QS: The university's motto is “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind”. I was curious as to how that motto is achieved within the institution?

Our motto, "To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind," emphasises the importance we place on ensuring that our research and teaching meet industrial and societal needs. Of course, we highly value world-class fundamental research that is published in the top journals. But we don't stop there. We also believe that if we do research, it should eventually be applied in practice. We want to take the extra step of ensuring our research makes a difference in the world. That's what the motto means.

Furthermore, while the work of every university benefits the community, we strive to be a closer partner with industries, communities, and society at large. This is our unique positioning.

One example of our commitment to benefitting society is the work of our optometry professors. They have developed innovative optical technologies, known as DISC and DIMS, to produce advanced contact and spectacle lenses for controlling myopia. Myopia is a common condition in Asia, and if unaddressed, it's estimated that by 2050, around one billion people will suffer from high myopia. However, if we make these lenses accessible to young children and adults, we could reduce the high myopia population by 90 percent. Our lenses have been commercialised in collaboration with Hoya Vision Care, our industry partner, and Vision Science and Technology, a PolyU academic-led start-up. To date, over 16 million pieces have been sold.

QS: There's been a significant rise in automation over the past decade and a bit. Artificial intelligence hit popular imagination recently. There's plenty of other emerging technologies. How is PolyU preparing students for the future of work?

Last year, we were the first university, at least in Hong Kong, to implement AI and data analytics as a compulsory subject for undergraduate students. In addition, we have restructured our curriculum so that students of various degree programmes can also choose to take a secondary major in AI and data analytics. That includes students in design, physics, mechanical engineering, hotel and tourism management, accounting and finance, and many other programmes. We are going to produce a lot of graduates with strong knowledge in AI together with being a specialist in their own professional discipline.

A secondary major in our university requires the completion of 36 credits, which is more than a typical Taught Master's programme at PolyU that usually requires 30 credits. Hence, we are effectively equipping our graduates with professional degrees, plus something similar to a Master's in AI and data analytics.

But we have an even larger vision in mind. With the rise of AI, many jobs will potentially be lost. While it's important for our academic programmes to continually evolve to keep up with the times, it's even more crucial that our graduates can adapt to the numerous technological and societal changes they will face throughout their careers. Therefore, it's imperative that our students develop strong independent learning skills. With this in mind, we plan to enhance the self-learning capabilities of our students by introducing innovative teaching strategies, such as flipped classrooms and intelligent tutoring systems, that will better prepare them for success in a society that will change much faster than before due to AI.

QS: PolyU is launching its first ever Master’s of Science in Metaverse technology later this year. Why should universities keep up with the pace of modern technology and how do students benefit?

We refer to ourselves as an innovative world-class university. The term "innovative" carries a triple meaning for us. Firstly, we aspire to produce graduates who will become leaders and drivers of innovation. Secondly, we're committed to ensuring that our research leads to innovations with direct societal benefits. Thirdly, we strive to embed innovation in all aspects of our operations, from developing new programmes and exploring fresh research directions to formulating new policies and management systems.

In the context of Master's programmes, which are now self-financed in Hong Kong, our innovative spirit gives us considerable freedom when designing academic programmes. More than a year ago, I noticed that metaverses were trending heavily. I didn't find any university offering a Master's programme in metaverse technology at the time, so we decided to launch one. And since it's an emerging field, there's a strong demand for graduates with expertise in this area.

This year, we are also launching new Master’s programmes in areas including microelectronics technology and materials, sustainable technology for carbon neutrality, ESG and sustainability, and intelligent construction. All these programmes will provide highly sought after talent in emerging areas of technology.

QS: In closing, what accomplishments is PolyU particularly proud of?

We take great pride in being ranked the 65th best university globally according to the QS World University Rankings 2024, as it attests to our educational and research excellence.

We also take pride in being the only local university that has made substantial contributions to national space missions. We developed an advanced space instrument, the "Surface Sampling and Packing System", for the Chang’e-5 lunar-sample return mission. Moreover, we identified possible landing regions with advanced topographic mapping and geomorphological analysis technologies, as well as developed the “Mars Landing Surveillance Camera”, for the Tianwen-1 Mars exploration mission. Our contributions reflect our university’s exceptional competence in engineering and technology.

Although we take pride in these achievements, we will not be complacent. Instead, such accomplishments inspire us to excel even further to ensure PolyU continues to positively impact the socioeconomic development of Hong Kong, Mainland China, and the world.