The University of Hong Kong, Asia’s Global University, delivers impact through internationalisation, innovation and interdisciplinarity. It attracts and nurtures global scholars through excellence in research, teaching and learning, and knowledge exchange. It makes a positive social contribution through global presence, regional significance and engagement with the rest of China. VISION
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND VICE-CHANCELLOR AHEAD OF THE CURVE 4 TEACHING AND LEARNING TALENT DEVELOPMENT 8 RESEARCH AND INNOVATION KNOWLEDGE AND DISCOVERY 20 TECH TRANSFER AND KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE IMPACT ON SOCIETY 34 CONTENTS THE UNIVERSITY PROFILE 44 OFFICERS OF THE UNIVERSITY 56 AN EXTRACT FROM THE UNIVERSITY’S ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 2023–24 53 THE COURT 58 The University of Hong Kong will endeavour: To advance constantly the bounds of scholarship, building upon its proud traditions and strengths To provide a comprehensive education, benchmarked against the highest international standards, designed to develop fully the intellectual and personal strengths of its students, while extending lifelong learning opportunities for the community To produce graduates of distinction committed to academic / professional excellence, critical intellectual inquiry and lifelong learning, who are communicative and innovative, ethically and culturally aware, and capable of tackling the unfamiliar with confidence To develop a collegial, flexible, pluralistic and supportive intellectual environment that inspires and attracts, retains and nurtures scholars, students and staff of the highest calibre in a culture that fosters creativity, learning and freedom of thought, enquiry and expression To provide a safe, healthy and sustainable workplace to support and advance teaching, learning and research at the University To engage in innovative, high-impact and leading-edge research within and across disciplines To be fully accountable for the effective management of public and private resources bestowed upon the institution and act in partnership with the community over the generation, dissemination and application of knowledge To serve as a focal point of intellectual and academic endeavour in Hong Kong, China and Asia and act as a gateway and forum for scholarship with the rest of the world MISSION
5 4 The French scientist Louis Pasteur famously advised that “chance favours the prepared mind”. Since I arrived in 2018, my goal has been to prepare HKU for world-class excellence by recruiting the best scholars and elevating our facilities and programmes accordingly. As evidence of our progress, HKU had a record 53 researchers named in Clarivate’s prestigious 2024 Highly Cited Researchers list, our highest number ever, accounting for 40% of the total number of Highly Cited Researchers in Hong Kong and helping Hong Kong maintain its position among the top 10 regions and countries globally for the total number of Highly Cited Researchers. Our strength of talent has undoubtedly also contributed to HKU’s rise in global rankings of institutions and our ability to attract top students, which we have enhanced with robust value-added support across teaching, research and innovation. All of this excellence has placed the University in a fantastic position to grasp the opportunities arising across society as technology shifts economic and future workforce needs, geopolitical developments create both uncertainties and openings, and the government prioritises investment in research and education to strengthen Hong Kong’s future prospects. HKU is now well-placed to contribute innovative solutions and discoveries that will advance Hong Kong and the nation. These opportunities are not without challenges, of course. The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has been highly disruptive across society and education is an area where the upheaval may turn out to be enormous. But here, too, the University has focussed on preparing for a future that is uncertain but full of promise. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND VICE-CHANCELLOR AHEAD OF THE CURVE A major focus of that preparation is our students. We are committed to ensuring all students are AI-ready and future-ready. Over the past couple of years, our teachers have worked very hard to create programmes that will equip all students, whatever their disciplines, with comprehensive AI knowledge and skills. Starting from September 2025, a compulsory basic AI skills course will be introduced for all incoming undergraduate students. They will also be required to take at least one course under the Common Core that considers the implications of AI. Programmes focussed on data science and innovation are also being rolled out through two new interdisciplinary schools: the School of Computing and Data Science, which will offer new market-driven programmes in fields such as AI, statistics and data science, and the School of Innovation, or I-School, which will offer a new project-based Bachelor of Science in Innovation and Technology programme. Moreover, the Faculties of Arts and Engineering have unveiled eight new programmes for 2025 that prominently feature AI and data science. Having said that, we also recognise that students need more than technology-focussed content to thrive in future. Our teachers have been innovating learning experiences to challenge and inspire students’ personal and intellectual development. Their efforts received external honours in 2023–24 in the international QS Reimagine Education Awards and the University Grants Committee’s Teaching Award. We also continue to enhance the campus experience for students by building more hostels to ensure both local and non-local students have at least one year of enriching hall experience. HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2024 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND VICE-CHANCELLOR
7 6 OUR LEADERSHIP MS ISABELLA WONG YEE SIN Chief of Staff 7 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND VICE-CHANCELLOR Professor Xiang Zhang President and Vice-Chancellor December 2024 PROFESSOR XIANG ZHANG President and Vice-Chancellor PROFESSOR NORMAN TIEN CHIHNAN Executive Vice-President (Administration and Finance) PROFESSOR IAN MICHAEL HOLLIDAY Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) PROFESSOR ALFONSO NGAN HING WAN Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global) PROFESSOR VIVIAN YAM WING WAH Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global Innovation Centre) PROFESSOR RICHARD WONG YUE CHIM Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor PROFESSOR GONG PENG Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Development) PROFESSOR WALLACE LAU CHAK SING Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health) PROFESSOR MAX SHEN ZUOJUN Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) THE UNIVERSITY HAS FOCUSSED ON PREPARING FOR A FUTURE THAT IS UNCERTAIN BUT FULL OF PROMISE. HKU’s commitment to vibrant and dynamic