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CityUHK (Dongguan) Celebrates Its First Graduation Ceremony for 2026

On June 22, 2026, the City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan) held its inaugural graduation ceremony for the class of 2026. This momentous occasion saw over 420 Master of Science graduates making the journey from Dongguan to Hong Kong to participate in the event, marking a significant milestone in the academic landscape of the region.

The ceremony attracted high-profile officials, scholars, and distinguished guests, including Leung Chun-ying, the Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference; Li Jun, the Vice Mayor of Dongguan; Chen Yulin, Director of the Education, Science, and Technology Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; and several prominent figures from the university including Professor Michael Ngai, the Chair of the CityUHK council, and Professor Duan Baoyan, President of CityUHK (Dongguan).

In his speech, Leung emphasized the cross-border educational value of CityUHK (Dongguan) and encouraged graduates to leverage opportunities within the Greater Bay Area to foster regional and national innovation. He highlighted the university's pioneering role in educating students who are poised to contribute to society. Similarly, Li Jun praised CityUHK (Dongguan) as a groundbreaking educational initiative in the Greater Bay Area that capitalizes on local industrial and innovative resources. She urged graduates to embark on their careers within the industries present in Dongguan.

During the ceremony, Professor Ngai underscored CityUHK's distinguished international reputation, noting it has been recognized for three consecutive years by THE as the "most international university in the world", and that it ranks 47th in the U.S. News Best Global Universities Ranking for 2026-2027 and 52nd in the QS World University Rankings for 2027. Professor Chun-Sing Lee reminded the graduates of the vital role universities play in urban ecosystems, encouraging them to foster entrepreneurial thinking and embrace the motto: "The future belongs to those who are brave enough to start something new."

Professor Duan also addressed the graduates, stating, "Life is a journey, and careers are marathons." He emphasized the importance of a strong start in one’s career, advising the graduates to remain calm and decisive in the face of global changes while passionately pursuing their ambitious dreams.

As part of the ceremony, Leung presented certificates to the top ten graduates, including student representative Nie Liheng, who expressed how his experience studying in Dongguan has enhanced his resilience and cross-border perspective.

To maintain lasting connections between alumni in Dongguan and Hong Kong, Professor Ngai appointed the first alumni liaison ambassadors during the ceremony. Many graduates have already secured promising career prospects, with numerous job offers from leading private companies, state-owned enterprises, and research institutions such as Tencent, Alibaba, ByteDance, Meituan, JD.com, CATL, OPPO, Baidu, Xiaomi, NetEase, China Mobile, China Unicom, and State Grid.

Some graduates will begin employment in Hong Kong through the IANG Visa program, while others plan to further their studies at prestigious institutions like Nanyang Technological University, CityUHK, Fudan University, and Harbin Institute of Technology.

Since its establishment in 2024, CityUHK (Dongguan) has rapidly progressed alongside its first graduating class, continually advancing interdisciplinary and practice-oriented education to provide future students with international perspectives. This graduation ceremony not only signifies a key moment for the graduates but also highlights the university's commitment to shaping a brighter future for the region and the world at large.