21 November 2022
Welcome to the 63rd Commencement of Hong Kong Baptist University. I am delighted that we can gather here today to celebrate this occasion. Congratulations to you and your families on this most significant day, as you have reached a major milestone in your life’s journey!
Your time at university has not been easy, as you have faced a lot of upheaval and many challenges over the past few years. There were moments when it felt like the pandemic, and the associated disruptions, would never end, but now we are marching out of the pandemic’s shadow towards a brighter era. You — the Class of 2022 — have managed to overcome all the obstacles with your strength and stamina, resolve and resilience. All of us at HKBU are proud of you.
The pandemic has taught us the hard way that life can be full of difficulties and it never works out as expected. But here you are, having survived the virus, and having survived the crisis. The resilience you have acquired and the skills you have learned at HKBU will stand you in good stead in the future. And what will your future be?
You may have heard the old saying about a glass of water, and I am sure you know very well the moral of the story. Whether you believe the glass is half full or half empty is up to you.
The glass is half full, but we are blessed to have colleagues who wholeheartedly served the healthcare needs of the community during the fifth wave of the pandemic. We could have adhered to the diagnostic methods in Chinese medicine to inspect, listen and smell, inquire and conduct palpation. Instead, our Chinese medicine experts broke away from tradition. We quickly turned classrooms into war rooms for free online Chinese medicine consultations, and delivered herbal medicine directly to people’s front doors. We transformed diagnostic and treatment models, and provided patients with quality and timely care at home. Caring is in HKBU’s DNA, and experts from our Department of Social Work provided counselling support over the phone to help safeguard patients’ mental health. These holistic solutions and models are just a few of the many breakthroughs brought about by the pandemic. Remember, this is the environment in which you grew up, and I believe with HKBU’s education, you will be bold, innovative and caring too.
I believe you can make it because you are special. You are a special class in the sense that you had less face-to-face learning compared to other classes. But that does not mean you learned less. Instead, you learned differently. You had more online classes than your seniors. Thanks to the creativity and efforts of our teachers, novel e-learning models and platforms have developed quickly. These new pedagogies have not only made e-learning more effective and stimulating, but they have also enabled cross-boundary teaching and learning.
Similarly, the creation of a new virtual experiential learning platform for online intercultural interaction has paved the way for the implementation of online-merge-offline exchange in the future, opening up more opportunities for students to broaden their global awareness. Geographical barriers and social distancing can be bridged not only through digital connections, but more importantly, with a mentality that searches out possibilities and opportunities.
You have grown up in an age of rapid technological advancement. Learning how to learn is far more important than learning technical skills, and that is how we have equipped you for the future world. Notably, the application of AI has become an irresistible trend that brings both possibilities and uncertainty. While people enjoy the convenience that AI has brought to our daily lives, others worry that AI will eventually replace humans. As a result, we need to leverage such cutting-edge technologies in a prudent and constructive way.
On this front, HKBU scientists and artists have taken the lead in developing AI algorithms that can create and appreciate art, and we are collaborating with AI in a way that enhances and promotes harmony between humans and machines. This summer, we launched the ground-breaking “Turing AI Orchestra” during the “Human, Machine, Art, Creativity: International Symposium”. We also staged a human-AI joint performance during the HKBU Symphony Orchestra’s Annual Gala Concert. Where others see problems and uncertainty, we see opportunities to invent and make the world more diverse. We are taking advantage of the rise of AI, and are making an early move to capture it by collaborating with it. This is the path we have chosen at HKBU. What is your decision? To embrace the advancement of AI, or worry about being replaced?
I hope you will worry about something else. I hope you will worry about the human vulnerabilities that have been exposed by the pandemic. Care for humanity is one of the core values of an HKBU education, and I believe that it has taken root in your heart and will shape what you do. I hope you will worry about the global challenges we are all facing – climate change, geopolitical tensions, pandemic, and stagflation, just to name a few. Severe weather such as hurricanes and flood caused by the climate change occurs frequently raising havoc around the world. The rapidly deteriorating international orders jeopardise globalisation and our ways of life. A newly emerging disease can send ripples across the globe and bring international travel to a halt. The economic situations are in dire condition in many countries and we are at the risk of recession or even depression. Yes, it’s worrying. Adversity is a part of life, and it is pervasive and ongoing. But we have managed to adapt to the circumstances around us, and we have turned crisis into opportunity with our creativity, resourcefulness and resilience. As graduates of HKBU, you are well-equipped to explore different possibilities and solutions in the face of threats and adversity. In the end, you will emerge stronger, and you will also have gained valuable and innovative skills that will enable you to solve complex problems.
HKBU is one of the most vibrant universities in Asia and the world, and we are innovatively advancing research and education. We are capitalising on our expertise and specialities to create knowledge, address global challenges and make progress. As graduates, you all possess the spirit of HKBU, and I hope you will continue to draw on its characteristics throughout your lives. Harness the education you have received here and use it for good. As we join the rest of the world in re-opening and emerging from the pandemic, you and your classmates will soon find that the playing field is a lot broader than before. There is so much you can achieve wherever you go – Hong Kong, the nation and beyond – as long as you remain open-minded and are adaptive, inquisitive and innovative. Remember to be compassionate and never stop caring about other people and the issues around the world. These are the fundamental attributes of a BUer, and they will ultimately serve you well in your future endeavours.
Once again, my warmest congratulations to you all on graduating from Hong Kong Baptist University. You are the future, and it is now yours to shape. Every one of you may walk a different path, but I know that you will all go the distance in your own unique ways. I wish you the very best of luck! Thank you.