Welcome to the 72nd edition of CUHK in Focus.
17 October 2025 marked the Foundation Day of CUHK, offering a significant opportunity for us to commemorate the rich legacy of the University. It was a moment of gratitude and reflection to honour past achievements and the enduring pursuit of excellence and impact by the entire CUHK community which has spanned more than six decades. This occasion also invites us to reflect on our path forward, inspiring us to work hard to ensure CUHK remains at the forefront of global higher education and reaffirming our commitment to shaping the future of society through education, research and community engagement.
Adding to this auspicious milestone was the exciting announcement of CUHK’s record-breaking position in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, where CUHK rose three places from last year, reaching 41st in the world. This encouraging result marks our best performance to date in the THE Rankings since its launch. It honours our impressive progress in teaching, research and internationalisation, achieved through the collective efforts of our faculty, staff, students and alumni. The fact that CUHK has been able to sustain its position in the world’s top 100 for ten consecutive years affirms our leading position in the global higher education sector. As the University prepares to launch its new five-year strategic plan, CUHK 2026–2030, we shall continue to build on these strong foundations to face upcoming challenges and chart an ambitious course towards our mission. We remain devoted to nurturing globally minded future leaders, driven by academic excellence and a deep commitment to contribute to society.
CUHK Info Day 2025
The CUHK Information Day for Undergraduate Admissions 2025 (CUHK Info Day 2025) was held on campus on 11 October, welcoming an astounding 60,000 visitors to experience the vibrant essence of CUHK education. This eagerly anticipated annual event enables prospective students and their parents, teachers and members of the public to gain first-hand insights into our diverse academic offerings and the unique collegiate culture at CUHK. The theme of this year’s CUHK Info Day, “Dream together”, echoes our commitment to empowering young minds to realise their aspirations. The event featured a wide variety of activities, from engaging admission talks and interactive Q&A sessions to exhibitions, demonstrations and guided campus tours. Each element was thoughtfully designed to help our visitors discover more about the transformative learning experience at CUHK and to explore our dynamic multicultural campus.
Rural Revitalisation Symposium
It was a pleasure to attend the Rural Revitalisation Symposium 2025, jointly presented by CUHK’s School of Architecture, Tsinghua University’s School of Architecture, and the Wu Zhi Qiao (Bridge to China) Charitable Foundation. This event was marked by both academic significance and transformative potential. Thanks to the staunch support of our co-organisers, partners, and sponsors, we were able to bring together more than 300 scholars and industry representatives from all around the world to engage in a dynamic programme. Highlights included keynote speeches, roundtable dialogues, and panel discussions, as well as fieldside workshops and eco-tours, reflecting our shared commitment to enhancing urban–rural integration. We are deeply grateful to our esteemed guests for their presence at the opening ceremony of the Symposium, and to all the distinguished leaders and speakers who shared their expertise and insights with us throughout the event.
The Hong Kong 2030+: Towards a Planning Vision and Strategy Transcending 2030 sets a clear direction for the city’s future urban development, with the Northern Metropolis emerging as a key highlight of our city’s long-term aspirations. Realising the vision will require effective urban–rural integration strategies and robust cross-sector collaboration. The ambitious pursuit of balancing urban development and ecological conservation in the Northern Metropolis resonates strongly with CUHK’s founding mission to “combine tradition with modernity and bring together China and the West”. CUHK was proud to work closely with our partners to provide a vital platform for constructive dialogue among global scholars, practitioners and public stakeholders on the complementary relationship between economic progress and environmental protection. It was inspiring to see the event conclude successfully, sparking innovative ideas and catalysing collective action to address the complex urban–rural challenges in our territory, while fostering a shared vision for a future where urban innovation and rural vitality flourish in harmony.
A festive reunion
Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of joining the CUHK Mainland Undergraduate Association (MUA) to its Mid-Autumn Festival Garden Party. It was a truly joyful occasion, bringing together over 700 students and staff members from the Chinese Mainland, the city, and around the world under the bright moon, creating fond memories and new friendships. These heartwarming interactions capture the spirit of CUHK, where diversity and inclusion are deeply cherished. I would like to thank the MUA for organising such a meaningful event, enabling members of CUHK, regardless of background, to build lasting connections and feel genuinely at home on campus.
Mourning Professor Yang Chen-ning
Just as the moon goes through phases of fullness and emptiness, both reunion and separation are part of our life journey. Professor Yang Chen-ning, the first Chinese Nobel Laureate, Distinguished Professor-at-Large and Director of the Institute of Theoretical Physics at CUHK passed away on 18 October 2025. Professor Yang devoted his life to academia, establishing himself as a world-renowned master of theoretical physics and an esteemed authority admired by countless scientists. He achieved extraordinary accomplishments in physics and made invaluable contributions to the academic development of CUHK. He showed unwavering care for our faculty and students, particularly the younger generation, always guiding them with patience and generosity. We have lost not only a scientific giant but also a cherished mentor who has had a profound impact on the CUHK community. His passing is an immeasurable loss to the global academic world, yet the scholarly treasures he left behind will continue to inspire future generations in their pursuit of the essence of theoretical physics. The CUHK community is profoundly saddened by his passing. We pay our utmost tribute to his remarkable contributions and convey our deepest condolences to his family in this moment of grief.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming
Vice-Chancellor and President
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
