In an interview with Bauhinia magazine, President Professor Jin-Guang Teng shared his inspiring journey from his humble beginnings in rural Wenzhou to becoming the president of a top 100 university. Throughout the interview, Professor Teng articulated his visions for nurturing students, fostering knowledge transfer, and guiding PolyU to become one of the leading universities in the world.

Born to a farming family, Professor Teng received his early education at a village school, where he was a keen learner and excelled academically. His exceptional performance led to his admission to Zhejiang University to study civil engineering, followed by further studies in Australia — a rare privilege afforded to only a select few. His academic journey underscored his resilience and intellectual brilliance, paving the way for a distinguished career in research and teaching across the UK, Australia, and finally, at PolyU where he has contributed for three decades. Renowned for his significant research in civil engineering, Professor Teng is recognised among the top 2% of the most-cited scientists worldwide. At PolyU, he rose through the ranks, serving in various leadership positions including Dean, Associate Vice President, Vice President, and eventually President.

Since assuming the presidency in 2019, Professor Teng has been instrumental in elevating PolyU’s stature in the global academic community, with the University soaring from 106th to 57th in the QS World University Rankings and from 171st to 87th in Times Higher Education World University Rankings from 2019 to 2024/25. His tenure has been marked by a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary research and the transformation of research outcomes to address societal challenges.

Professor Teng is deeply committed to cultivating not only academic and professional skills in students but also positive personal values. He stresses the importance of nurturing a sense of national identity and global perspective, aligning these efforts with PolyU’s mission. Under his leadership, PolyU is making significant strides as an innovative world-class university.

Outside of his administrative and academic responsibilities, Professor Teng enjoys reading literature and history, as well as writing poetry. His weekends are often spent engaged in research, particularly focusing on the innovative applications of fibre-reinforced polymer composites in ocean environments.

For more insights into Professor Teng’s vision and PolyU’s advancements under his leadership, read the full article here:

Bauhinia magazine