PolyU hosts Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences Launch Ceremony cum Academic Forum; Promoting interdisciplinary research and future AI computing

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), in support of the HKSAR Government’s initiative to expand the local talent pool in innovation and technology, officially established its tenth academic unit this year — the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences (FCMS). The Faculty aims to drive cutting-edge research and education in applied mathematics, computing, data science and artificial intelligence (AI), injecting new momentum into economic development.

PolyU held the launch ceremony and academic forum for the new Faculty today. Prof. SUN Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, of the HKSAR Government, Dr LAM Tai-fai, PolyU Council Chairman and Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President, along with University senior management, officiated at the Ceremony. Distinguished guests joined the event to celebrate the Faculty’s establishment. An academic forum themed “Future AI Computing” was also held, bringing together leading experts and scholars to explore current trends and future applications of AI.

With emerging technologies rapidly transforming society, the AI era has created an urgent demand for talent and technical expertise. In response, PolyU launched FCMS this January, bringing together the resources and strengths of three academic departments — the Department of Applied Mathematics, the Department of Computing and the Department of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. The Faculty offers a wide range of undergraduate and taught postgraduate programmes, including master’s programmes covering AI and big data computing, blockchain technology, and metaverse technologies. FCMS is committed to nurturing forward-looking and practically skilled technology talent.

In his speech, Prof. Sun Dong said, “The Government has adopted a multi-pronged approach to enlarge the I&T talent pool and equip our young people with skills needed for the future.  We continue to proactively promote science and mathematics education and strengthen digital education so as to provide talent support for developing Hong Kong into an international I&T centre.  Looking ahead, the demand for skilled professionals in I&T fields will continue to grow.  The new faculty will certainly play a pivotal role in meeting this ever-increasing demand to nurture the future generation of talent in the era of AI and digital transformation.”

Prof. Jin-Guang Teng said, “Emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence, are reshaping industries and societies at an unprecedented pace. At PolyU, one of our key strengths lies in our ability to respond to the evolving demands of society and industry. The establishment of the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences will enable us to address the growing need for talent and technology in the era of artificial intelligence. The new Faculty will serve as a robust platform for fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation to drive technological progress for the benefit of Hong Kong, the Nation and the world.”

Prof. Changwen CHEN, Interim Dean of FCMS and Chair Professor of Visual Computing, stated, “As a world-class research university, PolyU has introduced ‘Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics’ (AIDA) to the undergraduate curriculum in 2022, the first in the world to integrate compulsory AI education into the undergraduate curriculum. As is well-known, the advancement of Data Science and AI is driven by two foundations: Computing and Mathematics, which also form the distinctive foundation of this new Faculty.”

Following the inauguration ceremony, the academic forum featured distinguished speakers including Prof. MA Yi, Director and Chair Professor of the Musketeers Foundation Institute of Data Science at The University of Hong Kong; Prof. YAO Xin, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) of Lingnan University; Dr MEI Tao, Founder and CEO of HiDream.ai; and

Prof. YANG Hongxia, Associate Dean (Global Engagement) of FCMS at PolyU. The panellists shared insights on the future of AI development, education and practical implementation, inspiring attendees to consider the boundless potential of future technologies.

PolyU also recently established the PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence (PAAI), which will provide opportunities for researchers from a wide range of disciplines to collaborate with researchers from the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences. Together, they will develop AI models with deep domain expertise for various professions, elevating Hong Kong as a global hub for Generative AI development. In the near future, PolyU will also establish the Language Education Institute to lead the transformation of language education among university students using AI and other technologies.

Last month, PolyU submitted a proposal to the HKSAR Government for the establishment of Hong Kong’s third medical school. The proposal aims to integrate PolyU’s strengths in health technologies, engineering and AI, alongside its experience in training over 50,000 healthcare professionals over the past 45 years, to nurture a new generation of technologically proficient and compassionate doctors for the AI-driven healthcare landscape.

For more information about the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, please visit:
https://www.polyu.edu.hk/fcms/

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