learning experiences attracts outstanding performers. In 2024, our new intake had the highest average score in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination among all universities in Hong Kong. We also admitted more non-local students than ever – nearly 1,300 students from more than 60 countries and regions – after the government doubled the quota from 20% to 40% of undergraduate enrolment. This is a welcome measure to counter the trend of deglobalisation, and it is complemented by the government’s new ‘Study in Hong Kong’ brand, announced in the Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address. We are very keen to contribute to the development of this brand. HKU has strong global recognition and is ready and able to support non-local students and scholars. Most importantly, we offer an exceptional education and the prospect of working with some of the best researchers in the world. In addition to Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researchers list, 12 of our distinguished scholars were named among the top 100 best scholars globally in their respective disciplines by Research.com in 2024, and five ranked first in Asia in their fields. These scholars are all at the pinnacle of their powers, and they are opening doors and inspiring other academic staff and students to reach new heights. And there is more to come as our recruitment campaign continues to bring in new talent. This year alone, up to November 1, we recruited 124 academics at the cutting edge of their fields. The high-quality productivity of all of our scholars has undoubtedly contributed to our strong standing on the international stage. Let me showcase the highlights of that recognition. The 2025 QS World University Rankings named HKU the 17th best university in the world – our highest ranking ever. HKU ranked second in the QS Asia University Rankings for the second year in a row. The new Times Higher Education’s Interdisciplinary Science Rankings ranked us 13th best in the world. And the Shanghai Institute for Science of Science (SISS)’s new index of disruptive research named us first in China and sixth best in the world. In addition, we continue to receive the lion’s share of public research funding in Hong Kong, we are earning more funding support from national agencies, and we are leading major, impactful projects. Having the right talent is a key ingredient in a success, but we are amplifying it by providing new facilities and state-of-the-art equipment that create a rich and conducive environment for research and discovery. The first phase of the Tech Landmark is nearly completed and is specifically designed to promote interdisciplinary research. Once all phases are completed, it will host 10 cross-faculty institutes. The medical campus is also continuing to implement its expansion plans along Sassoon Road. HKU has also proposed a groundbreaking initiative, the Global Innovation Centre, to accommodate upstream interdisciplinary research focussed on tackling global challenges and igniting transformative discoveries. The University has also prioritised collaboration, which underpins some of the most successful research today. The headline event was the selection of HKUMed to be the operator of the new Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute, a one-stop platform for clinical trials that officially opened in November in the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone. This is of importance not only for medical and health development, but also the National 14th Five-Year Plan’s aim to develop Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology hub. My hope is that this will be a harbinger of great things to come as HKU seeks to make meaningful contributions to the development of Hong Kong and the region. Another wonderful milestone in that regard was the opening in 2024 of the HKU Techno-Entrepreneurship Academy in Qianhai, Shenzhen to promote regional innovation and technological advancement by providing training, facilities and access to new funding. The achievements of the past year are particularly encouraging for the University because they demonstrate that despite challenges of all sorts, we do not lose sight of our purpose and aims. We continue to pursue excellence and anticipate and prepare for new challenges. I would like to thank all HKU colleagues, students, alumni and stakeholders for their care and support over the past year. The Senior Management Team and I look forward to listening to your views and taking our reforms forward to the highest planes, so that HKU can play a key role in helping Hong Kong realise its vision of becoming a global innovation, technology and talent hub. HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2024
TALENT DEVELOPMENT The University has initiated programmes to prepare students for the changes being brought by artificial intelligence, and to help them engage more deeply with the wider world. TEACHING AND LEARNING 8 9 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2024 TEACHING AND LEARNING
HKU is committed to preparing our students to meet society’s future needs and challenges. Technological changes, in particular, loom large and we are responding by taking the lead. Over the past year, important initiatives were developed to bring artificial intelligence into the curriculum for all students. We also prepared to welcome increased numbers of non-local students with programmes to accommodate them and integrate them more closely with local students, providing cross-cultural enrichment for everyone. Starting from September 2025, all undergraduate students will have to complete two micro-credential courses that improve their AI literacy and skills (similar to our English-language requirement), both generally and in their chosen disciplines. At the same time, AI will also become an Area of Inquiry under the Common Core, meaning all incoming undergraduate students will need to take at least one course about the implications and ethics of AI. New AI-influenced programmes are also being prepared for offer in 2025 to give our students the edge. The new interdisciplinary School of Computing and Data Science, which is administering the micro-credential courses, will offer two new programmes related to AI and data science, while the Faculties of Arts and Engineering are preparing eight new programmes to cultivate leadership in new technology. In addition, the new School of Innovation is drawing up plans to offer a new Bachelor of Science in Innovation and Technology programme that teaches science and technology through project-based learning. AI has also figured in the work of the Centre of Development and Resources for Students, which in 2023–24 helped students prepare for the future workplace with an AI-focussed careers day, Hong Kong’s first student internships in AI and an industry report highlighting the importance of AI skills to employers. Apart from these provisions, our teachers continued to innovate the teaching and learning experience, earning recognition in the University