to enhance academic exchanges and research initiatives include the POLIMI Graduate School of Management in Milan, Universiti Brunei Darussalam in Brunei, universities in Indonesia: Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Petra Christian University, and Universitas Airlangga, as well as universities in Vietnam: Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, VinUniversity Hanoi, and Eastern International University. Additionally, delegations signed agreements to establish the Innovation Centre in Qingdao’s West Coast New Area, furthering our commitment to scientific research.
As we embark on the new academic year, I wish you great success and a fulfilling path of innovation for a promising future.
Professor Freddy Boey
President and University Distinguished Professor
