News and Achievements

PolyU Awarded Good Organisation Award at the Good Citizen Award (GCA) Presentation Ceremony 2024

We are thrilled to announce that PolyU has been honoured with the "Good Organisation Award" at the “Good Citizen Award (GCA) Presentation Ceremony 2024”! The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) held the “Good Citizen Award (GCA) Presentation Ceremony 2024” at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on 23 February 2025. During the ceremony, the Force honoured 80 citizens and seven organisations for their contributions to crime prevention and public safety. To protect students from falling victim to scams, PolyU has collaborated with HKPF to launch the "Online Anti-deception Learning Kit" since 2024. Completion of this course is mandatory for all new students before enrolment. As of December 2024, over 13,000 students have successfully completed the course. The programme has proven highly effective, leading to a significant reduction in telephone deception cases targeting university students, particularly among non-local students. In the third quarter of 2024, the number of victims on campus decreased by 50% year-on-year, accompanied by a notable reduction in financial losses. Additionally, the university continues to hold anti-deception seminars on campus to promote awareness among students. This recognition highlights our commitment to supporting the HKPF in their efforts to combat crime and enhance public safety. We are proud to be part of a community that values collaboration and good citizenship.   Media Coverage: HKSAR Government Press Release (English) HKSAR Government Press Release (Chinese) HK01 HKTKWW    

PolyU launches Outstanding Student Academy to inspire future leaders

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is committed to promoting holistic education and nurturing all-round future leaders. To motivate students to thrive in both their academic and non-academic pursuits, PolyU established The Outstanding Student Academy (The Academy) in the 2024/25 academic year. The Academy brings together previous winners of the annual “Outstanding Students Award” and “Presidential Student Leadership Award,” who have demonstrated academic excellence, strong leadership abilities and a commitment to serving society, while also fostering connections within the University community. The inauguration ceremony of The Academy was held on campus today. Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President; Prof. Miranda LOU, Executive Vice President; Prof. Kwok-yin WONG, Vice President (Education); and Prof. Ben YOUNG, Vice President (Student and Global Affairs), along with other members of the PolyU management team, faculty/school deans, heads of departments, guests and students gathered to witness this significant moment. Prof. Ben Young outlined the significance and prospects of The Academy in his welcoming remarks and said, “The Academy is a dynamic platform designed to cultivate future leaders who will navigate the complexities of our world with integrity and ingenuity, an innovative mindset, and a strong sense of social responsibility. It will provide a wealth of resources, guidance and mentorship for its members to explore their talents and aspirations. The Academy is a testament to PolyU’s belief that every student possesses the potential to make meaningful impact—not only at PolyU but also in Hong Kong, our Nation and beyond, and the University will support them every step of the way.” The Academy aims to harness the talents of exceptional students. Its four core objectives are to foster leaders, inspire through interaction, strengthen network ties and cultivate sustainable connections, with a view to supporting students’ academic journey and future development. Currently, The Academy has around 100 members, including the Executive Committee (ExCo) comprising 15 outstanding students from different schools and departments, as well as the past awarded students of the “Outstanding Student Awards” and the “Presidential Student Leadership Award.” At the Ceremony, Prof. Jin-Guang Teng presented an Academy Lapel Pin to the ExCo members in recognition of their distinguished achievements in academic pursuits, community service and leadership, while also encouraging them to continue their efforts. An engaging video then introduced guests to the objectives, vision and mission of The Academy. ExCo member GE Yufei, a Year 4 student from the Faculty of Science, gave a captivating Guzheng performance, contributing to the upbeat mood of the event. Finally, the ExCo President WANG Yanze, recipient of the President’s Distinguished Student Leadership Award 2023 and a Year 3 student from the Faculty of Engineering, delivered a heartfelt expression of gratitude to the University, bringing the Ceremony to a successful conclusion. The Academy has already hosted a number of impactful events, including the Unity in Diversity Bamboo Workshop, a Green Promotion initiative on Campus focusing on energy and water conservation, and various workshops and visits related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and environmental sustainability. Looking ahead to the rest of 2025, The Academy is set to expand its outreach into the PolyU community by hosting the High Table Dinner cum Dean of Students Talk Series as well as workshops and training sessions on leadership, sustainability and design thinking. There will also be an overseas trip to further cultivate members’ global perspectives and sense of social responsibility. Press release: English Chinese   Social Media Platforms: PolyU Facebook PolyU Instagram PolyU LinkedIn PolyU X PolyU Weibo PolyU Xiaohongshu SAO Instagram  