Grants Committee (UGC)’s Teaching Award and the international QS Reimagine Education Awards (see page 14). Their forward-thinking commitment, plus the high quality of education at HKU, help us attract top students. In 2024, our new intake had the highest average score in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination among all universities in Hong Kong. We also welcomed nearly 1,300 high-performing non-local students from more than 60 countries and regions, after the government doubled the quota of non-local students from 20% to 40% of undergraduate enrolment – a move HKU strongly endorses. The University’s focus on continuous improvement and the highest academic standards was recognised by the Quality Assurance Council of the UGC, which conducted its third institutional audit of HKU in 2024. Staying ahead of the curve can be challenging in this ever-changing world but we are determined to prepare our students to anticipate, lead and trailblaze, and make impactful contributions to society. The new interdisciplinary School of Computing and Data Science strives to advance data-driven education and innovation and nurture talent in critical areas such as computer science, data science, artificial intelligence, FinTech, and actuarial science. Professor Xiang Zhang (first from left), President and Vice-Chancellor of HKU, was joined by around 100 local and non-local HKU students for a ferry ride around the Victoria Harbour. Career AIgnition Day, which marked the launch of HKU’s Career AI Initiatives, drew a full house of over 300 HKU students and staff and provided a unique opportunity for attendees to gain valuable insights into the rapidly evolving landscape of AI and its impact on career development. admitted via the Top Athletes Direct Admission Scheme 8EXCEPTIONAL ATHLETES admitted via the Sports Scholarship Scheme 14OUTSTANDING ATHLETES 116 ACADEMICALLY OUTSTANDING AND MULTI-TALENTED STUDENTS admitted via the School Nominations Direct Admission Scheme OVER TOP-TIER STUDENTS 4,200 60 countries and regions admitted in the 2024 intake from over TOP SCORERS admitted with IB, GCE A-levels, Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE) and Gaokao qualifications 104 10 11 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2024 TEACHING AND LEARNING
FIRST CLASS High-performing students from a variety of backgrounds enrolled in 2024, while innovations by our teachers won external awards. OLYMPIC COMPETITOR GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE Eirik Thorsten Fleck-Baustian comes from a multinational background – his parents are a combination of German, Norwegian and Hungarian and he lived in Shanghai for three years as a child. So when it came time to choose a university, the chance to explore a new place (he had never been to Hong Kong before) was a big pull. The chance to pursue his passion here – ecology and biodiversity studies – sealed the deal. He is now enrolled in the Bachelor of Science programme and hopes to become a conservational biologist to address the existential crisis threatening the natural world. I think I understand why HKU is such a highly ranked university and that is due to the progress that goes on in its research. Even as an undergraduate, I am learning of opportunities to contribute to the vastly diverse studies that are ongoing at the University. Seeing the great research opportunities here at HKU, I am also hoping to do some research in my fields of interest. Eirik Thorsten Fleck-Baustian Bachelor of Science I have always aspired to be an agent for change. From a young age, I became aware of the pressing issues in our world, such as poverty and infectious diseases, and I wanted to contribute meaningful solutions. I was drawn to HKU because of its top reputation, and to this programme because of its interdisciplinary approach and the six-month placement in an NGO, which will give me practical exposure. Anzal Tayyibah Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Global Health and Development I chose HKU because of its prestige and excellent learning facilities. I am fascinated by how much our psychological well-being affects our daily lives and I hope to understand more about how it might benefit my swimming career, too. One of the things I’m most looking forward to at HKU is furthering my knowledge in different fields, especially the wide variety of topics offered by the Common Core, and meeting new people from different cultural backgrounds. Cindy Cheung Sum Yuet Bachelor of Social Sciences Olympian Cindy Cheung Sum Yuet joined HKU in September to pursue a Bachelor of Social Sciences in psychology and sociology. She was the youngest swimmer from Hong Kong to ever achieve the Olympic Qualifying Time and represented the city in the women’s 100m and 200m backstroke at the Paris Olympics 2024. Ms Cheung came to HKU through the Top Athletes Direct Admission Scheme, but she also remains a full-time swimmer, training four hours a day on top of her studies. She hopes to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. TOP PERFORMER President’s Scholar Geoff Wong Shue Hei was a top scorer in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination and he received offers from top UK universities, such as Imperial College London. But he decided to pursue an MBBS at HKU because of the unique curriculum and opportunities offered. He was particularly attracted by the Enrichment Year, during which medical students pursue an interest – be it research, service or studying a new subject – before the demands of the clinical years kick in. HKUMed’s Distinguished MedScholar programme for gifted students was also a factor in his decision, given the intensive research training and mentoring it offers. AGENT FOR CHANGE Anzal Tayyibah’s aspiration to study at university was considered unusual where she grew up – many in her low-income neighbourhood told her she had unrealistic ambitions. But that only added fuel to her flame. With support from her parents, Ms Tayyibah performed well in her examinations and came to HKU through the School Nominations Direct Admission Scheme. She has enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Global Health and Development and hopes to become a public health consultant in under-served areas in places such as the Middle East and East Asia. With the Distinguished MedScholar programme, my elite mentor has kindly given me guidance and provided inspiring exposure opportunities. Thanks to him, I can plan early on my future career in an informed manner. I also cannot overstate my excitement towards my university life in HKU’s internationalised setting. I hope to connect and exchange ideas with the brightest minds from all over the globe. Geoff Wong Shue Hei Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery 12 13 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2024 TEACHING AND LEARNING
