The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) officially opened its first fall semester in Guangzhou's Nansha District on September 1. Presidents of many well-known universities around the globe, business leaders, long-term partners and founding members of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) attended the opening ceremony in person or via metaverse.
Wu Jiawei, founding president of HKUST, and Ni Mingxuan, founding president of HKUST Guangzhou, completed the handover of a torch in the virtual metaverse space.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also participated online in the ceremony. Former Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and other guests, as well as hundreds of teachers and students of HKUST, witnessed the official opening via video link.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu delivers a speech via video link. (Photo provided to Newsgd.com)
Overseas guests attended the event in the virtual metaverse space. (Photo provided to Newsgd.com)
The founding of HKUST Guangzhou is a significant milestone in the history of HKUST, and marks the formal entry into "HKUST 2.0" era.
"This is an innovative practice to promote the development of 'one country, two systems' and a new exploration of educational cooperation between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland cities," said Ni Mingxuan, president of HKUST Guangzhou. "We will adopt a 'hub-like' academic structure which will replace the traditional notion of defined departments to help promote the cross-integration of disciplines and to vigorously develop emerging and frontier disciplines."
Ni extended a warm welcome to 545 freshmen and 456 faculty members during his speech. He hopes the university can undertake its mission to cultivate new talent for the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Ni Mingxuan, president of HKUST Guangzhou. (Photo provided to Newsgd.com)
"The reason why I finally chose HKUST Guangzhou is that it integrates high-quality education resources of the Chinses mainland and Hong Kong," Zhang Yujia, a doctoral freshman in the field of urban governance and design, said at the ceremony. "It has an open and relaxed academic atmosphere, innovative and high-standard talent cultivation concepts, and well-known professors with compound academic backgrounds, as well as advanced scientific research facilities, all of which are deeply attracted to me."
Zhang Yujia, a doctoral freshman in the field of urban governance and design. (Photo provided to Newsgd.com)
After the opening ceremony, HKUST Guangzhou held a symposium on "Challenges of Cross-disciplinary Talent Cultivation". Several academicians exchanged views on how to train creative and cross-disciplinary talent.
Author: Ariel
Editor: Wing, Steven, Monica, Will, Jerry
