On the morning of 18 November, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen) hosted its Eighth Graduation Ceremony for Postgraduate Students at the University's Liwen Hall. The event was graced by Professor Rocky Sung-chi Tuan, President of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and Chair of the Governing Board of CUHK-Shenzhen, and Professor Mingkang Liu, an honorary doctorate recipient from CUHK and former chairman of the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC). The ceremony was attended by over 2,000 individuals, including CUHK-Shenzhen's President Professor Yangsheng Xu, university officers, professors, distinguished guests, graduates, and their families and friends, all gathered to celebrate the achievements of the new graduates as they step into society, ready to contribute their youthful vigour to the nation's and the world's development.

Professor Rocky Sung-chi Tuan inspires graduates to embrace lifelong learning and contribute to human progress through knowledge

In his address, Professor Tuan commended the graduates on their educational journey at CUHK-Shenzhen. He highlighted, " I hope your journey in CUHK-Shenzhen has not only enriched your knowledge in your specialized field and the world but also provided you with the opportunity to expand your professional network, to take you higher and further in your career, to empower you to make an impact on your country and the world.”

This year marks the diamond jubilee, the 60th anniversary, of CUHK. The celebrations commenced earlier this year and are set to continue into the early part of 2024, coinciding with the tenth anniversary of CUHK-Shenzhen. Professor Tuan remarked, "This year marks the diamond jubilee of The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Our year-long celebrations started early this year till the first quarter of 2024, when CUHK-Shenzhen will commence its 10th anniversary year. I sincerely invite you to celebrate with us the decade of excellence and achievements of CUHK-Shenzhen, as you step into the next chapter of your lives, to remain closely connected with your alma mater. The strong network of alumni can make a huge difference to our world by shouldering our social responsibility.”

Professor Yangsheng Xu, President of CUHK-Shenzhen: Be Calm in a Restless Era, Be Magnanimous in a Narrow World

In his address, President Yangsheng Xu praised the efforts and achievements of the graduates during their studies. "Some have founded innovative enterprises, and others have published new ideas and discoveries in high-quality conferences and journals. Many have dedicated themselves to bringing education to underdeveloped areas, and some have actively engaged in community service... I believe in this process, you have gained broader perspectives, friendships, and knowledge."

As the graduates prepare to enter society, President Xu imparted two profound pieces of advice: "In an era of restlessness, be a person of calmness; in a narrow world, be a person of generosity." He expressed his hope that the students, when facing the complex phenomena of society, unknown risks, and challenges, will observe the world, guard their innermost thoughts, maintain a steady mindset, and nurture deep roots for a flourishing future.

Furthermore, President Xu urged the students to firmly believe in the concept of a community of shared future, "Our learning and actions aim to understand and communicate with different voices worldwide, to unite people from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs, and to imagine and create a better society and future. Therefore, be someone with a broad vision and a generous heart. Even the smallest effort can bring more tolerance, peace, and openness to the world, spreading love and trust."

At the time of graduation, a statue titled "Peach and Plum Trees Do Not Speak", was erected in front of the University Library. President Xu, who provided the design idea for this statue, interpreted its three-layered meaning during the ceremony.

"Firstly, it speaks to our students: today you are fragrant like peach and plum trees, tomorrow you will be the pillars of our country, aspiring high and serving the nation. Secondly, it addresses our teachers: teaching and educating with sincerity and integrity is essential, and your achievements will speak for themselves, as 'Peaches and Plums Do Not Talk, Yet a Path is Formed Beneath Them.' Thirdly, it represents the school's mission: nurturing talent and students is our primary responsibility. CUHK-Shenzhen is just a decade old, and our contribution to the nation is still modest, but our primary contribution has been in nurturing talents like you."

On 21 March next year, the University will celebrate its tenth anniversary. President Xu invited everyone to return to their alma mater on the celebration day, saying: "This is your alma mater, your spiritual home. Today, as you set out, you step into the world; tomorrow, after having experienced life's many journeys, you should return still youthful at heart."

Professor Mingkang Liu, Honorary Doctorate Recipient from CUHK and Former Chairman of the China Banking Regulatory Commission: Embrace the Uncertainty of the Era, Accumulate the Strength to Traverse Cycles

In his address, Professor Mingkang Liu analyzed the uncertainties of the post-pandemic era, urging students to contemplate if they possess the strength to transcend cycles in uncertain times. He encouraged the audience to actively face these uncertainties with a positive mindset and optimistic courage through two personal stories.