“Winning this award provides international recognition for our curriculum, which is a distinctive, effective and sustainable model for transdisciplinary education worldwide, especially in research-intensive universities,” said Dr Tsao. “The transformative teaching and learning helps students develop a range of essential capacities that make them future-ready.” A team from HKUMed won a Bronze Award in ‘The Power of Partnerships’ category for their project titled ‘Students as CoDesigners’, which has formalised students as partners in the curriculum and promoted collaboration across disciplines and between students, educators and community experts. The project is led by Dr Khong Mei Li and includes Professor Julian Tanner, Dr Peter Lau and Dr Zheng Binbin, as well as Year 6 MBBS students Fok Jing Chen and Clement Ho and Year 5 MBBS students Winson Chan, Justin Ng, Monica Lee, and Odelle Wong. Over the past three years, the team has engaged more than 100 student co-designers, more than 50 educators, and a dozen field experts and community partners, to develop more than 20 teaching and learning innovations, such as interactive worksheets that train students in systematic clinical investigation and diagnostic reasoning. More than 2,000 learners per year have benefitted. “This award recognises how our initiative is significantly changing institutional teaching and learning culture. Students’ learning has become more fit-for-practice. Student co-designers have shifted from passive to active learners. And educators have adopted new views of teaching and learning,” Dr Khong said. UGC TEACHING AWARD A research-based, HKU-led team that equips students with allround, whole-person competencies, such as leadership, critical thinking, integrity, resilience and the latest AI literacy, won the 2024 UGC Teaching Award in the category ‘Collaborative Teams’. The cross-institutional team is led by Professor Cecilia Chan, Professor in the Faculty of Education and former Director of the Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre, and includes Professor Samson Tse, Dean of Student Affairs at HKU, and professors from Lingnan University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and Hong Kong Baptist University. Their project, titled ‘Holistic Competency and Virtues Education (HAVE)’, provides competency development and professional development to universities and includes a framework and an The Common Core project ‘Transdisciplinarity for Future Readiness’ led by Professor Julian Tanner (left) and Dr Jack Tsao (right) won silver in the ‘Developing Emerging Skills and Competencies’ category. The HKUMed project ‘Students as Co-Designers’ led by Dr Khong Mei Li (first from left) won bronze in ‘The Power of Partnerships’ category. The Chairman of the University Grants Committee (UGC) Mr Tim Lui (third from right) presenting the 2024 UGC Teaching Award for Collaborative Teams to the team led by Professor Cecilia Chan (third from left), with members Professor Samson Tse (first from left), Professor Ben Chan (second from left), Professor Albert Ko (second from right) and Dr Theresa Kwong (first from right). (Courtesy of University Grants Committee) GLOBAL HONOURS FOR HKU TEACHERS Two teaching teams from HKU were honoured in the ‘Oscars’ of education, the global Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Reimagine Education Awards, presented in Abu Dhabi in December 2023. The awards honour the most innovative and effective approaches to enhancing student learning and employability. The HKU Common Core team won a Silver Award in the category ‘Developing Emerging Skills and Competencies’, for the success and scalability of the Common Core curriculum. Introduced in 2012, the Common Core requires students to step outside their disciplines and learn in the community and through a wide variety of media. All undergraduate students are required to select courses (from among more than 160 offered each year) in each of four thematic pillars – Science, Technology and Big Data; Arts and Humanities; Global Issues; and China: Culture, State and Society. A fifth pillar on artificial intelligence is planned for September 2025. The team is led by the Common Core’s Director Professor Julian Tanner, Dexter H C Man Family Professor in Medical Science, and Associate Director Dr Jack Tsao. Their submission to the QS Awards was titled ‘Transdisciplinarity for Future Readiness’. accreditation model based around 14 competencies, that have set benchmarks in courses developing these competencies for thousands of students. “Higher education has been largely focussed on disciplinary or professional knowledge, leaving a critical gap in students’ overall development. Academic knowledge is indeed useful, but applying what we learn, caring for society, and loving our families are even more crucial. We hope our next generation will be well-rounded and compassionate – represented by HAVE,” Professor Chan said. The team plans to use the grant to establish a HAVE education centre in 2025 and launch online micro-courses to promote, assess and certify holistic abilities. 14 15 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2024 TEACHING AND LEARNING
A COOL IDEA A cross-faculty team of seven undergraduate students won the 2024 James Dyson Award Hong Kong for designing a cooling device that fits on the safety helmets of construction workers. The device mitigates heat stress, which can be a real threat to workers given the temperatures inside their helmets can soar up to 45 degrees Celsius when they are labouring in summer heat. The project began when Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies students Jeff Li and Joseph Wong were in their first year and wanted to create something impactful. Initially, they focussed on a hands-free cooling solution for hikers, but then they realised the serious health risks facing construction workers. They began building prototypes, recruited friends studying engineering, business and law, and formed a company, Hay-koze, in 2022. Along the way, they received support from the Faculties of Architecture and Medicine, the Tam Wing Fan Innovation Wing in the Faculty of Engineering, and the iDendron programme of HKU’s Techno-Entrepreneurship Core. “We all graduated in 2024 and were wondering whether to invest full-time in this project, so winning the James Dyson Award gave us a massive confidence boost. We will continue pushing the project to maturity and we are seeking partnerships with major contractors in Hong Kong,” said Mr Li. Students have been embracing opportunities to apply AI and other technologies in the real world, through their own projects and HKU-organised internships. TECH SAVVY Jim presenting a novel approach to remediating the issue of immune evasion during immunotherapy at the iGEM 2023 Grand Jamboree. CROSS-FACULTY TEAM WINS GOLD A team of 25 students from the Faculties of Science, Medicine and Engineering earned a gold medal in the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) 2023 Grand Jamboree, held in November. Student teams from around the world had been invited to develop solutions to global challenges using synthetic biology, and the HKU team engineered macrophages based on self-replicating RNA to