On June 22, the 2026 Graduation Ceremony and Degree Conferral Ceremony of City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan) was solemnly held at City University of Hong Kong.

As a vivid demonstration of the "Two Universities, One Standard" educational model, over 420 graduates from City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan) received degrees awarded by City University of Hong Kong, thus embarking on a new chapter of their lives. Distinguished guests including Mr. Leung Chun-ying, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC); Ms. Li Jun, Deputy Mayor of Dongguan City; Mr. Chen Yulin, Director of the Innovation, Science and Technology, and Higher Education Section of the Education and Technology Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Mr. Raymond Wai Man Ng, Chairman of the Court of City University of Hong Kong; Professor Li Zhensheng, Acting President of City University of Hong Kong and Chairman of the Board of Governors of City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan); Professor Duan Baoyan, President of City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan) and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; and Professor Lu Chun, Executive President of City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan) and Vice President of City University of Hong Kong, joined numerous other guests from government, academia, and industry, as well as family and friends of the graduates, to witness this historic moment.

Mr. Leung Chun-ying, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC: Embrace the Nation, Look to the World, and Lead the Times

Mr. Leung pointed out that City University of Hong Kong is a world-class university; since China’s reform and opening-up, collaboration between Hong Kong and Dongguan has evolved from industrial cooperation to higher-level synergy, and the establishment of City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan) marks a new frontier and milestone in their joint efforts to integrate higher education with science and technology innovation. He emphasized that the university’s core strength lies in its internationalization—leveraging Hong Kong’s highly open university system and global networks while being firmly rooted in Dongguan’s complete industrial chain and innovative application scenarios, thereby forging a development path characterized by “high-level integration and global connectivity.” He urged graduates to embrace patriotism and global perspectives, cultivate shared global visions based on consultation, cooperation, and shared benefits, and enhance cross-cultural communication skills to take on responsibilities actively—not only in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area but also on broader international stages.

Vice Mayor Li Jun of Dongguan City: Finding Your Life’s Position within the Broader Context of Our Times

Vice Mayor Li Jun, representing the Dongguan Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, extended her congratulations to the inaugural cohort of master’s degree graduates. She noted that Hong Kong Metropolitan University (Dongguan) is a landmark initiative in higher education collaboration within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Dongguan has provided robust support in areas such as land allocation for campus development, scientific research collaboration, and campus infrastructure construction, thereby solidifying the “innovation–industry” value chain. As a pivotal city where advanced manufacturing and scientific innovation are deeply integrated within the GBA, Dongguan aligns closely with the academic specializations of these graduates. She encouraged students to actively integrate into and contribute to the nation’s overall development strategy, seize opportunities, find their life’s purpose within the broader context of our times, realize the full value of their youth, and make meaningful contributions to the development and construction of the Greater Bay Area.

Professor Benoît Vermander, Chairman of the Board of Governors of HKMU: Dare to Explore, Dare to Innovate—You Possess the Most Valuable ‘Dual Perspective’

Professor Wei Mingde shared recent achievements of City University of Hong Kong (CityU HK): it is the world’s only university ranked as the ‘Most International University in the World’ for three consecutive years by Times Higher Education (THE); ranked 47th globally in the U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities Rankings 2026–2027; and placed 52nd worldwide in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2027. Professor Wei emphasized that ‘One Quality, Two Campuses’ signifies not only alignment in academic standards but also deep-rooted continuity in educational philosophy and university ethos. The Class of 2026 are the first cohort of CityU HK graduates nurtured on the fertile ground of the Dongguan–Hong Kong collaboration—equally fluent in international norms and grounded in mainland realities, possessing the invaluable ‘dual perspective.’ He urged graduates to uphold CityU HK’s pioneering and innovative spirit throughout their lives.

Professor Li Zhensheng, Acting President of CityU HK and Chairman of CityU HK (Dongguan): ‘The future belongs not to those who are prepared—but to those who dare to pioneer.’

Starting from the word ‘city,’ Professor Li pointed out that universities are not ivory towers, but integral parts of urban fabric—and CityU HK is cultivating talent with interactive, cross-disciplinary thinking accordingly. He expressed his hope that graduates, wherever they may be, will walk alongside cities as co-creators—contributing to urban resilience, equity, and vitality. He encouraged graduates to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset: proactively creating opportunities amid uncertainty. ‘The future belongs not to those who are prepared—but to those who dare to pioneer.’ Professor Li stressed that being a founding alumnus is itself a responsibility: each graduate’s path becomes a beacon for those who follow. They are not merely graduates—they are lifelong partners of both institutions.

