Grand opening of City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan)

City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan), hereinafter referred to as “(CityUHK (Dongguan)”, held its Grand Opening Ceremony today, 2 September. Participating in person to share this joyous occasion were Central government officials, other officials from mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), senior management from the Council, Court and Senate of CityUHK, senior management of CityUHK (Dongguan), students and parents. Today also marks the first school day of CityUHK (Dongguan).

Presiding over the ceremony are The Honourable CY Leung, Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC); Mr Zhang Shao Kang, Vice-Governor of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province; Mr Xiao Yafei, Secretary of the CPC Dongguan Municipal Committee; Mr Liang Weidong, member of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the CPPCC and Director of the Economic Committee; Mr Lyu Chengxi, Mayor of the Dongguan Municipal Government; Mr Chen Wei, Deputy Director of the Fourth Bureau of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council; Ms Zhou Li, Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges, Minister of Education of the People’s Republic of China; Ms Wu Cheng, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs, Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; Mr Feng Wei, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Education of Guangdong Province; Mr Jeff Sze Chun-fai, Under Secretary for Education, HKSAR Government; Professor James Tang, Secretary-General of the University Grants Committee, HKSAR Government; Mr Lin Hai Chuan, Chairman of Guangdong Great River Group Co., Ltd.; Mr Zhang Ximin, Vice Chairman of Chengzhi Shareholding Co., Ltd.. They were warmly welcomed by Dr Chung Shui-ming, Pro-Chancellor of CityUHK; Mr Lester Garson Huang, CityUHK Council Chairman; Professor Freddy Boey, CityUHK President; Professor Duan Baoyan, President of CityUHK (Dongguan); Professor Lu Chun, Executive President of CityUHK (Dongguan); and Professor Ma Hongwei, President of Dongguan University of Technology.

During his speech, Mr Leung expressed his honor in attending the opening ceremony of CityUHK (Dongguan), highlighting that CityUHK is a leading comprehensive university. He quoted the ancient Chinese saying, 'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,' noting that the opening of CityUHK (Dongguan) marks a new realm, a new high point, and a new milestone in the cooperation between Dongguan and Hong Kong. He expressed his hope that CityUHK (Dongguan) will continue to nurture talent from both regions and promote educational development in Guangdong and Hong Kong.

The Honourable John Lee Ka-chiu, Chief Executive of the HKSAR and CityUHK Chancellor, joined the Grand Opening Ceremony via a pre-recorded video. “The establishment of CityUHK (Dongguan) is a remarkable achievement resulting from collaboration between Dongguan and Hong Kong and marking new heights for the two cities in advancing higher education collaboration in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). CityUHK (Dongguan) will introduce the academic standards of CityUHK and is committed to ‘Innovating into the Future’ in its talent development initiatives.” Mr Lee expressed confidence that CityUHK (Dongguan) would instil vibrancy in building a talent hub in the GBA and developing an international innovation and technology centre, providing talent and innovative support for the country’s high-quality development.

On the occasion of CityUHK’s 30th anniversary, Mr Huang described the approval of the establishment of CityUHK (Dongguan) in 2024 as a sign that good things come in pairs. “Universities are vital sources for nurturing talent, creating new knowledge and driving innovation, which are essential for social and economic development. CityUHK (Dongguan) will gather global wisdom and resources to cultivate future leaders and changemakers, promote high-quality development in the GBA, and address global challenges through the collaborative efforts of academia, industry and the research sector.” he said.

President Boey stated that the establishment of CityUHK (Dongguan) is an important milestone. “As with CityUHK, CityUHK (Dongguan) will foster an educational environment that is inspiring, interactive, and innovative. We will build an open interdisciplinary platform to nurture innovative and international talent in our students, enabling them to contribute to the needs of national and GBA development.” President Boey also delivered the inaugural lecture at CityUHK (Dongguan) on the first day of the academic year, welcoming new students and encouraging them to actively explore the world, maintain their curiosity, and fully enjoy university life.

Professor Hesheng Chen, Senior Fellow at the Hong Kong Institute for Advanced Study of CityUHK, addressed the students at the inauguration ceremony as the representative of the faculty. “CityUHK in Songshan Lake is of great significance to Dongguan’s scientific and technological innovation and talent cultivation.” He believes CityUHK (Dongguan) will leverage the advantages of the China Spallation Neutron Source to complement each other and develop together, making a significant contribution to the construction of the Comprehensive National Science Center in the GBA.

Wang Yaxuan, an undergraduate student representative from CityUHK (Dongguan), expressed her eagerness to learn from professors at the ‘Most International University in the World’ to enhance her global perspective and understanding. Wang Shangfei, a postgraduate student representative from CityUHK (Dongguan) and a graduate of Peking University with a major in Computer Science and Technology, noted that CityUHK (Dongguan), located in the vibrant and innovative GBA, offers students new perspectives and opportunities.

In early 2020, the Dongguan Municipal People’s Government, CityUHK, and Dongguan University of Technology signed an agreement to jointly establish CityUHK (Dongguan). In June 2022, the Ministry of Education approved the preparation for its establishment; and on 16 April 2024, the Ministry of Education officially approved the establishment of CityUHK (Dongguan). This significant milestone marks a new chapter in higher education cooperation within the GBA and further solidifies CityUHK’s leading position in innovative education and talent development.

CityUHK (Dongguan) is strategically located in the Songshan Lake High-Tech Industrial Development Zone (Science City), near national-level scientific laboratories, high-tech research and development institutions and enterprises, which will inject fresh vitality into the development of higher education in Dongguan. CityUHK (Dongguan) covers an area of 482,000 square meters and is being constructed in two phases; the first phase is now in operation.

CityUHK (Dongguan) aims to promote interdisciplinary development and industrial transformation and to fill the gaps in cutting-edge technologies, focusing on fields such as computer science, artificial intelligence and data science, advanced electronic information, biomedical engineering, smart manufacturing, advanced materials, renewable energy and the digital economy.

For the first cohort, the University offers four undergraduate programmes – (1) computer science and technology, (2) intelligent manufacturing engineering, (3) materials science and engineering, and (4) energy and power engineering – and six master’s programmes: (1) computer science, (2) engineering management, (3) materials engineering and nanotechnology, (4) business information systems, (5) data science, and (6) electronic information engineering.

CityUHK (Dongguan) enrolled students from 10 provinces in 2024: Guangdong, Beijing, Sichuan, Fujian, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Yunnan, Guangxi, Hubei and Henan. All admitted students have Gaokao scores that qualify them for admission to universities in Project 985 in their respective provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions. Some students have scored at the level required for admission to the C9 League*.

*Remarks: The C9 League is the first alliance of public universities in mainland China, established in October 2009. Members of the C9 league are Tsinghua University, Peking University, Zhejiang University, Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Nanjing University, Xi’an Jiaotong University, University of Science and Technology of China, and Harbin Institute of Technology.