The Seventh Graduation Ceremony for Postgraduate Students, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen was held on November 26, receiving both online and in-person participants. More than 900 graduate students embarked on a new journey in the presence of President Yangsheng Xu, university administrators, faculty, staff, family and friends, and guests from all walks of life. 

At the ceremony, the names of the doctoral and master's degree graduates were announced by Vice President Zhi-Quan Luo, and Graduate School Dean Xuefeng Wang, respectively. Following that, Vice President Shiping Zhu recited the list of recipients of the "Presidential Award for Outstanding Graduate Student". The honorary certificates and medals were then presented by President Yangsheng Xu to recognize the outstanding students and encourage them to contribute to humanity in the wider world. The 10 recipients of the award are Yaoxiang Ren (Applied Psychology), Xudong Wang (Data Science), Kaiwen Xue (Computer and Information Engineering), Yaoyao Liu (Economics), Changyi Ma (Computer and Information Engineering), Yuang Chen (Computer and Information Engineering), Yuhua Liu (Marketing), Lei Tang (Global Studies), Yuhao Zeng (Financial Engineering), and Bingyi Yang (Global Studies).

Group photo of President Xu and Presidential Award for Outstanding Graduate Student

CUHK-Shenzhen's seventh cohort of postgraduate students consists of 923 students majoring in Management, Accounting, Marketing, Economics, Finance, Computer and Information Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Simultaneous Interpreting, Translation & Interpreting Studies, Applied Psychology, Global Studies, Data Science, Financial Engineering, Bioscience and Supply Chain and Logistics Management. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area remains the most popular destination for the Class of 2022.

Chairman of Governing Board Rocky Sung-chi Tuan: Have a global perspective and stay aware of our social duties

Rocky Sung-chi Tuan, President of The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Chair of the Governing Board of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, remarked at the ceremony, "The mission of The Chinese University of Hong Kong is to combine tradition with modernity, and to bring together China and the West. By studying here, you are already exposed to a mixture of cultures. The vibrant, cosmopolitan city of Shenzhen has provided you with access to cutting-edge technology and the latest ideas. However, the boundaries of knowledge extend well beyond this. Our nation is expansive, our world is far more so, and we have yet to discover innumerable mysteries. I hope that all of you will preserve your excitement and ambition to explore the world."

President Yangsheng Xu: Step forward with confidence and make your own way in the big era

In his address, President Yangsheng Xu urged students to forge their own path in uncertain times. He said, "You will soon go upon a new voyage. This might not be the best time and the road ahead may not be particularly fruitful. However, regardless of whether the ground beneath your feet is smooth or muddy, as young people with courage and ambition, you should take your own steps with assurance. In this great era, I anticipate seeing you leave your own footprints, make your voices heard, and walk your own pathways."

Professor Brian Kobilka (2012 Nobel laureate in chemistry): Taking on the world's challenges

Professor Brian Kobilka, the 2012 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, shared his research career experiences in a video address during the ceremony. He exhorted the students to be aware of the numerous difficulties facing the globe today and to take their part in addressing them. He said, "The world is facing many challenges, including the evolution of viruses that may spark the next global pandemic. Poverty...Nearly 800 million people don't have enough to eat or medicines for treatable diseases. And perhaps the most important, climate change. This is perhaps our greatest challenge. While we may end wars, prevent a nuclear confrontation and reduce world poverty, climate change may be irreversible. My generation has ignored the threat of climate change, leaving the problem to your generation. Addressing climate change will require concerted effort from creative individuals from different disciplines, including scientists, engineers, educators, and politicians. I hope that some of you will consider careers that will help address these challenges."

Professor Jianxiong Ge, member of the Social Science Committee of the Ministry of Education: Aim “High”

In his speech, Professor Ge Jianxiong, a historian and member of the Social Science Committee of the Ministry of Education, imparted to the graduates the value of aiming "high" based on his own life experiences and study. Regarding the definition of "high," Professor Ge stated, "It refers not only to the high in position, prestige, education, and riches, but also to the high in ideology, moral quality, values, and faith." The historian then observed, from a historical standpoint: "In the course of human history, the material is continually increasing and rising to greater heights, whereas the spiritual may not. Consequently, there is always a higher realm ahead of every one of us, and I hope we continue to ascend."

Graduate representative Liu Yuhua: Stay true to our original selves, and keep the courage to try,  to explore, and to embrace uncertainty

Yuhua Liu, the graduate representative, comes from the Master of Science in Marketing Programme and Shaw college. As one of the undergraduate alumni and 2022 master's graduates of CUHK-Shenzhen, she bemoaned the rapid pace of the University's growth over the previous several years and complimented the University for the academic environment it provides. She said, "In the master program, besides a flexible curriculum that allows us to find our true passion while broadening our knowledge base, we have exclusive opportunities to make dialogue with experienced professionals from different industries, which indeed enhanced our business savvy. At CUHK-Shenzhen, we can feel free to try, to explore, and even to make mistakes. We have access to a variety of resources and possibilities for following our interests. I have tried to be an undergraduate student teaching fellow, participating in an international case competition, interning at multinational companies and government agencies, founding and managing student clubs, and even doing entrepreneurship. I've learned from all of these experiences that every effort and endeavor has value in life."

Reportedly, 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. Most of them are now employed by well-known enterprises, universities and research institutes in the Greater Bay Area (Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Hong Kong) and other first-tier cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. Some of the employers include Bank of China, China Merchants Bank, CICC, Guosen Securities, Shenzhen High-Tech Investment, Shenzhen Exchange Group, Huawei, Tencent, Alibaba, JD, VIVO, DJI, Amazon, L'Oreal, etc. A further portion of graduates proceed to pursue their studies at prestigious domestic and international schools such as UCLA, Northwestern University, and National University of Singapore.