Given the continuous and essential need for COVID-19 control, CUHK-Shenzhen adopted a combination of online and offline approach for this year's inauguration ceremony. Over 1,300 undergraduate students, professors and faculty attended the ceremony on campus to celebrate the beginning of the new school term, while international students, postgraduates and guests joined the online session.

      Distinguished guests included James J. Heckman, professor from the University of Chicago and a Nobel Laureate in economics in 2000, and Zhang Yitang, renowned mathematician; both delivered speeches online.

       Professor Heckman encouraged students to explore new viewpoints, new ideologies and new values.
       “You are making new circles of friends, meeting people with diverse backgrounds and with interests possibly very different from your own. College gives you a rich palette of things to explore: new subjects, new points of view, and new values. It also offers you the opportunity to explore yourself—explore what interests you, what you value, and what you want out of life.”

        In Prof. Zhang’s speech, he expressed his regret for not being able to speak to the students in person, but meanwhile marveled at the development of the information technology, which made it possible for him to participate the ceremony even across the Pacific Ocean. He also said that academic achievements were results of hard work and emphasized cultural cultivation during study.
        "Research is not an easy thing. Sometimes you may feel envious when you look at other people making great results. But when you do it yourself, you'll know that it's quite boring and, Rome wasn't built in a day. Just be patient." Said Prof. Zhang. 

        Prof. Yangsheng Xu, president of CUHK-SZ, also made remarks at the ceremony.
         Xu appreciated the fresh students’ hard work that got them successfully admitted to the university during the epidemic.
        “University is a brand-new beginning. Now that we have already saluted your past achievements, it’s time to let go of them. Yes, disburden your mind of past successes so that it can grow and expand afresh,”
        Prof. Xu encouraged students to face challenges bravely. “You may have already heard that the university environment is very different from high school. No matter how impressed you used to be, I want you to be prepared to embrace changes, to be ready to be inspired and transformed.”
        Prof. Xu also emphasized the value of humanity and the powers of kindness, empathy, and love. He also hoped students would act with responsibility and make that a habit.