enhance the treatment of solid cancerous tumours, particularly immunotherapy treatment. The students were supported by their faculties, the Common Core and the Tam Wing Fan Innovation Wing. Jim Cheung Chi Hung, now a fourth-year Bachelor of Science student and one of the team leaders, said they are continuing to develop their innovation further so that it can be more effective, accessible and affordable, and delivered simply via injection. “This was a completely student-run team and the leadership, idea generation, team management, funding and direction were all decided by team members. It has given us students an unprecedented learning opportunity that cannot be received through final-year projects or internships,” he said. OPPORTUNITY THROUGH AI INTERNSHIPS HKU was the first university in Hong Kong to organise AI internships. In summer 2024, more than 100 students and more than 30 firms joined the programme arranged by the Centre of Development and Resources for Students. Among the student participants were third-year Bachelor of Engineering students Widjaja Edward Aryaguna, originally from Indonesia, and Oh Hyun Young, originally from Korea. Both students worked with Merck Pharmaceutical HK where they had opportunities to develop and optimise AI-based solutions related to sales orders and forecasting, and learn more about project management, design and proposal. Mr Aryaguna also successfully pitched a chatbot on product information for the sales and marketing team. “All of the skills and new AI knowledge I gained will be very useful for my future career as an aspiring data scientist. In fact, utilising AI and machine learning models in a real-world setting is an experience most students at my level would not have,” Mr Aryaguna said. He came to HKU because of the opportunities it offered, a view echoed by Mr Oh. “HKU aligns with my academic interests and offers invaluable networking opportunities through its strong connections with industry professionals. The AI internship not only expanded my technical knowledge but also provided me with insights on the workings of a multinational organisation.” MEMO TO SELF: STUDY MORE EFFICIENTLY Two medical students, who laboured over learning large amounts of information for their pre-clinical studies, have devised an AIpowered platform that now has over 180,000 users across 30 different academic disciplines. Their start-up, Memo (formerly PDF2Anki), automates the creation of flashcards by making lecture slides, notes, presentations and other PDF files compatible with the Anki flashcard app. This saves hours of time that would be needed to do this manually. The project began when Jason Chan Chi Shing (now MBBS Year 3) and Calvin Cheung Tin Chun (MBBS Year 4) were in their first year, and they developed it over weekends and study breaks. Mr Chan, who leads product development, received an Innovation and Technology Scholarship in August 2024 for his work from the Innovation and Technology Commission, HSBC and The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups. “It was challenging to find time, but our passion for the project and its potential impact kept us motivated. What started as a solution to our own study challenges has grown into a tool helping students worldwide. This award is a validation of our work, and I plan to use the opportunity to further develop our AI capabilities and explore new technologies in the Greater Bay Area,” he said. A cross-faculty team of undergraduate students developed a cooling device that attaches to the safety helmets of construction workers. Merck Pharmaceutical HK hosted an end of internship award ceremony where Oh Hyun Young (first from left) and Widjaja Edward Aryaguna (centre) were presented with the Exemplary Progress Award in recognition of their dedication and hard work. MBBS students and co-founders of Memo – Calvin Cheung (left) and Jason Chan (right). 16 17 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2024 TEACHING AND LEARNING
Students expanded their learning beyond the curriculum through their own initiative and through opportunities offered by new University programmes to pursue research and cross-cultural engagement. A EUREKA MOMENT The EUREKA programme was launched in 2023–24 to offer undergraduate students the chance to acquire research skills, conduct a project through a free elective, and test their interest in research. Seventeen students joined, attending a module on research methods before producing their own research project. Lam Kwan Yiu, currently a final-year Bachelor of Social Sciences student, had previously taken an online course on Latin American politics and diplomacy, so he decided to investigate an area that has received little attention – the historical interaction between Qing-era China and Latin America. Under the guidance of his supervisor, Professor Bárbara Fernández Melleda of the School of Modern Languages and Cultures, he showed that promising bilateral diplomacy during the 19th century had been halted by the inward-looking Qing government. “I love how the EUREKA course design gives us a glimpse of how research is practised. While other programmes teach us about research skills, few provide the opportunity for hands-on application. The programme also bridges the gap by allowing us to gain practical experience without having an impact on our final GPA, through the pass / fail grading system,” Mr Lam said. BORDER CROSSINGS A research study experience on the Thai-Myanmar border, organised by the Common Core Office, proved eye-opening and inspirational for Dicky Wong Tik. He attended in 2023 as a first-year Architecture student and felt a strong connection with the young refugees he met there, who struggled to access higher education. On returning to HKU, he questioned how he could help and began brainstorming with friends. The result is a project entirely initiated and coordinated by mostly first- and second-year students from the Faculties of Architecture, Arts, Engineering and Social Sciences. In May 2024, they returned to the Thai-Myanmar border to learn about the issues faced by schools, organise art therapy and a design studio for students, and to develop solutions to problems, such as sealing the kitchen drain to keep out rats and purchasing new mattresses and lighting. They plan to return in early 2025 to help with a school construction project. “Beyond the physical structures built and valuable insights gained, we take pride in the bonds we formed that transcended borders, cultures and ethnicities. In a place where support is often lacking, our experiences show that anything is possible with goodwill and collaboration,” Mr Wong said. SUPER-ACHIEVER Not many students establish a start-up in their teens, but Anthony Fung Pui Him has not only done that, he’s gone one better: he is also founder of an NGO focussing on life-death education and compassion for those suffering from grief and loss. Mr Fung co-founded his start-up, BOOST TEAM Ltd, while still in secondary school in 2018 to provide digital services and branding, such as