PolyU "INSPIRE" Mentorship Programme Annual Gathering 2024

PolyU’s “INSPIRE” Mentorship Programme Annual Gathering 2024 was successfully held today at Hotel ICON, with around 270 mentors and mentees coming together to exchange their invaluable mentoring journeys.  The Gathering, themed "Igniting Flourishing Paths", commenced with a celebratory toast from PolyU’s Council and Court members who are also the mentors, along with the PolyU Senior Management Team. During the event, appreciation videos showcased the remarkable connections built through “INSPIRE”, while performances by the PolyU Student Affairs Office Chinese Orchestra celebrated the spirit of camaraderie fostered through the programme. Throughout the “INSPIRE” journey, the mentors have embraced the roles of advisor, life coach, and role models, expanding students’ perspectives and nurturing their growth. By drawing on the insights and experiences of their mentors, we are confident that our students will continue to be inspired and empowered, and the “INSPIRE” community thrive as we grow and succeed together!

PolyU holds 2025 New Year’s Day flag-raising ceremony and University Gallery opening ceremony

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) held a flag-raising ceremony on campus this morning to welcome the New Year. PolyU Council Chairman Dr LAM Tai-fai, President Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, Deputy Council Chairman Dr Daniel YIP Chung-yin, University Court Chairman Dr Katherine NGAN, Treasurer of the University Mr Arthur LEE Kin, Honorary Court Chairman Dr Roy CHUNG Chi-ping, President Emeritus Prof. the Honourable POON Chung-kwong, together with Council and Court members, University senior management, outstanding alumni, members of the PolyU Foundation, distinguished guests, and over 500 staff, students and alumni attended the ceremony, wishing Hong Kong and the Nation prosperity and stability. The ceremony was performed by the PolyU Student Flag-Raising Team. Dr Lam Tai-fai said, “PolyU has excelled in education, research, knowledge transfer, and innovation and entrepreneurship over the past year, yielding remarkable results in various world-recognised rankings. As we step into the new year, the University welcomes new Council members. We will continue to foster a spirit of unity and progress among PolyU members and take the University to new heights. The University will also remain committed to supporting the HKSAR Government in embracing new opportunities and opening new horizons for our city, and contributing to the advancement of Hong Kong and the Nation.” Prof. Jin-Guang Teng remarked, “From a humble technical institution in Wan Chai to a top 100 university in the world, PolyU boasts a remarkable history spanning over 80 years. The exhibits in the University Gallery evoke wonderful memories for alumni and provide visitors with an opportunity to delve deeper into PolyU’s history and development and its significant achievements in teaching, research and knowledge transfer.” University Gallery presents the tremendous achievements of PolyU Preceded by the flag-raising ceremony, the opening ceremony of the University Gallery was held, with Dr Lam Tai-fai, Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, Dr Daniel Yip, Dr Katherine Ngan, Mr Arthur Lee, Dr Roy Chung, Prof. the Honourable Poon Chung-kwong, PolyU Deputy President and Provost Prof. Wing-tak WONG and Executive Vice President Dr Miranda LOU officiating at the ribbon cutting. Located on the podium of PolyU’s campus, the University Gallery is adjacent to the Pao Yue-kong Library and the University Square. Through engaging profiles and exhibits, the Gallery illustrates how the University has evolved from the Government Trade School in the 1930s to an innovative world-class university ranked among the global top 100, showcasing over eight decades of PolyU’s rich history and impact on society. The University Gallery welcomes visitors to explore its different exhibition zones, discover the PolyU’s unique features, and uncover remarkable stories that define its legacy. It highlights the University’s endeavours over the years in offering quality education and nurturing future leaders to meet the needs of social and economic development, while also sharing stories of distinguished PolyU researchers who are devoted to translating their research outcomes into innovative solutions to address global challenges, thereby benefiting Hong Kong, the Nation, and the world. The distinctive cement block wall at the entrance of the University Gallery reflects PolyU’s visual identity, characterised by its signature red brick architecture throughout the campus. The hollow design of the cement blocks allows glimpses of the red bricks behind, symbolising the University’s significant role in Hong Kong’s industrial development. These hollow cement blocks are made of PolyU-developed sustainable cement, highlighting the University’s leadership in innovative technology for environmental sustainability.

