CUHK
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The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) held a Chinese New Year Media Gathering at the CUHK Art Museum today (6 February), welcoming the Year of the Snake with joy. The new CUHK Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming hosted the event alongside Pro-Vice-Chancellors and Faculty Deans. During the event, he extended greetings to media friends and announced the establishment of the Zhizhen School of Interdisciplinary Mathematical Sciences (Zhizhen School or “the School”).

Professor Lo, who assumed office last month, outlined CUHK’s future plan in his address, including elevating the student experience, fostering research and innovation, constructing a talent hub, fostering alumni and community engagement, and strengthening internationalisation. This year’s gathering took place in the soon-to-be-opened new wing of the CUHK Art Museum, the Lo Kwee Seong Pavilion, which is set to officially launch next month. Members of the media were able to have an exclusive preview of this new facility.

Launch Ceremony of the Zhizhen School of Interdisciplinary Mathematical Sciences

The event included the launch ceremony of Zhizhen School. The School has been founded by CUHK as the initiative of internationally renowned mathematician Professor Yau Shing-tung, who will serve as the Founding Director. The ceremony was officiated over by Dr Choi Yuk-lin, Secretary for Education; Professor Yau; Professor John Chai Yat-chiu, Chairman of the CUHK Council; Professor Lo; Professor Isabella Poon Wai-yin, CUHK Acting Provost; Mr Dennis Chow Chi-in, Treasurer of the CUHK Council; and CUHK Council members The Honourable Cheung Yu-yan, The Honourable Lau Kwok-fan, The Honourable Tang Ka-piu and Ms Sonia Cheng Chi-man.

The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, welcomed the establishment of the Zhizhen School. She noted that the School being founded by the internationally-acclaimed mathematician Professor Yau Shing-tung at the CUHK will build a robust education platform on mathematical sciences, thereby cultivating leaders in the field for our country and for Hong Kong. By pooling together quality talents worldwide to pursue their studies or researches in mathematics in Hong Kong, the School helps enhance the attractiveness of the “Study in Hong Kong” Brand. The School also enables exchanges among top universities in Hong Kong and their counterparts overseas to undertake interdisciplinary researches and collaboration, giving full play to the edges on scientific researches of the city and building it into an international hub for high-calibre talents.

Professor Chai said that the new CUHK Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Lo Yuk-ming shall be formulating a clear and forward-looking development plan for the University. He believed that under Professor Lo’s leadership, CUHK would make significant contributions to promoting interdisciplinary research and innovative education. He remarked that the Council of CUHK officially approved the establishment of Zhizhen School in January this year. He believed that the School would provide an important platform for attracting and nurturing talent, further enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness in innovation and research. He expressed gratitude to Professor Yau Shing-tung for choosing to collaborate with CUHK to establish this first-of-its-kind school in Hong Kong. He also thanked Dr Choi Yuk-lin and Council members for their presence, which reflected the recognition and support for CUHK. This was not only a new milestone in CUHK’s development but also a solid commitment to the future development of higher education in Hong Kong.

Professor Lo said: “It is my great pleasure to gather with you all at this event as the Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK, sharing the key highlights of CUHK’s future initiatives and officiating at the launch ceremony of Zhizhen School. I would like to extend my special thanks to Professor Yau for making the trip to CUHK to join today’s ceremony. The School marks a new chapter in our collaboration to nurture future talent in mathematics and the sciences.”

“Additionally, the CUHK Art Museum’s new extension, the Lo Kwee Seong Pavilion, will officially open in March. I sincerely invite everyone to immerse yourselves in the exciting new artistic experiences offered by the museum,” he added.

Professor Yau expressed his deep gratitude to CUHK and everyone else who has provided support to establish the Zhizhen School. He emphasised that mathematics is the cornerstone of science, adding that he was looking forward to the School nurturing outstanding talent in mathematical sciences who will come up with new breakthroughs in cross-discipline applications of mathematical sciences. This not only aligns with national aspiration to building China into a leading country in education and policies promoting fundamental, emerging and interdisciplinary subjects, he said, but also contributes to Hong Kong’s development as an international innovation and technology hub, fostering the continued growth of scientific research.

The School offers an eight-year Bachelor-Ph.D programme, with the aim of cultivating top talent in mathematical sciences for Hong Kong and the country. It will drive innovative research in mathematical sciences and its applications, as well as contributing to the global development of mathematical sciences. The inaugural cohort of students is set to enrol in September 2025.