15 October 2021

Pioneering as the first of its kind among all local tertiary institutions, the Honours Academy (HA) of the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK), established in 2020, officially welcomed the second cohort to its three-year interdisciplinary programme, symbolised by the Inauguration Ceremony on 15 October 2021. Aiming to cultivate future leaders with academic excellence, global vision, and civic leadership, 16 year-two undergraduates from different programmes underwent a series of competitive selections and, therefore, especially treasured the chance to join the HA family, committed to contributing to local and global social developments.

At the Inauguration Ceremony, the HA’s second cohort received blessings from Dr Moses Cheng, Council Chairman of HSUHK; President Simon S M Ho; together with a whole audience of the University’s senior management as well as academic and administrative staff. With the words of wisdom delivered by Dr Moses Cheng, the 16 second-cohort HA students were all inspired by to embark on their ‘journey of a thousand miles initiated with the first step’, which was a famous saying by the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, to get out of the comfort zone and cherish every chance. President Ho also suggested taking the first and the many steps that follow, such as engaging themselves in research and journal-article writing, following the footsteps of the HA’s first cohort.

The Inauguration Ceremony this time, themed upon ‘Inheritance’, acquired its significance through a series of new initiatives. Before the Ceremony, 6 first-cohort students, namely Ms Lauren Lin, Ms Stella Yip, Ms Icy Leung, Mr Isaac Li, Ms Alison Cheng, and Ms Gianni Ting, showcased the amazing achievements of their first-year HA journey through four pull-up banner displays, with the themes of ‘Experiential Learning’, ‘Academic Achievements’, ‘Bonding and Identity’, and ‘Professional Engagement’.

The Ceremony was unveiled by a piano recital by Ms Christy Ng, while the theme ‘Inheritance’ was further highlighted with a professionally-produced video clip featuring the first cohort’s heartfelt sharing, directed and produced by Mr Tommy Fong. Both are also from the first cohort. The audience then witnessed the pass-on ritual of a HA polo shirt signed by every single first-cohort student, representing the love and blessing from the first to the second cohort.

The HA’s Academic Fellows, represented by our University’s School Deans and Associate School Deans, also sent along their most sincere wishes, through a framed world map and an encyclopedia, signifying the global vision and the academic excellence that the second-cohort students are expected to showcase in the near future. Meanwhile, the HA would not enjoy this much success without the support from the Professional Fellows. Mr Clement Cheng (Chief Executive Officer, Insurance Authority), Ms Wendy Yuen (Head, Retail Distribution, Hang Seng Bank) and the newly-joined Professional Fellow Dr Allan Zemen (Chairman, Lan Kwai Fong Group) attended the ceremony in person to show their support. Ms Yuen, together with her mentees Mr Ray Chan and Ms Irene Luk, shared in the event and reminded all HA students to take the initiatives to seize every opportunity. The Inauguration Ceremony reached its one last climax with another piano recital by Mr Tom Tang from the first cohort.

Receiving their HA pins from the HA Head, Professor Jeanne Fu and the two Associate Heads, Dr Holly Chung and Ms Esther Lee, all new HA students are all geared up to hone their various skills and contribute to society and the world as a whole, as a global citizen and an aspiring leader.