Speeches

Dean Prof. Wang, Colleagues and Students, Ladies and Gentlemen,

A warm welcome to our students, parents and colleagues on this memorable occasion.

First, I would like to congratulate our HKMU students for successfully completing their university programmes in the School of Science and Technology.

To the graduates, as you embark on a new journey in life, I would like to share some thoughts with you.

In Hong Kong, we all know that the number of students graduating from secondary school has been decreasing. Against this backdrop, HKMU's recruitment efforts in the past years have been remarkably successful.

This year, we have 35% more new undergraduate students than last year, and the number of new taught postgraduate students has almost doubled.

More and more students are attracted to our programmes because they can see their practical value — they offer relevant skills, clear career paths, and a meaningful future.

Last year, HKMU won 60% of the funding available from the Education Bureau's Enhancement and Start-up Grant Scheme. In total, that came to $73 million.

We used the funding to develop two new degree programmes in Construction Management and Quantity Surveying, and New Music and Interactive Entertainment. 

This year, we were awarded $37 million from the Education Bureau to establish an Industrial Centre for our engineering students.

HKMU has leveraged Government support to introduce very popular professional degree programmes that address genuine social needs.  

In practical terms, we are positioning HKMU as a university that delivers high-quality professional degrees focussing on practical applications of knowledge in the fields of the arts, sciences and social sciences.

In this respect we are taking valuable lessons from the very successful “universities of applied sciences” that operate across Europe.

Today, the world is changing much faster than ever before. Many jobs, including top professions, are likely to disappear due to societal changes and technological advances, such as innovations in Artificial Intelligence (AI).

We have to ensure that our graduates can adapt to and take advantage of this “intellectual revolution”, arising from recent developments in AI.

It is clear to me that we have to move with the times and that the quality of education at HKMU must be able to stand the test of time.

That said, I believe that certain qualities, such as empathy, compassion, kindness and trust, are unique to humans and cannot be readily simulated by AI-generated personalities.

In this context, “integrity” is one key attribute that will distinguish outstanding professionals and that HKMU is working hard to nurture, among others. “Integrity” is something we must do everything to uphold and promote.

Furthermore, to make a meaningful contribution to our community, we must have “confidence”.

We must have full “confidence” in what we can do for ourselves, what we can do for others, and what we can do for our nation.

In closing, I would like to congratulate once again all the students graduating from the School of Science and Technology today.

I wish to thank your parents and family members, who have supported you so strongly over so many years, and express my deep respect for your teachers, who have guided you so skilfully throughout your journey at HKMU.

I wish you every success in the future, and I hope you will continue to support your alma mater.