I would like to begin by saying what a great honour it was for me to take up the role of the new Council Chairman of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) on 1 January 2019. My appointment was especially gratifying as I have had a long affiliation with PolyU: first as a student, then as an alumnus, and later as a Council and Court Member and Deputy Council Chairman.

During the year under review, PolyU has been responding to rising expectations that local universities remain relevant and competitive, not just within the region but across the globe. PolyU has therefore been seeking to elevate the level of our global engagement and impact by leveraging our extensive international network. Our objective is not only to advance academic exchanges but also to increase students’ understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity and broader social issues. Closer to home, we are embracing the opportunities brought about by the Greater Bay Area (GBA) development to serve not only the long-term interests of PolyU but also those of the GBA.

During the year, the University collaborated with renowned international institutions and enterprises to establish platforms for supporting initiatives in the GBA and along the Belt and Road. One example of this is the Greater Bay Area International Institute for Innovations (GBA I³ ), which we established in collaboration with Shenzhen University with an aim to develop the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau GBA into a world-class innovation hub. In the summer of 2019, the Institute organised a 50-day entrepreneurship immersion programme for some 80 tertiary students, through which we provided opportunities to deepen their understanding of entrepreneurship and innovation in the GBA.¹

Another initiative was the launch by PolyU and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) of the CAS Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science-PolyU Joint Laboratory of Applied Mathematics and the CAS Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry-PolyU Joint Laboratory of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area for the Environment. Both laboratories complement the strengths of PolyU and CAS research institutes and will focus on research and knowledge transfer for the benefit of the GBA and society.

In order to promote the continuing development of the Belt and Road, PolyU launched the Belt and Road Cross-Professional Advancement Programme. This first-ever cross-professional platform is designed to give professionals and business leaders in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland the opportunity to exchange knowledge and explore potential collaborative projects, particularly infrastructure projects.²

On the education side, we made further efforts to enhance our holistic, career-ready education. PolyU continued to develop the Leadership and Intrapersonal Development (LIPD) initiative that gives students’ personal and social competences through experiential learning. The project has been extended to benefit other tertiary institutions in Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland and Belt and Road countries. In recognition of its remarkable contributions to teaching and learning, the LIPD team received the University Grants Committee (UGC) Teaching Award in 2018.³

Our core belief in education is based on its ability to instil professional competences and positive values that ensure we continue to care about one another as a community. After Hong Kong implemented the four-year university curriculum in 2012, PolyU was the first local university to require all undergraduate students to complete a credit-bearing Service-Learning subject so that they can become socially-responsible leaders.

Service-Learning integrates meaningful community service with academic study. Among the Service-Learning projects undertaken by our students was a solar electrical power project in Rwanda, where they designed and installed reliable off-grid energy solutions for 500 rural households in Rwanda. Our students also helped in the post-quake redevelopment of Sichuan in mainland China, including providing rehabilitation services, building resilience in children, and promoting green farming practices. We are delighted that our students have made a real difference in people’s lives through these projects with their professional knowledge and skills.

The University is also planning to establish a branch campus in the GBA. Through this facility, PolyU will develop more talents and increase internship and Service-Learning opportunities for Hong Kong students in the GBA. Moreover, in the pursuit of research excellence, the branch campus will provide space for first-rate research facilities.

On a final note, I would like to assure the Council’s support for the many initiatives and implementation of the University’s Strategic Plan 2019/20 - 2024/25. I look forward to working with Council Members as well as the University management, staff and students to achieve even more in the year ahead.