News and Achievements

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

President’s Sharing Session with Students of the 2024/25 Academic Year

To strengthen the dialogue between students and the University’s Management, the first President’s Sharing Session with Students of the 2024/25 academic year was held on 24 October 2024. Over 100 students actively participated, engaging in meaningful discussions with University leadership. The session offered an invaluable opportunity for students to connect directly with the Senior Management Team, sharing their perspectives and posing questions. President Jin-Guang Teng kicked off the event with an informative presentation on the latest developments and initiatives at the University. Following this, Vice President (Student and Global Affairs) Prof. Ben Young provided valuable insights into the wide array of student support services and resources available at PolyU. The session concluded with an engaging Q&A session, allowing management to address students’ inquiries. Key concerns included campus facilities, dining options, accommodation, and academic-related matters, providing a valuable platform for open communication and understanding student experiences while addressing their challenges.  

Congratulations to the PolyU athletes for their outstanding performance in the 2024 "Nike University Elite Challenge" Marathon Road Relay

Congratulations to the PolyU athletes for their outstanding performance in the 2024 "Nike University Elite Challenge" Marathon Road Relay, clinching the championship among the challenge elite university teams and sweeping the individual men's titles in the 4km and 5km legs.   The PolyU team, composed of five male and five female student athletes, travelled all the way to Shanghai on 28th Sep for the competition. They passed the baton through 10 legs, sprinting a total of 42 kilometres around the stadium, ultimately outpacing five other challenge elite university teams to seize the championship. Notably, CHAN King-hei and TSE Chun-yin won the Overall Men's Individual Champion in the 4km leg and 5km leg respectively. The unity and determination embodied by all 10 student athletes were truly commendable. Once again, congratulations to everyone!  More details: PolyU Facebook PolyU Instagram PolyU LinkedIn PolyU Twitter  

A thousand PolyU members and guests attend flag-raising ceremony to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today held a flag-raising ceremony on campus to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. PolyU’s Council Chairman Dr LAM Tai-fai, President Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, Deputy Council Chairman Dr Lawrence LI Kwok-chang, University Court Chairman Dr Katherine NGAN, Honorary Court Chairman Dr Roy CHUNG Chi-ping, President Emeritus Prof. the Honourable POON Chung-kwong, Ms ZHOU Qian, Director-General of the Department of Treaty and Law, Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR, together with Council and Court members, University senior management, University Fellows, Outstanding Alumni, members of the PolyU Foundation and close to 1,000 distinguished guests, staff, students and alumni joined the ceremony, wishing prosperity and stability for the Nation. The ceremony was performed by the PolyU Student Flag-Raising Team. Dr Lam Tai-fai, PolyU’s Chairman of Council remarked, “The 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China is a significant milestone in the Nation’s development and a year of great importance. As a global top 100 institution, PolyU will unite its efforts, leveraging its solid foundation to support the development of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area into an international innovation and technology centre and a talent hub.  We will capitalise on the advantages of the principle of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ to contribute to the high-quality development of the Nation for a glorious future.” Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, PolyU’s President said, “Over the 75 years since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Nation has made remarkable achievements, especially with numerous breakthroughs in science and technology. Aspiring to be an innovative world-class university, PolyU is dedicated to nurturing socially responsible professionals and leaders with a strong sense of national pride and a global perspective, pursuing world-leading research and innovation for the benefit of Hong Kong, the Nation and the world.” Press release: English Chinese   Online coverage: Ming Pao Daily News am730 Ta Kung Pao Wen Wei Po Hong Kong Commercial Daily HK01 Hong Kong China News Agency China News Service ifeng.com Today Commercial News Sina 千龍網  

Empowering Tomorrow's Talent: Government Career Fair 2024 at PolyU

In collaboration with the Careers and Placement Section of the Student Affairs Office (SAO CPS) and the Civil Service Bureau of the HKSAR Government, the "Government Career Fair 2024" was successfully held on 26 September. The Fair featured the participation of 30 government bureaux and departments, showcasing over 50 civil service grades. The event provided PolyU students with an invaluable opportunity to explore potential career pathways within the HKSAR Government and public service.  We were honoured to welcome distinguished guest, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, Secretary for the Civil Service, accompanied by Prof. Ben Young, Vice President (Student and Global Affairs), who visited the Fair and had sharings with PolyU students. They interacted with students at the booths and participated in a panel sharing session, eager to understand students’ career aspirations and provide valuable insights. Enthusiastic students expressed a strong desire to contribute to the HKSAR Government after graduation. Mrs Yeung encouraged them to prepare themselves early, grasp this opportunity to understand the entry requirements and the work of different grades in the Government, fostering a collective effort towards a brighter future for Hong Kong. The Fair facilitated invaluable connections between students and current civil service officers. Several bureaux and departments also conducted career talks. By forging connections and gaining insights into civil service roles, students were empowered to deepen their understanding and envision their futures in public service.  #PolyU is dedicated to fostering students’ holistic development, enhancing their professional skills, and encouraging early career planning. The SAO CPS is committed to equipping PolyU students for their future careers by launching initiatives such as the “INSPIRE” Mentorship Programme, campus recruitment events, training workshops, and career advising, facilitating PolyU students in preparing well for success in their future workplaces. More details: Press Release from HKSARG PolyU Facebook PolyU Instagram PolyU LinkedIn PolyU Twitter SAO Instagram   Online coverage: RTHK Bastille Post Hong Kong Economic Journal Wen Wei Po Hong Kong Commercial Daily Dot Dot News Yahoo HK Sina HK ifeng.com