7 February 2025

HSUHK held a Media Spring Reception on 7 February 2025. Professor Simon Ho, President, alongside Professor Joshua Mok, Provost and Vice-President (Academic and Research); Professor Jeanne Fu, Vice-President (Learning and Student Experience); and Dr Josiah Chan, Vice-President (Organisational Development), shared HSUHK’s latest development to media representatives, including the University’s 45th Anniversary celebratory events, new academic programmes, teaching and learning facilities, as well as accomplishments in campus sustainability initiatives, international collaborations, and entrepreneurial education.

At the reception, President Ho also revealed HSUHK’s Character of the Year: “醒” (Awaken), which carries great many meanings for the University and larger society. The primary meaning is to express hope that Hong Kong’s economy and social development will further “awaken” this year. Additionally, a call for an “awakening” of the global “woke” movement is essential, and that incoming policies must be grounded and achieve balance. The character also means “sharp” in Cantonese, and expresses hope that HSUHK and members of the public are as “sharp” and agile like a snake this year, adapting flexibly and innovation to better respond to, and work with community needs.

Journalists also visited the new “Martin Ka Shing Lee Innovation Lab” and the Multimedia Commons located at the Creative Humanities Hub. The Lab is equipped with state-of-the-art Extended Reality (XR) facilities, combining Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) to enhance immersive experiences and present realistic visual effects for creators. The Lab costs over HK$10 million and is open to all staff and students to further strengthen the University community’s literacy in digital communications.