On September 2, 2026, City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan) held its 2026 Opening Ceremony at the Songshan Lake Performing Arts Center Grand Theater in Dongguan, marking the official start of academic life for 1,301 new students—including 183 undergraduates and 1,118 postgraduates.

Guangdong-Hong Kong Collaboration for Cultivating International Innovative Talent

At the opening ceremony, multiple distinguished guests highlighted the unique value of City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan) as a benchmark for Guangdong-Hong Kong educational cooperation. Professor Duan Baoyan, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and President of City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan), delivered the “First Lecture of the Semester” to all new students, encouraging them to pursue truth and practicality, broaden their horizons, and grow into accomplished talents on the innovative soil of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Professor Zhou Yu, Vice President of the China Association of Higher Education and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, noted that collaborative education programs are a vital vehicle for promoting openness in higher education. By integrating Hong Kong’s internationally recognized education standards with Dongguan’s industrial innovation strengths, City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan) offers a new platform for cultivating globally minded, patriotic, and innovative talent.

Mr. Yu Yang, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Education Association for International Exchange, stated that City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan) serves as a pilot project for the “Two Universities, One Standard; Integrated Teaching and Research” model between mainland China and Hong Kong in higher education. The Association will continue to act as a bridge and facilitator, supporting the university in expanding faculty-student exchanges, joint research projects, credit transfer agreements, and international academic collaborations—helping it become a new window for educational openness in the Greater Bay Area.

"Internationalization and innovation are in the DNA of this university."

Professor Zhong Ruiming, Vice-Chancellor of City University of Hong Kong (CityU) and Honorary Chairman of the City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan) Education Foundation, stated that a university’s vitality lies not only in its own excellence but also—more importantly—in its ability to extend that excellence to a broader horizon. CityU (Dongguan) is not merely an extension of CityU’s academic footprint; it is also a vital initiative through which CityU serves national strategic goals and integrates into the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). He encouraged new students to integrate academic learning with character development and a strong sense of responsibility, using their youthful intellect and energy to respond to the pressing questions of our era and the needs of people’s livelihoods.

Professor Wei Mingde, Chairman of CityU’s Court of Governors, pointed out that the nation’s “15th Five-Year Plan” blueprint has been fully rolled out, placing education, science and technology, and talent development at the core of national strategy. The construction of the GBA is accelerating, the innovation ecosystem of Songshan Lake Science City is maturing rapidly, and Hong Kong’s strengths in internationalization and openness continue to unfold—providing fertile ground for synergistic development between CityU and CityU (Dongguan). He urged students to become explorers with “two wings”—capable of sensing Hong Kong’s international pulse while also feeling the powerful rhythm of industrial upgrading on the mainland, and finding their own life’s direction at the intersection of these two cities and two distinct ecosystems.

Professor Li Zhensheng, Chairman of City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan) and Acting President of City University of Hong Kong, delivered a video welcome message to the Class of 2026, encouraging students to maintain independent critical thinking, accumulate knowledge diligently, and embrace bold exploration. Professor Li defined “internationalization and innovation” as the DNA of City University of Hong Kong: “Internationalization is not merely about bringing people from diverse backgrounds together; more importantly, it entails an open mindset, a pragmatic scholarly attitude, and a broad, global perspective.”

“Mission of City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan): Cultivating outstanding young talents capable of contributing to building China into a global science and technology powerhouse and realizing national rejuvenation.”

In his speech, Professor Duan Baoyan, President of City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan) and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, noted that students have entered a vibrant, visionary university rooted in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area International Science and Technology Innovation Center. Located adjacent to Songshan Lake—a national-level scientific research hub and industrial cluster—the university remains committed to advancing at the forefront of international academia and addressing China’s major strategic needs. Adhering to the educational philosophy of “two universities, one standard of quality,” it deepens integration between education and research as well as industry and education, striving to build a world-class, high-level university.

Against this backdrop, he outlined four expectations for students: (1) pursue truth and fundamentals to lay a solid academic foundation for seeking genuine knowledge; (2) stay grounded and develop robust practical skills; (3) cultivate resilience and perseverance to sustain long-term dedication; and (4) broaden horizons to nurture a patriotic spirit with a global outlook. He encouraged new students to immerse themselves in serious study and scholarly reflection on the fertile ground of Songshan Lake, striving to become young talents with broad vision, high aspirations, and wide-ranging perspectives—ready to make meaningful contributions on the expansive stage of building China into a science and technology powerhouse and achieving national rejuvenation.

