The “PolyU Alumni Homecoming Day 2024” was successfully held on 19 October 2024, bringing together over 7,800 alumni, their families and friends, staff, students, and other members of the University for a day filled with fun, laughter, and cherished memories. This annual signature event featured a variety of campus adventures, sports events, family-friendly activities, live performances, and more, celebrating the enduring bonds of friendship within the PolyU community.
The Alumni Homecoming Day held great significance as it marked the biggest alumni gathering of the University in recent years, and was held for the first time in conjunction with PolyU’s flagship innovation and technology event, “InnoTech Open Day”. From the morning onwards, participating alumni had the opportunity to join exhibitions, showcases, talks, and forums that showcased the impactful achievements of their alma mater in interdisciplinary research, knowledge transfer, and entrepreneurship, witnessing the advancement of this world-class institution that consistently ranks among the top 100 universities worldwide.
The kick-off ceremony commenced at 2:15 pm at Chan Sui Kau and Chan Lam Moon Chun Square, with Kitty Yuen Siu-yee, a celebrated radio DJ, television host, and proud PolyU Design graduate, serving as the Master of Ceremony. President Prof. Jin-Guang Teng warmly welcomed everyone in his opening address, expressing his delight in gathering with the PolyU alumni family on this special day and his gratitude for their enthusiastic support. He looked forward to meeting everyone in person and continuing to strengthen ties in the future. Following the presentation of certificates of appreciation to sponsors by Dr Miranda Lou, Executive Vice President of the University, the unique kick-off gimmick began, which not only brought together the senior management of PolyU and alumni leaders but also instantly connected alumni from Hong Kong, the Mainland, and overseas through live streaming – more than 20 alumni association leaders from Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Australia, Canada, the United States, and Singapore joined in this long-awaited celebration without geographic boundaries. As colourful balloons were popped on stage, large bright balls also rolled into the audience and flew high, which officially launched the “PolyU Alumni Homecoming Day 2024” to cheers and applause, as well as signified the united commitment of various University units, alumni organisations, and all graduates to achieve new heights of alumni engagement together in the years to come.
During the kick-off ceremony, President Teng conducted the first round of “Alumni Lucky Draw” as well, distributing the “2024 PolyU Alumni Homecoming Commemorative Octopus” to the first 180 winners, much to their surprise and delight. The subsequent “Alumni Got Talent” show further elevated the atmosphere, with attendees enjoying a series of performances including Chinese and Western music, dance, magic, taekwondo, and choir, all applauding the talented groups of graduates.
The Alumni Homecoming featured a diverse programme throughout the campus. Faculties, schools, departments, and other units organised nearly 40 campus tours for alumni and their families and friends to explore state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities that are rarely open to the public. Besides, special booths showcased numerous creative achievements, such as ReST Hub, flexible scoliosis brace with artificial hinge, and speech therapy games. The campus hunt was especially popular, with everyone exploring the landmarks of PolyU and filling their specially designed booklets with stamps from various attractions, creating lasting happy memories. In addition, many graduates took part in the Outstanding PolyU Alumni Jogging Tour led by Dr Samson Tam Wai-ho, Mr Dennis Ho Chiu-ping, Ir Alfred Sit Wing-hang, and Mr Stephen Au Ling-ming, rediscovering their alma mater in a fresh and engaging way.
Alumni on the vibrant campus brought their loved ones to Play Zones at the University Square as well, where they challenged themselves with giant Jenga, engaged in art jamming, and enjoyed family time at the eco-friendly toy corners. A number of them also joined the “Grad Photo Fest” at the Alumni Atrium to don graduation gowns and capture memories at the special photo area. Additionally, the student canteen offered a nostalgic tea set for former students to savour the flavours of their youth.
Sports fun was another major highlight of the event, bringing everyone together for an action-packed afternoon. Alumni in the sports centre enjoyed Ping-Pong training sessions and fun games for both parents and kids, along with free access to badminton, tennis, and squash courts. The atmosphere was electric as they watched an exciting table tennis demonstration match, officiated by University Fellow Miss Cally Kwong Mei-wan. Players who have represented the University and even Hong Kong showcased their skills with enthusiasm. At the same time, The HK PolyU MBA Alumni Association (MBAAA), the Electrical Engineering Alumni Association (EEAA), and the Department of Applied Social Sciences Graduates Association (APSSGA), alongside the Fei Yang alumni football team led by Dr Lam Tai-fai, PolyU Council Chairman, staged a fast-paced futsal match that left every spectator buzzing with excitement, creating an energetic afternoon that all participants would remember.
As an annual flagship event, this mega alumni homecoming prepared exclusive souvenirs and abundant prizes for participants. Apart from 360 limited-edition Octopus cards from “Alumni Lucky Draw”, the grand finale, “Celebrating Friendship Lucky Draw”, delighted over 80 attendees with travel coupons, hotel stays, dining experiences, home appliances, smart gadgets, designer jewellery, health check-ups, and more, with a total prize value exceeding HKD 110,000.
The day concluded with an appreciation ceremony, where Council Chairman Dr Lam Tai-fai, President Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, and Executive Vice President Dr Miranda Lou presented certificates of appreciation to alumni bodies in Hong Kong, the Mainland, and overseas. In a joyful atmosphere, graduates across generations, disciplines, and industries left with exquisite gifts and unforgettable memories shared with their families and friends. The Alumni Affairs Office sincerely thanked all participants for their support; the enthusiastic participation of each attendee significantly contributed to the event’s success. Furthermore, the PolyU Alumni Homecoming 2024 was made possible through the active collaboration of various faculties, schools, departments, alumni associations, and other units. We are eager to embark on our ongoing collaboration, organising more and more large-scale events for our dynamic alumni community that will surely elevate the alumni engagement efforts of PolyU to new heights.
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