social media marketing, for companies. The company has served more than 60 clients in construction, prefabrication, recycling and other fields. He also founded Grief Me Light in 2022 with friends studying psychology, which has organised more than 80 wellness events, published online education materials, launched a Life-Death Education Mobile Learning Truck and produced a music video on grief, among other things. Mr Fung graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 2024 and is currently enrolled in the Master of Global Management programme. “When I established my first company in high school, I did not truly understand what entrepreneurship was or how to manage a company. Studying at the HKU Business School, especially the Entrepreneurship, Design and Innovation programme, has been a cornerstone in my entrepreneurial journey and equipped me with knowledge, networks and skills,” he said. GOING ‘GLOCAL’ The Centre of Development and Resources for Students has stepped up programmes to better integrate non-local students into university life. One of these is GLOCAL Connect, which organises gatherings and outings for new non-local students and links them up with about 60 local students, who help them settle in, learn about local culture and traditions, and foster a sense of belonging. About 400 non-local students have been matched into small groups with the local volunteers. Akhmedov Farrukh, a first-year Bachelor of Business Administration student from Tajikistan, is one of the newcomers. “This programme is helping me discover new places in Hong Kong and meet people. One of my wishes before coming to HKU was to make a lot of friends and this was a great opportunity to do so.” His local group member is Ernest Ong Kuan Tiam Tim, a secondyear Bachelor of Social Sciences student. “I have been blown away by this programme. There are so many students from all over the world and I never truly understood the scale of the international community at HKU. I plan to introduce my partners to the highlights of Hong Kong and help them adjust to university life here.” RICHER EXPERIENCES Students presenting the outcomes of the Eureka research projects. ‘Make Swe’ was a seven-day volunteer trip to the Thai-Myanmar border with the aim of improving the living and learning environment of Myanmar migrants and refugees affected by the ongoing civil war in their home country. HKU launched the GLOCAL Connect programme to build global bonds between local and non-local students. Anthony (right) was awarded the Top Ten Tertiary Student Awards 2024 in recognition of his outstanding achievements in entrepreneurship. 18 19 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2024 TEACHING AND LEARNING
21 20 The recruitment of top talent and the enhancement of research facilities are bringing recognition and support for our scholars and deepening our capacity to produce impactful research. KNOWLEDGE AND DISCOVERY RESEARCH AND INNOVATION RESEARCH AND INNOVATION HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2024
The University is making steady progress towards its aim of contributing knowledge and solutions to grand global challenges such as climate change and better healthcare. In 2023–24, world-leading academics continued to be recruited, new facilities built, networks expanded, and new centres launched to promote dialogue and collaboration. The quality of our efforts is evident in our continued funding success and strong ranking in international tables. The list of achievements includes HKU again securing the most General Research Fund grants and leading locally in funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China; 53 HKU scholars being named in Clarivate’s prestigious 2024 Highly Cited Researchers list – our highest number ever; and the new Shanghai Institute for Science of Science (SISS) identifying HKU as first in China and sixth in the world in terms of disruptive research. Our research output was a major factor in HKU’s rise to 17th overall best university in the world, our highest position to date, in the 2025 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings. The foundation of our research success is the excellence of our scholars, which is increasing every year as we recruit more and more leaders in their fields. In 2024 alone (up to November 1), we welcomed 124 top and rising scholars from leading institutions such as Stanford University, ETH Zurich and University College London. Having top minds on campus opens doors and opportunities for experienced and young scholars alike. We are also nurturing new talent through our Graduate School by enriching research postgraduate (RPG) education. All RPG students will be required to complete new courses on artificial intelligence and data technology offered by the Graduate School and individual faculties. Feedback is also being enhanced through a new PhD advisory committee, in which dissertation supervisors work with two or three other professors to provide detailed responses. And the Graduate School has also launched its Future-Ready Series to promote all-round development, including mental wellness. All this talent needs to be supported by world-class research infrastructure. Here, too, HKU is making strong inroads. The Tech Landmark, housing 10 interdisciplinary institutes when completed, will soon open its first phase. The Jockey Club STEM Lab programme announced in spring 2024 that five new laboratories would be established at HKU to promote interdisciplinary research and collaboration. Our five State Key Laboratories (SKL) also underwent evaluation at the national level and ranked highly, and a sixth SKL is planned. To make the most effective use of our resources, we are also preparing to centralise management of major equipment and introduce a sharing mechanism. Apart from raising the bar in terms of people and facilities, HKU is advancing our research agenda by promoting collaborations across disciplines, institutions and boundaries. Several new research centres were established in 2023–24, including the Materials Innovation Institute for Life Sciences and Energy located in the Hetao Co-operation Zone. Our deepening engagement with Mainland China will undoubtedly be a springboard for expanding our research capacity in the coming years. TOP RECIPIENT of all Hong Kong tertiary institutions General Research Fund 2024–25 PROJECTS 238 HKU researchers are also participating in three other projects Theme-based Research Scheme 2024–25 awarded to HKU TOTAL VALUE 3 out of 7 projects 1505 HK$ MILLION INCLUDING ON-COSTS HKU researchers are also participating in two other projects Strategic Topics Grant 2024–25 awarded to HKU TOTAL VALUE 2 out of 6 projects 731 HK$ MILLION EXCLUDING ON-COSTS National Natural Science Foundation of China awards for young scientists in 2024 awarded under National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars 7 awarded under Excellent Young Scientists Fund 7 21 National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) / Research Grants Council (RGC) schemes 2024–25 awarded under NSFC / RGC Joint Research Scheme awarded under NSFC / RGC Collaborative Research Scheme 11 PROJECTS PROJECTS 3 2372 HK$ MILLION ACADEMICS ACADEMICS awarded under Young Scientists Fund ACADEMICS 9024 HK$ MILLION funding from other sources Funding received for new research projects in 2023–24 + 5774 HK$ MILLION funding from UGC and RGC 22 RESEARCH AND INNOVATION 23 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2024