“From the Greater Bay Area, Toward the World”

Tayyeb Shah, Vice President and incoming President of the European Association for International Education (EAIE), shared his global perspective on trends in higher education development. He highly commended Hongcheng University (Dongguan)’s strong international orientation and its remarkable achievements since its founding. He emphasized that the essence of international education lies in building bridges for communication and cultivating individuals who can transcend cultural and systemic boundaries—turning differences into strengths to tackle global challenges. He offered three aspirations for the Class of 2026: (1) maintain enduring curiosity and fully embrace the exploratory period before settling on a major; (2) befriend someone whose life experiences differ significantly from your own; and (3) after achieving success, build bridges forward for those who follow.

Voices of the Freshmen: Youthful Resonance Amid Diversity

2026 marks the third year of operation for Hongcheng University (Dongguan). The university recruits undergraduate students from 13 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government through China’s National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao), with admission scores comparable to those of “Project 985” institutions—and in some cases, matching those of the elite “C9 League” universities. Students from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and international backgrounds enroll concurrently, while graduate students come from top universities worldwide—further strengthening the university’s appeal.

During the speech segment by freshman representatives, students from both sides of the Taiwan Strait, Hong Kong, and international freshmen shared their personal growth journeys and reflections on starting university life. Undergraduate representatives from the Class of 2026—Huang Yixun, Zhao Chenxu, Li Peilin (Hong Kong, China), Zhuang Yizhuo (Taiwan, China), and Meerim ABDIRAIMOVA (Kyrgyzstan)—along with graduate representatives Ma Haoyang (alumnus of Shanghai Jiao Tong University) and Sun Feiyu (alumnus of the University of Toronto, Canada), highlighted themes such as studying across cities, cross-strait exchanges, global perspectives, academic exploration, and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Their speeches vividly reflected young students’ enthusiasm for knowledge, eagerness to broaden horizons, and commitment to mutual understanding and integration. Sincere and inspiring narratives infused the event with youthful energy and expressed the new cohort’s shared aspiration—to move forward in pursuit of light and jointly build a brighter future.

Guests from all sectors of society, along with faculty and student representatives, gathered together to witness the new cohort of young students setting sail on their academic journey. Other distinguished guests attending the opening ceremony included Mr. Zheng Guohong, Deputy Director of the Standing Committee of the Dongguan Municipal People's Congress; Professor Ma Hongwei, Vice Chairman of the Governing Board of City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan) and President of Dongguan University of Technology; Mr. Zhang Jiazhi, Chairman of the Shenzhen Bay Area Era Institute of Education; and Mr. Lin Haichuan, Chairman of Guangdong Hongchuan Group Co., Ltd.

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

“The President’s First Lecture”: Innovation Futures Through the Lens of Technological Evolution

Subsequently, Academician Duan Baoyan, President of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Dongguan), delivered this semester’s “President’s First Lecture,” themed “Trends in Electronic Information Technology Development.” Drawing on decades of research experience, Academician Duan guided freshmen through the historical evolution of electronic information technology, highlighting key technological leaps in antenna systems and equipment across different eras—helping students situate today’s cutting-edge developments within a broader historical context.

During the Q&A session, numerous freshmen engaged Academician Duan on topics such as cultivating scientific research talent and hands-on innovation practice. One student asked how to develop critical thinking skills during undergraduate studies; Academician Duan encouraged students to “dream big—but start with solid, grounded steps.” Another student raised concerns about domestic Chinese chips being overlooked in hardware selection by tech companies due to pragmatic considerations. In response, Academician Duan compared the divergent development paths of artificial intelligence in China and the U.S., emphasizing that China’s scientific and technological innovation is deeply integrated with real-world applications—and that only through continuous, practical use can technologies be iteratively refined and improved.

The ceremony has concluded, and a new journey begins. This day marks both the start of university life and an exploration of the questions: “Why are we here, and where are we headed?” Hailing from the Greater Bay Area and setting sights on the world, the Class of 2026 is already on its way.

Source: Media and Communications Office