The High Table Dinner cum Dean of Students Talk Series 2023/24
The High Table Dinner cum Dean of Students Talk Series, held on April 8 at Hotel ICON, brought together over 300 students, guests, and senior management was a resounding success.
The evening began with a warm welcome from President Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, followed by a speech from Mr Charles Li, Founder and Chairman of Micro Connect, former CEO of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, and PolyU Honorary Doctorate recipient in 2023. During his talk, 'Developing A More Economically Inclusive Finance Market', Mr Li shared some profound insights. This was complemented by a captivating classical performance from PolyU Orchestra violinists, and a video showcasing PolyU's intercultural integration.
Approximately 270 students from various departments attended, with 44% being international students from 22 countries, reflecting PolyU's diverse and inclusive academic community. This grand occasion allowed students to engage with influential speakers over fine dining and immerse themselves in the musical entertainment.
EAGLE Global Youth Leadership Programme
EAGLE Global Youth Leadership Programme is a comprehensive leadership training programme that provides holistic learning opportunities for students. The Programme aims to nurture all-around global youth leaders by offering a range of engaging activities, including workshops, training camps and offshore trips. Over 200 students joined the EAGLE programme in the past academic year.
In May 2024, 23 students in EAGLE the Adventurers embarked on transformative expeditions to expand their global perspectives and drive positive change by travelling to Kathmandu, Nepal, collaborating with local students and the community on initiatives aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This experience ignited personal growth, fostered cross-cultural exchange and empowered the young leaders to make a lasting impact. Additionally, in July 2024, 11 students in EAGLE the Explorers visited Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for an offshore expedition focused on sustainable development. This immersive experience further developed their global and national outlooks, while nurturing their passion for leadership and driving positive transformation.
Amigos Global Peer Support Scheme
“Amigos Global Peer Support Scheme” was designed to assist non-local first-year students at PolyU in navigating university life and establishing meaningful connections with their senior peers. Through peer support and interaction, first-year students are paired with senior students from the same faculty, department or with similar interests.
In the previous academic year, over 1,160 members, including more than 900 non-local students joined Amigos. Over 480 students took part in the various big functions organised by Amigos, such as the “Amigos Meet-up”, “Global Amigos Camp”, “Amigos Tour”, “Amigos Christmas Ball” etc. These events aimed to expand the participants' horizons, develop their intercultural competence, strengthen their self-understanding and deepen their understanding of PolyU.
The Scheme also strives to strengthen national unity and improve interpersonal communication skills through these social interactive opportunities, which are particularly valuable in the post-pandemic era.
Student Leaders’ Greater Bay Area and Overseas Learning Trip
The seven-day Greater Bay Area and Overseas Learning Trip held in August 2023 was an eye-opening experience for the 24 student leaders of affiliated student organisations from diverse backgrounds.
Their learning journey could not have been so rewarding without the help of our Outstanding Alumni Awardee cum University Fellow Mr Liu Sing-cheong, JP. His rich connections with Greater Bay Area (GBA) enterprises widened student leaders’ horizons and helped them discover opportunities in the GBA. The itinerary advanced student competitiveness through participants hearing the success stories of remarkable entrepreneurs. From the entrepreneurial sharing by another Outstanding Alumni Awardee Dr the Hon Johnny NG Kit-chong, MH, JP, our student leaders were motivated to seize opportunities by determinedly pursuing their dreams.
Nurturing students’ global perspective was a core objective of the learning trip. The PolyU delegation interacted with the student affairs management of the National University of Singapore and student organisation leaders at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Student leaders gained insight to dream big and act boldly.
Cultural Night Series
The Cultural Night Series 2023/24 was a dazzling celebration that thrilled students from across the globe. Over the course of five fantastic nights, more than 750 local and non-local students happily mingled, bonding over shared experiences as they sampled cultural delicacies, swayed to the rhythm of traditional dances and competed in fun games. Laughter filled the air as new friendships blossomed and a spirit of discovery took hold.
Beyond the festivities, the Series promoted cross-cultural understanding, with participants gaining insights into diverse traditions and making meaningful connections that crossed borders. Our non-local student associations exercised their creativity and presented this Series to champion cultural exchange and student integration. The transformed campus buzzed with an international energy, where differences were celebrated and common ground was found, enriching PolyU's multicultural ambience and nurturing a spirit of global
citizenship.