Professor Duan Baoyan, President of City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan) and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering: Graduates, you’ve made an excellent start

Opening his speech with the metaphor “Life is a journey; career is a long-distance race,” Professor Duan earnestly reminded graduates that getting off to a strong start is vital. He then offered four guiding principles for mutual encouragement: (1) identify the right entry point between ideals and reality; (2) strike a balance between hardship and enjoyment; (3) distinguish the key focus between intelligence and diligence; and (4) choose neutrality—neither over-celebrating success nor over-lamenting failure. Addressing the unprecedented global transformations unfolding in a century, Professor Duan encouraged graduates to become people of resilience, sound judgment, and calm composure—pursuing their life goals with the unwavering determination of Jingwei filling the sea, the passionate zeal of Kuafu chasing the sun, and the grand vision of Yu Gong moving mountains—so as to achieve the graceful transcendence symbolized by Chang’e flying to the moon.

The ceremony was hosted by Professor Lu Chun, Executive President of City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan).

Professor Yubin Pan, Chair Professor at City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan): A degree is not the end—but the beginning of a longer-term academic commitment

Speaking as a faculty representative, Professor Pan offered graduating students one final “academic trump card.” At its core lies the principle of “One Standard Across Two Campuses”: shared faculty resources, aligned course syllabi, and consistent teaching quality—common standards that transcend physical distance to connect the home campus with the wider world. Professor Pan reminded students: “A degree is not the end, but the beginning of a longer-term academic commitment.”

At the ceremony, Mr. Leung Chun-ying, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), presented certificates and commended the Top Ten Graduates. As the representative of these top graduates, Mr. Liheng Nie, a Master’s student in Computer Science, painted a collective portrait of the graduating cohort through his personal journey: from cutting-edge knowledge in the classroom to late-night explorations in laboratories and dormitories. He said those days were not easy—but they were authentic; it was precisely these challenges that formed the most unforgettable backdrop of graduate life. He has already received job offers from multiple companies, including opportunities in Hong Kong, and plans to launch his professional career from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area toward broader horizons.

Wei Mingde presented appointment letters to the first cohort of Alumni Liaison Ambassadors. The university selected 18 graduates from the Class of 2026 for this role, aiming to establish a long-term communication mechanism between alumni and their alma mater and to serve as a vital bridge connecting Dongguan and Hong Kong while integrating alumni resources.

During the degree conferral ceremony, student representatives from six programs—Materials Engineering and Nanotechnology, Electronic Information Engineering, Engineering Management, Computer Science, Data Science, and Business Information Systems—took the stage one by one to bow respectfully to President Duan Baoyan and pose for commemorative photos. This moment marked their official conferral of the Master of Science degree from City University of Hong Kong and symbolized the inaugural cohort of master’s graduates stepping out of campus toward frontline industries, cutting-edge research, and broader societal arenas.

As of now, the majority of the Class of 2026 master’s graduates have secured high-quality employment across large private enterprises, state-owned enterprises, multinational corporations, and research institutions—concentrated in several key industry sectors: leading technology companies (e.g., Huawei, Tencent, Alibaba, ByteDance, Meituan, JD.com, Baidu, Xiaomi, NetEase); advanced manufacturing and new energy firms (e.g., CATL, OPPO, ZTE); and prominent enterprises in telecommunications, energy, and finance (e.g., China Mobile, China Unicom, State Grid Corporation of China, China Merchants Bank Technology). Additionally, some graduates have taken up employment in Hong Kong under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG) visa; others have chosen to pursue further studies at prestigious universities worldwide—including Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), City University of Hong Kong, Fudan University, and Harbin Institute of Technology. A number of graduates have joined startups or embarked on entrepreneurial journeys through initiatives such as the ‘HK Tech 300 National Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition’.

Since its official approval and establishment in 2024, City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan) has achieved a remarkable leap—from initial setup to becoming a fully functional institution—in just two years. The Class of 2026 master’s students began their academic journey with the first class by Songshan Lake and concluded it with graduation ceremonies on the Kowloon Tong campus, bringing their two-year studies to a successful close. Academic excellence, an innovation-driven ecosystem, and an international outlook have all taken root simultaneously during these students’ development—making them both witnesses to the university’s transformation from blueprint to reality and active participants in that process.

Upholding the educational philosophy of “One Quality Across Two Campuses, Integration of Teaching and Research, and Unlimited Innovation,” City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan) will continue to leverage City University of Hong Kong’s world-renowned academic strength—ranked among the global top 100—to provide students with more opportunities to access international resources and cutting-edge industry developments, striving to become a key talent engine for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area International Science and Technology Innovation Center.

Source: Media and Communications Office