In 2024, Clarivate named 53 HKU academics to its Highly Cited Researchers list – our highest number ever. HKU ranks among the top 10 institutions globally by the number of top scholars. The scholars produced multiple highly cited research papers that ranked in the top 1% by citations during 2013–23. GLOBAL LEADERS IN THE FIELD COMPUTER SCIENCE CHEMISTRY Professor Kathy Leung Sze Man School of Public Health Professor Li Yuguo Department of Mechanical Engineering Dr Eric Lau Ho Yin School of Public Health Professor Mak Tak Wah Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine Professor Liang Shunlin Department of Geography CROSS-FIELD Professor Joseph Wu Tsz Kei School of Public Health Professor Joseph Sriyal Malik Peiris School of Public Health Professor Leo Poon Lit Man School of Public Health Dr Vivian Shuai Huiping Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine Dr Anthony Raymond Tam Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine Professor Tang Chuyang Department of Civil Engineering Professor Wang Han Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Professor Ian Wong Chi Kei Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy Professor Wu Peng School of Public Health Professor Yen Hui Ling School of Public Health Dr Cyril Yip Chik Yan Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine Professor Kelvin Yeung Wai Kwok Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, School of Clinical Medicine Dr Anna Zhang Jinxia Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine Professor Dai Hongjie Department of Chemistry Professor Sir Fraser Stoddart Department of Chemistry Professor Huang Kaibin Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Professor Liu Yuanwei Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Professor Guo Zhengxiao Department of Chemistry Professor Feng Yibin School of Chinese Medicine Professor Dong Renhao Department of Chemistry Professor Chen Zhiwei AIDS Institute; Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine Professor Chen Honglin Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine Dr Chan Wan Mui Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine Dr Chan Kwok Hung Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine Professor Ester Cerin School of Public Health Professor Huang Bo Department of Geography Professor Raven Kok Kin Hang Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine 24 RESEARCH AND INNOVATION 25 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Professor Gong Peng President’s Office; Faculty of Science; Faculty of Social Sciences Mr Cai Jianpiao Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine Professor Jasper Chan Fuk Woo Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine Professor Yao Wang Department of Physics Professor Liu Zhu Department of Geography Professor Vincent Cheng Chi Chung Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine Professor Kelvin To Kai Wang Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine Professor Zhang Shuang Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Department of Physics Professor Zhao Guochun Department of Earth Sciences Professor Ivan Hung Fan Ngai Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine Professor Yuen Kwok Yung Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine Professor Xiang Zhang President’s Office; Faculty of Engineering; Faculty of Science Professor Benjamin John Cowling School of Public Health Professor Li Lain Jong Department of Mechanical Engineering Professor Zhou Yuyu Department of Geography Professor Gabriel Matthew Leung School of Public Health GEOSCIENCES IMMUNOLOGY IMMUNOLOGY, MICROBIOLOGY IMMUNOLOGY, SOCIAL SCIENCES MATERIALS SCIENCE Professor Chu Hin Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine Professor Tommy Lam Tsan Yuk School of Public Health Professor Yuan Shuofeng Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine Professor Zhang Tong Department of Civil Engineering MICROBIOLOGY PHYSICS Professor Zhang Xiaoling Department of Real Estate and Construction SOCIAL SCIENCES by the number of Highly Cited Researchers 10th HKU is ranked GLOBALLY 53HKU SCHOLARS named to Clarivate’s 2024 Highly Cited Researchers list 40% of Hong Kong’s Highly Cited Researchers 26 RESEARCH AND INNOVATION 27 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Professor Schönberg joined HKU as Chair Professor of Economics from University College London in 2023. She has a strong reputation in labour economics, with a particular interest in the effects of business and payroll taxation on firms and workers, and firm-provided family-friendly policies. Most of her work to date has centred in Europe, so she was attracted to HKU by the opportunity to explore Asia and turn her research focus to the region. She hopes to explore the very low fertility rates in this part of the world compared to the US and most European countries, and investigate the root causes and societal impact of this. TALENT MAGNET I have had a very positive initial experience at the HKU Business School. A notable observation is the minimal boundaries between different disciplines, such as economics, management and strategy, finance and marketing, which has allowed me to engage with colleagues across diverse yet interconnected fields. I am particularly impressed by the new HKU Jockey Club Enterprise Sustainability Global Research Institute. Professor Li is an internationally renowned political scientist and think tank scholar, who previously served as Director and Senior Fellow of the Brookings Institution’s John L. Thornton China Center. He is currently a director of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He came to HKU in 2023 as a professor of political science, attracted by its proximity to his cultural roots and, most importantly, its position as a bridge between East and West and North and South. Since arriving, he has established the Centre on Contemporary China and the World to promote scholarly exchanges and international and interdisciplinary research on China and the world. HKU’s strategic location offers an unparalleled opportunity to study China in a vibrant, dynamic environment. I have been deeply impressed by the tremendous support I have received here and appreciate the University’s commitment to foster a collaborative and inclusive environment, which has been crucial in advancing my goals. PROFESSOR LI CHENG Professor Department of Politics and Public Administration Director Centre on Contemporary China and the World PROFESSOR UTA SCHÖNBERG Chair Professor of Economics HKU Business School Top scholars who joined HKU in 2023–24 are