The first story is related to his experiences in rural China during the 1960s. He shared, "I happened to find a farmer in the town selling peanuts. The peanuts were wrapped in the paper torn from some old books he collected from garbage houses. Then these second-hand books became my spiritual solace during that period. Reading and thinking hard became part of my messy life since, especially during the long winter evenings."，." Liu's self-education through these old books aligned with the changes brought about by the reform and opening-up, enabling him to transcend a unique period. "Each generation faces its unique challenges and must chart its own course in the circumstances of its time. Our lives, like the changing seasons, have their ebbs and flows. Whether in times of prosperity or adversity, it is all part of our lives."

The second story recounted his professional experience in helping a flour mill avoid exchange rate risks, bringing value to the client through his expertise. He emphasized that if you wish to navigate through the tough cycles, or gain an advantage in competitions, you must bear in mind the rule No.1 of service, 'warm hearts, cool heads'.  And the two make a tango.

Graduate Representative Gaoyuan Xu: Master One’s Life Journey, Maintaining Passion and Perseverance

Gaoyuan Xu, graduate of the Master of Science in Data Science programme from Diligentia College, also an undergraduate alumnus of the 2021 cohort, reflected on the University's rapid growth in his speech as the graduate representative. "The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen is approaching its 10th anniversary. We have witnessed the construction of new buildings, colleges, and athletic fields, with the schools of Medicine and Music still underway," he observed. He compared this growth to the graduates’ phase, "We have completed courses, participated in internships, and research projects. We've climbed mountains and now face life’s vast landscape, a cycle of continual challenges and rebuilds, which I believe is essential for growth. I hope each graduate will successfully navigate their field and craft their own story."

Xu also reminisced about his time as a college mentor, and the mutual listening, companionship, and friendships formed. "These moments embedded in everyday life provided positive reinforcement of trust from those around me, adding vibrant hues to my campus life." Stepping into a new life phase, he urged everyone to pursue their passions relentlessly, "Let's maintain confidence and courage for the future, chasing our dreams. Whatever path you choose, trust in your abilities, the knowledge and skills you have acquired, and your potential. May each of us achieve brilliant success in our life's journey!"

Vibrant Youthful Energy Contributing to Societal Development

At the ceremony, the names of the doctoral and master's degree recipients were read out by Vice President Tom Z.Q. Luo, and Graduate School Dean Xuefeng Wang, respectively. Following that, Vice President Shiping Zhu recited the list of recipients of the "President's Distinguished Graduate Student Award". The honorary certificates and medals were then presented by President Yangsheng Xu to recognise the outstanding students and encourage them to contribute to humanity in the wider world. The ten "President's Distinguished Graduate Student Award" recipients were: Xu Yan from Computer and Information Engineering (PhD), Yun Tang from Biology (PhD), Tiansi Chu and Shangyao Su from Applied Psychology (MSc.), Gaoyuan Xu from Data Science (MSc.), Xinyi Sui from Information Management and Business Analytics (MSc.), Renbin Han from Urban Studies (MSSc.), Hanlin Wang from Finance (MSc.), Hang Liu from Economics (MSc.), and Yili Jin from Computer and Information Engineering (MSc.).

The eighth cohort of postgraduate students from CUHK-Shenzhen comprises a total of 1173 individuals. Many of these graduate students have participated in frontier research projects that meet the needs of national strategic development during their studies, with excellent results published in top journals and conferences at home and abroad, or licensed as patents. Notably, three Master of Science in Data Science graduates—Wenyao He, Junkin Ran, and Chang Liu—achieved a national silver award in the "National Knowledge Graph and Semantic Computing Conference 2022" for their work on Multimodal Commodity Knowledge Graph Link Prediction. Shan Jiang, pursuing an MA in Simultaneous Interpreting, secured a third-place prize in the 9th Cross-Strait Interpreting Contest 2023. In the realm of academia, Xu Yan, a doctoral graduate from the Computer and Information Engineering programme, demonstrated scholarly impact by serving as a reviewer for over ten prestigious journals and conferences, including CVPR, ICCV, ECCV, NeurIPS, IJCV, and TPAMI. Furthermore, Xu published 18 articles and obtained one software copyright and one patent.

Upon graduation, a significant number of these accomplished individuals have joined esteemed enterprises, top brokerages, universities, and research institutions in cities such as Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Beijing, and Shanghai within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Noteworthy employers include the China Development Bank, Bank of China, CICC, China Financial Futures Exchange, CRL Trust, Alibaba, ByteDance, Google, Amazon, CETC, State Grid, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sangfor Technologies, Huawei, University of Science and Technology of China, Imperial College London, and University of Tokyo, among others. Several graduates pursuing further studies have been accepted into prestigious institutions such as Imperial College London, University of Minnesota, Columbia University, and Boston University.