Rowing Club Wins Gold Medals at the AISL Harrow Rowing Regatta 2024

  PolyU SAO Rowing Club earned first place in two events at the high-profile AISL Harrow Rowing Regatta 2024, held in Zhuhai on 30 November and 1 December 2024.   This year, over 130 rowing teams from the Greater Bay Area and around the world, including those from Yale University and the University of Cambridge, were invited to join the University Championship. Talented members of our Rowing Club were honoured to have outshone other elite rowers, including four university teams from Hong Kong, by achieving gold medals in the Women’s Coxed Quads Sculls events, both 4X+1000m and 4X+2600m.   AISL Harrow Rowing Regatta 2024 is part of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Series, carrying the vision of “One Bay, One Vision. Rowing to Greatness”. It aligns with the GBA’s talent development plan and the 14th Five-Year Plan for national sports development in China. The rowing event was supported by the Hong Kong China Rowing Association, exemplifying the collaborative development of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau. It is a rewarding experience for our students to be engaged in international cultural exchange and Greater Bay Area integration.  

Prof. Geoffrey Shen and Prof. Albert Chan Discuss New 3-Dimension Admission Scheme for Mainland Students, Featuring Student Insights

 Prof. Geoffrey Shen, Associate Vice President (Global Partnerships) and Director of Global Engagement, and Prof. Albert Chan, Dean of Students, were interviewed by HK01 on the University’s arrangement for admitting mainland students, including the newly launched 3-Dimension Admission Scheme. Separately, Ian Zhu Junyuan, a fourth-year student of BSc (Hons) in Applied Biology with Biotechnology from the mainland China, shared his experience of studying at PolyU in an interview with HK01. Online coverage: HK01 HK01

PolyU Sports Teams Clinch Top Places and Set Records at 2024/25 Inter-Collegiate Competitions

PolyU Sports Teams have demonstrated exceptional performance in the first phase of the 2024/25 Inter-Collegiate Competitions, organised by the University Sports Federation of Hong Kong, China (USFHK).    The Swimming Team excelled in the competition held on 13 October 2024, with both the Men’s and Women’s teams finishing as 1st runners-up, collectively securing the title of Overall Champion. This remarkable achievement highlights the teams' dedication and skill. Notably, NG Lai Wa, a Medical Laboratory Science student, set a new record in the Women’s 200M Individual Medley, showcasing her exceptional talent, while the PolyU Women’s 4x100M Freestyle Relay team also made headlines.   In the Cross Country race on 10 November 2024, the Men’s Team secured the 1st runner-up position, demonstrating their competitive spirit and endurance, with TSE Chun Yin, a Marketing student, crowned Individual Champion. The Women’s Team and Overall standings also saw PolyU achieve 2nd runner-up status, further solidifying the team's reputation in this challenging sport.   The Water Polo competition on 1 December 2024 saw the Men’s Water Polo Team emerge as Champion, marking a significant triumph for the team. Individual awards were also earned, with CHING Tsz Shun, a Hospitality Management student, being named Top Scorer, and YUEN Ting Lun, an Applied Biology with Biotechnology student, receiving the Most Valuable Player award.   As the second phase of the Competitions approaches, anticipation builds for further noteworthy achievements from our dedicated student-athletes. Best of luck to all teams! 

Ceremony Luncheon Celebrates Outstanding Contributions and Welcomes New Members

The Ceremony Luncheon for the Outstanding Contribution Award and the welcoming of new team members of the PolyU Student Flag Raising Team took place on 20 November 2024 at Bistro 1979. Forty participants gathered for this significant occasion, including Prof. Ben Young, Vice President (Student and Global Affairs), Prof. Albert Chan, Dean of Students, Prof. James Dai, Associate Dean of Students, Prof. Horace Mui, Master of CURI Residential College, Miss Joyce Cheung, Section Head (Student Resources and Support), the award recipients, and the new members of the PolyU Student Flag Raising Team. Officiating the ceremony, Prof. Young extended his warmest congratulations to the 17 students honoured with the Outstanding Contributions Award. He praised their commitment, recognising the considerable effort they dedicated to practising and performing flag-raising ceremonies amidst their demanding academic schedules. Prof. Young expressed his hope that the team would continue to embody the values of discipline, teamwork, and patriotism. Following his remarks, Prof. Young and Prof. Chan presented certificates to the award recipients, acknowledging their exceptional contributions to the PolyU Student Flag Raising Team and highlighting their dedication and passion for the Motherland. Pan Xi, the first prize recipient of the Outstanding Contributions Award, expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the unwavering support from the Student Affairs Office and his fellow team members in his vote of thanks. The ceremony concluded with closing remarks from Prof. Dai, who invited awardees and new members to join in singing “Ode to the Motherland” 《 歌唱祖國》, celebrating their shared love for the nation. This event not only recognised individual achievements but also reinforced the commitment to patriotism within the student body and the broader PolyU community.  

