CUHK-Shenzhen Holds Graduation Ceremony for Bachelor Degree Students 2025
The Graduation Ceremony for Bachelor Degree Students 2025 of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen was held on May 18 at the Liwen Hall. Over 1,600 graduates gathered to celebrate this major milestone, embarking on a journey filled with dreams and aspirations.
Professor Yangsheng Xu, President of CUHK-Shenzhen, along with university officers and faculty representatives, attended the ceremony to witness the proud moments of the 2025 cohort. Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-Ming, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chairman of the Governing Board of CUHK-Shenzhen, and Vice-Chancellor of CUHK, as well as Professor Wen Gao, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, member of CUHK-Shenzhen Governing Board, and Director of Peng Cheng Laboratory, delivered keynote speeches. Professor Chai Yat-chiu, Chairman of CUHK Council, and Professors Chunshan Song and Jie Tang, members of CUHK-Shenzhen Govenring Board, also attended the ceremony.
This year, 18 graduates were honored with the "Presidential Awards for Outstanding Students" for their exceptional academic performance, leadership skills, and contributions to the university's development. The awardees were recognized by Professor Cha Yat-chiu, Professor Dennis Lo, and President Yangsheng Xu, who presented the certificates and took commemorative photos with them.
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According to statistics, nearly 85% of the 2025 undergraduate graduates plan to pursue further studies, with many already receiving offers from prestigious universities worldwide, including Imperial College London, the University of Oxford, Harvard University, the University of Cambridge, Stanford University, ETH Zurich, National University of Singapore, University of Pennsylvania, UC Berkeley, Cornell University, University of Chicago, University of Hong Kong, Yale University, EPFL, Columbia University, and more. Approximately 15% of graduates will enter the workforce directly, with some securing positions at renowned global and domestic companies such as Citibank, Deutsche Bank, Boston Consulting Group, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Nielsen, Tencent, Huawei, ByteDance, PDD, Alibaba, Intel, State Grid Corporation of China, and P&G.
Notably, the School of Music celebrated the graduation of its first cohort of eight undergraduate students, who have received offers from world-renowned music institutions, including the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, New England Conservatory, Berklee College of Music, and the American Musical Academy.
During the ceremony, inspiring speeches and heartfelt messages were delivered by Professor Dennis Lo, Professor Wen Gao, President Yangsheng Xu, and outstanding student representative Yiling Xu. They shared their experiences, wisdom, and encouragement, urging graduates to seize opportunities, embrace challenges, and realize their values and dreams in the vast expanse of the world.
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Prof. Dennis Lo: Think globally, and act locally
In his speech at the Graduation Ceremony, Prof. Dennis Lo commended CUHK-Shenzhen for its remarkable achievements over the past decade since its establishment. He also emphasized the strong collaboration between CUHK and CUHK-Shenzhen under the “One Brand, Two Campuses” framework, which has driven impactful initiatives to support national development. He emphasized the launch of impactful initiatives aimed at supporting national development, including the introduction of collaborative double major programmes that provide students with diverse learning opportunities and exposure to both Hong Kong and Shenzhen, as well as the “1+1+1” Joint Collaboration Fund Project in partnership with the Guangdong Science and Technology Department, which establishes a seed funding pool to support meaningful research, platform-building, and the cultivation of young scholars.
Facing the complexities of a rapidly changing world, Prof. Lo urged graduates to navigate the the challenges brought by technological advancements with critical thinking and clear goals.
“On global issues that demand human our attention, such as the ravages of wars. We're talking about world peace, the imminent climate crisis, and the imperative for a sustainable world. Think globally globally, and yet act locally – for no locally – because no action is too small when it comes to impacting the world positively. You may find that, at the end of the day, the education you have received received at CUHK-Shenzhen will provide you with an edge to ride out the tides.”
Prof. Wen Gao: Anchor Yourself in the AI Era with the Rigor of a Scientist, the Vision of an Entrepreneur, and the Compassion of a Humanist
In his speech, Professor Wen Gao emphasized that we are living in an era filled with both opportunities and challenges. He highlighted the historic moment in 2024 when the Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry were awarded to scientists in the field of artificial intelligence. This milestone marked AI's transformation from a technical tool to a core engine for scientific discovery, revealing the opportunities and strategic directions for the next generation of AI technologies.
Professor Gao noted, "The future wave of artificial intelligence will delve even deeper. This will require not only algorithmic innovation but also interdisciplinary collaboration: physics provides theoretical frameworks, chemistry and biology inspire application scenarios, and mathematics strengthens computational foundations."
Prof. Yangsheng Xu: Seize the opportunities of the era, and become a bridge connecting China and the world
In his address, Prof. Yangsheng Xu highly commended the growth and achievements of this year’s graduating class. Reflecting on the context of the times, he urged the graduates to seize the opportunities presented by this transformative era, realize their values and dreams, and embark on their future journeys with a grounded approach.
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He encouraged the graduates to embrace challenges with courage and persevere with resilience, striving to become bridges that connect China with the world.
“As you venture forth to workplaces and graduate schools all over the globe, you will meet with conflicts in many forms, between individuals, between value systems, and between different visions of the future. It’s easy to be carried away by narratives of opposition. But it’s harder and more courageous to learn across divides and seek common ground. You will represent China on the global stage—in science, business, arts, ethics, social services. You will also represent China through your conduct: your etiquette, cultural awareness, and your willingness to engage in open, respectful dialogue. To connect with others through true understanding and meaningful communication, that is the profound challenge. I want you to be prepared for that challenge. We cannot foresee how far away global reconciliation may be, but I encourage you to heal the divides at personal levels by becoming bridge-builders. I encourage you to explore ways of competition without excluding collaboration.”
Student Representative Yilin Xu: Discover your passion, know your boundaries, and find your people
Yiling Xu, a graduate from Diligentia College and the School of Management and Economics, delivered a speech as the representative of the graduating class. She shared her reflections and insights gained during her four years of study at CUHK-Shenzhen.
“First, whether it’s solving business problems, promoting social good, or performing under the spotlight, I have found my passions. This freedom to explore and the courage to pursue is the greatest gift CUHK-Shenzhen has given me. Second, I learned to understand boundaries. Knowing the boundary internally helps me identify strengths and weaknesses while knowing the boundaries set by others lets me know the direction to break through. What’s more, I made friends that I trust deeply—people who inspire me, challenge me, and support me.”
