【Prelaunch】Innovating into the Future: 30 Years of CityUHK's Impactful Engagement

Depending on one’s perspective, 30 years may or may not be a long period of time. Regardless, it is a relatively short time in which to develop a university, especially one as vibrant and cutting edge as City University of Hong Kong. Seven years ago in 2018, I was appointed Council Chairman, which is an even shorter time. In that time, CityUHK has continued to achieve great heights and worldwide recognition.

We have risen in well-accepted global metrics like university rankings and researcher citations. We have expanded our academic offerings and community outreach, while providing greater support for groundbreaking research and prize-winning developments. Internally, we have fostered good governance and strategic planning for an even brighter future.

Although the road has at times been bumpy, today CityUHK stands stronger than ever. It is an institution providing a holistic education, dedicated to innovation and creativity, so that students can enjoy successful academic and professional careers for the betterment of society.

This is an outlook that I fully support, one that I have embraced in my own life. I truly believe that frequent reflection aiming for continuous improvement, with humility and integrity, enables us to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves, others, and the world around us. Only then can we focus our actions to make the greatest lasting impact.

My sincere thanks to everyone involved in the organisation and preparations for CityUHK’s 30th anniversary celebrations, including this publication.

I would also like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to my colleagues on the Council for their hard work through the years. Most importantly, I want to commend our students, alumni, faculty, and staff— they are everything that makes CityUHK what it is today, filled with even greater potential for the future.

Although my time as Council Chairman at CityUHK will end this year, I cherish participating in the milestone anniversary commemorations. I will treasure all the memories that I have made in the past seven years, and I look forward with high expectations to admiring what lies ahead.

Lester Garson Huang, SBS, JP
Council Chairman of the City University of Hong Kong