Student Representatives of University Committees and Institutional Services 2024/2025

Student engagement in university governance is facilitated across all aspects, from catering services to health and safety, from culture promotion to student development and affairs, from university health and dental services to campus development and facilities, from academic registry services to library services, and so on. The Student Development Section, SAO, coordinated the selection of student members to serve on University committees, as well as the appointment of student representatives to provide valuable inputs from student perspectives towards institutional services. The 2024/2025 Student Representative Application and Selection Exercise took place at the beginning of the new academic year, with 3 SAO panel interviews held on 16 and 17 October 2024. From among over 100 applications, including 74 undergraduates and 30 postgraduates, 68 students competed for 23 positions. Through group discussions on user experience and sharing views on various university facilities and services, students demonstrated their abilities in communication and problem-solving, as well as their passion for bridging student voices to the University.  The 19 students selected have been appointed to serve as student representatives for a one-year term from 1 November 2024 to 31 October 2025. The appointed student representatives came together with the elected student members of the Council, the Senate and its Committees for an engaging Induction cum Luncheon with the PolyU President on 13 November 2024. The programme, jointly hosted with the Academic Registry, featured practical information from the Assistant Secretary to the Council, the Registrar, and the Secretary to the Senate. During the induction, students networked with committee secretaries and staff members of institutional services, fostering connections within the university community. The induction session concluded with the closing remarks by the Acting Dean of Students. Congratulations on their appointment, the student representatives were invited to a luncheon with the PolyU President and Vice President (Global and Student Affairs) for insightful interactions and a rich exchange of innovative ideas. This event marked the start of their term, where these student representatives will play a crucial role in representing their peers and influencing university decisions.  

PolyU students win gold medal in iGEM Competition 2024 with novel dual-targeting nanobody to overcome drug resistance in pancreatic cancer cells

A team of students from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has won a gold medal and been listed among the top 10 undergraduate teams at the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) 2024 Grand Jamboree held in Paris. They also received dual nominations for Best Oncology Project and Best New Composite Part. Centred on the development of a novel dual-targeting nanobody to address gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer patients, the winning project demonstrated exceptional potential for advancing innovation in cancer treatment and research, as well as broader application in synthetic biology. Pancreatic cancer has a higher mortality rate than many other major cancers and is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Hong Kong. Traditional treatments face challenges such as lack of targeted therapies and the low efficiency of chemotherapy and radiotherapy due to drug resistance, particularly to gemcitabine, a standard chemo-therapeutic agent. This is indicative of a concerning trend of decreasing sensitivity to first-line treatments for early-stage pancreatic cancer. The PolyU team has developed a novel strategy to overcome this treatment challenge. Through bioinformatic analysis, they identified two crucial cell surface receptors, namely EGFR and HER2, which significantly correlate with tumour growth and resistance to gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer. Based on these findings, the team designed “Panobody”, a dual-targeting nanobody that can specifically block EGFR and HER2 and their signalling pathways. Subsequent experiments on Panobody, both used alone and in combination with gemcitabine, verified its effectiveness in inhibiting pancreatic cancer cell growth and even increasing their responsiveness to gemcitabine therapy. Competing with 195 undergraduate teams from around the world, the interdisciplinary team of 11 students from the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology and the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering spent eight months in rigorous laboratory work and comprehensive project development, while also consulting prominent clinical experts with extensive experience in pancreatic cancer treatment. Additionally, they conducted various innovative public engagement initiatives to promote awareness about pancreatic cancer, including creating an interactive educational game, setting up community booths and collaborating with the Hong Kong Cancer Fund for charity donation. The team was under the guidance of Prof. Terence LEE, Associate Head and Professor of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology and other experts at PolyU. Prof. Lee applauded the team’s dedication to both scientific excellence and public engagement, and remarked, “This outstanding result not only recognises the high quality, impact and ingenuity of their work, but also highlights PolyU’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of biotechnology leaders.” The iGEM Competition, established by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2004, is an annual, worldwide synthetic biology event aimed at undergraduate university students, as well as high school and graduate students. The Competition challenges participants to address real-world problems by designing, building, testing and measuring a system of their own design using interchangeable biological parts and standard molecular biology techniques. For more details about the winning project, please visit: https://2024.igem.wiki/hkpolyu/   Press release: English Chinese   Online coverage: Wen Wei Po