opening up collaborations and taking our research portfolio in new directions. Professor Häusser is a neuroscientist who has made important discoveries about the cellular mechanisms that underlie computation in the mammalian brain. He has helped develop and deploy powerful neuro-technologies, such as combining imaging and optogenetics, to study the function of neural circuits in the cerebellum and neocortex. He has also explored how single neurons and neural circuits drive behaviours and adapt during learning. Professor Häusser came to HKU in 2024 from University College London to become the new Director of the School of Biomedical Sciences and Chair Professor of Neuroscience, having been on the Scientific Advisory Board of the School since 2015. PROFESSOR MICHAEL HÄUSSER Lee Man-Chiu Professor in Neuroscience Director and Chair Professor of Neuroscience School of Biomedical Sciences I am very familiar with the School’s strengths and potential so the opportunity to join as its new Director and capitalise on this environment to build new strengths in neuroscience was particularly appealing to me. I am excited by the prospect of bridging basic and clinical neuroscience to make major advances in understanding, preventing and treating neurological and psychiatric disorders. 28 RESEARCH AND INNOVATION 29 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2024
RISING STARS Professor Chen of the Division of Landscape Architecture was named one of the Top 50 Rising Stars by Geospatial World in 2024 in recognition of his work investigating the interaction loop between environmental change, human activities and public health. He uses geospatial big data and advanced interdisciplinary methods, and he has established the Future Urbanity & Sustainable Environment (FUSE) Lab at HKU to study how more sustainable and healthy cities can be achieved. Among his significant findings, he was the first to identify on a global scale the significant disparities in greenspace exposure between cities in the Global South and North. “HKU has been an excellent platform for both teaching and research, with opportunities for cross-faculty and cross-discipline collaboration. I engage and work closely with experts from social science, economics, computing, data science and engineering, which is fundamentally important to addressing complex systemic issues. I also work closely and learn from students and peers. The FUSE Lab has rapidly evolved into a vibrant research hub, and I enjoy working with students and postdocs to tackle pressing environmental challenges and nurturing the next generation of scientists and scholars in this field.” Dr Lyu, who recently completed her PhD in chemistry at HKU, was the first nominee from Hong Kong to be awarded the Schmidt Science Fellow, one of the most prestigious postdoctoral fellowships in the world. The fellowship allows her to be based in a top-ranking university – she has chosen the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – in a field that pivots from her PhD specialisation. Dr Lyu’s research has focussed on colloidal synthesis and self-assembly, where she has developed strategies for assembling anisotropic colloidal particles into hierarchical superstructures. Her findings hold exciting potential applications in optics, photonics, and cargo delivery. At MIT, she is based in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, researching soft materials and systems for advancing health and sustainability. “My experience at HKU was crucial in helping me achieve the fellowship. My advisor’s invaluable mentorship, the supportive lab environment, and opportunities to collaborate with distinguished researchers from HKU and abroad sharpened my research direction and provided new perspectives to tackle complex challenges. The funding opportunities and state-of-the-art facilities at HKU also supplied essential resources for my projects, enabling me to produce high-quality research.” Young scholars are making a mark and earning recognition for their achievements. Professor Wong in the Department of Pathology in the Faculty of Medicine has made important contributions towards understanding the major metabolic reprogramming machinery and immune evasion of liver cancer. In 2024, she received two major grants from national and local bodies to advance her research further. The National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of the National Natural Science Foundation of China awarded Professor Wong funds to explore the immune microenvironment of MASLD / MASH HCC – liver cancer involving metabolic dysfunctions, as opposed to viral triggers. She also received a Research Fellow Scheme grant from the Research Grants Council for work aimed at improving outcomes for patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, a form of liver cancer with very poor treatment response, by focussing on the role played by mutations to the metabolic enzyme, IDH. “HKU is where I built my interest in liver cancer research. HKUMed, in particular, has given me a lot of opportunities to develop my career. Looking ahead, I hope that by understanding the pathogenesis of various types of liver cancer, our work can be potentially translated into new biomarkers and drugs that can be used clinically to achieve effective personalised treatment for liver cancer patients.” Professor Yang of the Department of Physics, who is also Belinda Hung Outstanding Young Professor, has won multiple awards in recent years for his groundbreaking work in the field of nanophotonics and free-electron optics. This year, he was named the sole Hong Kong recipient of the Xplorer Prize 2024, which recognises outstanding young scientists under 45 who demonstrate exceptional quality and innovation in their fields of research, and he won the Croucher Tak Wah Mak Innovation Award. Previously, he was named a Physical Science Fellow in the inaugural Asian Young Scientist Fellowship in 2023 and one of the 2022 Innovators under 35 (China) by MIT Technology Review, among other honours. He joined HKU in 2022. “HKU is a prestigious institution with a strong academic reputation both locally and internationally. It provides access to a wide range of research opportunities and resources and a collaborative environment. Also, the students here are great, and we are having fun together! This year, we derived a fundamental upper limit to the quantum interaction strength between free electrons and photons, which provides a simple golden rule of selecting electron and photon energy given their interaction separation. In future, we hope to observe exotic phenomena in light-matter interaction and use that for applications.” PROFESSOR YANG YI Assistant Professor Department of Physics PROFESSOR CHEN BIN Assistant Professor Department of Architecture PROFESSOR CARMEN WONG CHAK LUI Associate Professor Department of Pathology DR LYU DENGPING PhD Graduate Department of Chemistry 30 RESEARCH AND INNOVATION 31 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2024
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