The Graduation Ceremony for the Class of 2025 bachelor’s degree students of CUHK(SZ) was held on 18 May, at Liwen Hall. Over 1,600 graduates gathered to celebrate this major milestone, embarking on a journey filled with dreams and aspirations.
Professor Xu Yangsheng, President of CUHK(SZ), along with university officers and faculty representatives, attended the ceremony to witness this proud moment for the 2025 cohort. Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chairman of the Governing Board of CUHK(SZ), and Vice-Chancellor of CUHK, as well as Professor Gao Wen, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, member of CUHK(SZ) Governing Board, and Director of Peng Cheng Laboratory, delivered keynote speeches. Professor Chai Yat-chiu, Chairman of CUHK Council, and Professors Chunshan Song and Jie Tang, members of CUHK(SZ) Governing Board, also attended the ceremony.
During the ceremony, inspiring speeches and heartfelt messages were delivered by Professor Dennis Lo, Professor Wen Gao, President Xu Yangsheng, and outstanding student representative Xu Yiling. They shared their experiences, wisdom, and encouragement, urging graduates to seize opportunities, embrace challenges, and realise their values and dreams in the vast expanse of the world.
In his speech at the Graduation Ceremony, Professor Dennis Lo commended CUHK(SZ) for its remarkable achievements over the past decade since its establishment. He also emphasised the strong collaboration between CUHK and CUHK(SZ) under the “One Brand, Two Campuses” framework, which has driven impactful initiatives to support national development. He emphasised the launch of impactful initiatives aimed at supporting national development, including the introduction of collaborative double major programmes that provide students with diverse learning opportunities and exposure to both Hong Kong and Shenzhen, as well as the “1+1+1” Joint Collaboration Fund Project in partnership with the Guangdong Science and Technology Department, which establishes a seed funding pool to support meaningful research, platform-building, and the cultivation of young scholars.
Facing the complexities of a rapidly changing world, Professor Lo urged graduates to navigate the challenges brought by technological advancements with critical thinking and clear goals.
“On global issues that demand our human attention, such as the ravages of wars. We’re talking about world peace, the imminent climate crisis, and the imperative for a sustainable world. Think globally, and yet act locally, because no action is too small when it comes to impacting the world positively. You may find that, at the end of the day, the education you have received at CUHK(SZ) will provide you with an edge to ride out the tides.”
In his address, Professor Xu Yangsheng highly commended the growth and achievements of this year’s graduating class. Reflecting on the context of the times, he urged the graduates to seize the opportunities presented by this transformative era, realise their values and dreams, and embark on their future journeys with a grounded approach.
He encouraged the graduates to embrace challenges with courage and persevere with resilience, striving to become bridges that connect China with the world.
“As you venture forth to workplaces and graduate schools all over the globe, you will meet conflicts in many forms, between individuals, between value systems, and between different visions of the future. It’s easy to be carried away by narratives of opposition. But it’s harder and more courageous to learn across divides and seek common ground. You will represent China on the global stage in science, business, arts, ethics, and social services. You will also represent China through your conduct, your etiquette, your cultural awareness, and your willingness to engage in open, respectful dialogue. To connect with others through true understanding and meaningful communication is a profound challenge. I want you to be prepared for that challenge. We cannot foresee how far away global reconciliation may be, but I encourage you to heal the divides at personal levels by becoming bridge-builders. I encourage you to explore ways of competition without excluding collaboration.”
