Sino Group Sponsors the Grand Challenges Scholars Program to Support CityU
Students in Addressing the Most Important Engineering Problems in the World
The CityU X Sino Grand Challenges Scholars Program (the Program), which acknowledges the patronage of the Sino Group, supports 160 engineering and science students at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) in receiving training and mentorship by industry leaders, attending overseas summits, and undertaking summer research projects from 2021 to 2025 to address the most important engineering problems in the world.
The Grand Challenges Scholars Program is initiated by the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) in the US and supported by a donation of around HK$1 million from the Sino Group to CityU. The Program prepares students to apply knowledge for the needs of society, especially in areas such as sustainability, health, security, and joy of living, through five key components: research experience, interdisciplinary curriculum, entrepreneurship, global dimension, and service-learning.
A sharing session was held earlier by CityU with representatives from Sino Group invited to exchange ideas with students who participated in the Program. Guests including Mr Andrew Young, Associate Director (Innovation), Sino Group; Ms Vivian Lee, Group General Manager (Corporate Marketing & Communications), Sino Group; Professor Matthew Lee Kwok-on, Vice-President (Development and External Relations); Ms Kathy Chan Yin-ling, Associate Vice-President (Development and Alumni Relations); Professor Daniel Ho Wing-cheong, Former Director of the Program and Associate Dean (Undergraduate Education), College of Science; and Dr Andy Chan Hau-ping, Director of the Program and Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering attended the sharing session.
Students shared their learning experiences and outcomes after joining the Program. “The opportunity offered by the Program is interdisciplinary. I am aware of how engineering solutions may contribute to social issues like containing infectious diseases and rehabilitating disabilities. I also have the chance to integrate my computational techniques into engineering knowledge to solve problems related to infrastructure under the guidance of professional engineers,” said Wijaya Ignatius Alvin, a fresh graduate from the Department of Mathematics and the Gold Awardee of the Program in 2021.
Mr Young said, “Sino Group is delighted to support this meaningful program organised by CityU to encourage engineering and science students in pursuit of profound knowledge and trailblazing solutions to address the pressing engineering issues in the world. This echoes with our vision of ‘Creating Better Lifescapes’, through empowering our community, especially the younger generation, to work together towards a more sustainable future. I look forward to seeing more students benefit from the Program in the years to come, taking on a fruitful journey of innovation and technology, while fulfilling their personal aspirations.”
On behalf of CityU, Professor Lee presented a terrarium with a mini ecosystem built by our student representatives. It symbolises the spirit of students using their creativity to build a better future.
信和集團贊助「大挑戰學者計劃」支持城大學生應對全球工程議題
香港城市大學（城大）獲信和集團贊助「城大X信和大挑戰學者計劃」，於2021至2025年間資助160位城大的理科及工科學生接受行業領袖的培訓及輔導、參與海外研討會，以及進行暑期研究項目，應對全球重要工程議題。
大挑戰學者計劃由美國國家工程院創立，並獲信和集團贊助約100萬港元，讓城大通過研究體驗、跨學科課程、創業能力、環球層面及服務學習五大範疇，培養學生應用知識，以在可持續發展、醫療健康、安全及愉快生活方面解決社會所需。
城大於早前舉行分享會，邀請信和集團代表與參加計劃的學生進行交流，出席嘉賓包括信和集團創新聯席董事楊孟璋先生、信和集團企業市務及傳訊部集團總經理李玲鳳女士、城大副校長（發展及對外關係）李國安教授、協理副校長（發展及校友聯絡）陳燕玲女士、前計劃統籌主任兼理學院副院長（本科生教育）何永昌教授，以及計劃統籌主任兼電機工程學系副教授陳孝平博士。
學生於分享會中分享參與計劃的得著。獲得本計劃2021年度金獎的數學系應屆畢業生Wijaya Ignatius Alvin表示︰「此活動讓我有機會應用跨學科知識，令我明白工程學如何能夠解決社會問題，例如控制傳染病及協助傷健人士康復。在專業工程師指導下，我學習到如何將自己的運算知識應用到工程學上，解決有關基建的問題。」
楊先生指：「信和集團很高興支持城大舉辦這個別具意義的計劃，鼓勵工程和科學系的學生大膽創新、力求新知，以應對世界各地工程界面對的挑戰。集團以『建構更美好生活』為願景，是項計劃正是藉著年輕人為社會增添力量，攜手共創可持續發展的未來。我期望將來有更多學生從計劃中獲益，踏上充實的創新科技之路，實現他們的個人抱負。」
李教授代表大學向楊先生致送一盆由學生代表親自設計的微型生態系統盆景，代表他們運用創意，共同建設美好將來的精神。
