The Graduation Ceremony for Bachelor Degree Graduates 2024 was held in Liwen Hall on 19 May, 2024.
Members of the Governing Board, President Xu Yangsheng, university officers， and faculty representatives witnessed 1,671 graduates of the Class of 2024 complete their studies and embark on a new journey.
Professor Yuen Kwok-yung — renowned microbiologist, infectious diseases expert, and member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering — delivered a keynote speech. Over 3,000 parents and friends of the graduates from across the country, as well as international guests and friends of the graduates, gathered on campus to celebrate the occasion together.
2024 marks the 10th anniversary of CUHK(SZ). Before the start of the graduation ceremony, the students uniformly placed a 10th anniversary commemorative badge on chest, wishing the University another decade of brilliance and success.
To recognise students who have demonstrated excellent performance, exceptional leadership, and significant contributions to the University’s development during their studies, Professor Xu Yangsheng, President of CUHK(SZ), presented the “Presidential Awards for Outstanding Students” to 18 undergraduates.
President Xu Yangsheng:
Always maintain a heart of benevolence, a thirst for knowledge, and sense of public duty.
In his speech, President Xu congratulated all the graduates. He wished them well as they journey into the world, carrying with them the precious friendships, academic curiosity, spirit of exploration, respect for and understanding of diversity, and appreciation of beauty they have gained during this journey.
President Xu affectionately said: “Life is a vast and magnificent river, with its tides ebbing and flowing endlessly. Today, we have ferried you to this point,and now we must say goodbye. The road ahead is long, and you must walk it on your own. No matter where you go or how far you travel, when you look back, there will always be a light shining here, waiting for your return. Here is your alma mater, your spiritual home. We will always be here, offering you blessings, strength, and the faith and courage for you to sail through stormy seas! Dear graduates, the future belongs to you! I wish you all the best!”
Professor Yuen Kwok-yung:
Curiosity breeds innovation; logic sets pathways; perseverance brings fruition; but only love endures
During his speech, Professor Yuen Kwok-yung — academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, renowned microbiologist, and infectious disease expert — recalled his graduation in 1981 and emphasised that it was a good opportunity for reflecting on the past and planning a new chapter in life.
Professor Yuen then shared his journey in scientific research, particularly in emerging infectious diseases such as H5N1 avian influenza. He recounted unexpected support — including encouragement from Nobel laureate, Professor Joshua Lederburg — that further strengthened his determination to conduct research in the field. He emphasised the predictive nature of scientific research and used SARS and COVID-19 as examples to illustrate the importance of following scientific rules and rigorously preparing for scientific research.
Professor Yuen summarised maxims for his life and career: ” Curiosity breeds innovation; logic sets pathways; perseverance brings fruition; but only love endures.” He encouraged graduates to face competition and change by persisting in innovation and global cooperation, finding inner peace and strength with sincerity and passion.
According to the statistics, among the graduating class of CUHK(SZ), 85% intend to pursue further studies. Most of these students have already received admission offers from prestigious universities around the world, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, Harvard University, Imperial College London, ETH Zurich, the National University of Singapore, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Chicago, the University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, the California Institute of Technology, Yale University, Princeton University, Columbia University, and the University of Michigan. Approximately 15% intend to enter the workforce directly, with some students having received job offers from well-known domestic and international companies such as Citibank, China Merchants Bank, Ping An Insurance, Ant Group, Byte Dance, Taobao, Alibaba, Huawei, JD.com, PDD Holdings, SF Express, Tencent, Procter & Gamble, and L’Oréal.
