CUHK graduates earn high praise from employers
16 July 2026
CUHK has risen to 18th place globally in the latest QS World University Rankings 2027. Particularly noteworthy is the significant improvement in the employer reputation indicator, reflecting growing recognition from employers worldwide of CUHK graduates’ professional competence and leadership potential.
Among Hong Kong’s leading corporations, both Swire Group and MTR Corporation have CUHK alumni in senior management positions. Employers value CUHK graduates for their strong professional skills, adaptability, sense of responsibility, and leadership qualities.
James Tong Wai-pong, Senior Advisor at Swire Group, joined Cathay Pacific after graduating from CUHK’s Department of Computer Science in 1987, embarking on a career in the Group spanning nearly four decades. He believes that CUHK’s collegiate system and general education have had a profound impact on students’ development, producing graduates who are down-to-earth, dependable, and results-oriented.
“CUHK graduates are highly adaptable,” he said. “In a rapidly changing business environment, they think flexibly and respond quickly to new challenges.” He added that CUHK alumni stand out for their teamwork and problem-solving abilities as they make meaningful contributions to the organisations they serve. Over the years, he has often been able to “spot a CUHK graduate at a glance”, describing them as low-key, pragmatic, responsible, and team-oriented—qualities that are especially valued in large corporations.
Sammy Wong Kwan-wai, Chinese Mainland Business Director at MTR Corporation, graduated with First Class Honours in Engineering from CUHK in 1995 and joined MTR immediately as Operating Management Trainee. Having served in a variety of key operational and management roles, he now oversees the company’s business development in the Chinese Mainland. He credits CUHK’s distinctive collegiate system and whole-person education with shaping students’ character and outlook.
He noted that railway operations rely heavily on collaboration among professional teams, requiring employees to possess strong communication and decision-making skills, as well as a commitment to serving society. “The rapid development of cities and advances in technology have brought unprecedented opportunities while also testing my leadership and management abilities,” he said. He added that the open-mindedness fostered by CUHK education has helped him build trust and drive collaboration with teams across different regions.
CUHK’s entry into the global top 20 marks an important new milestone for the University. The prominent rise in employer reputation further demonstrates the success of combining the broad-based education of the collegiate system with the strengths of a research-intensive university in nurturing talent.
