CUHK Business School Hosts the First-ever Online Inauguration for Undergraduates

On the students’ first day of university, Prof. Lin Zhou, Dean of CUHK Business School and Choh-Ming Li Professor of Economics, Prof. Andy Wong, Associate Dean (Undergraduate Studies) and Associate Professor of Practice in Marketing of CUHK Business School, and Mr. Peter Yan, Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, took turns to motivate students with words of wisdom on how to maximise their university life.

Dean Zhou (left), Mr. Peter Yan (middle) and Prof. Andy Wong (right) to motivate students with words of wisdom.

Dean Zhou took the floor by welcoming freshmen from 16 countries and regions, including Argentina, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Tajikistan and Thailand. He recounted the story of CUHK and shared with the freshmen three ideas: faith, cultural heritage and unity, which were closely related to the University’s three founding colleges: Chung Chi College, New Asia College and the United College.

Prof. Zhou said, “To have a sublime goal beyond oneself and never give up in face of adversity is the essence of being faithful. No one can achieve anything great without a strong sense of conviction, or faith.” He emphasised cultural heritage is a distinct feature of CUHK education, adding that “while being open to the modern thoughts and ideas from the West, it is our duty to study and promote the best of traditional Chinese culture.” Prof. Zhou also encouraged students to embrace diversity of the CUHK community, learn from each other, and meet the challenge of their times together as a whole.

Dean Zhou (right) presented the 2020 Beta Gamma Sigma CUHK Chapter Honoree Award to Mr. Peter Yan (left).

Mr. Peter Yan (BBA-Marketing 1985), the CUHK Beta Gamma Sigma Chapter Honoree of 2020, shared his experience with the freshmen in his keynote speech. With more than 30 years of experience working in the IT industry, he indicated that technology would change the way we live and work. However, the demand for talent with interdisciplinary knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit would remain constant, no matter what the changes would be. He encouraged students to make the best of the coming years to equip themselves with knowledge across unconventional disciplines, embrace challenges and opportunities to learn, venture into something new, and treat every setback as an experience to build perseverance. Mr. Yan concluded his speech by sharing his favourite quote, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone, and do not let fear or failure get in the way of your success.”

Finally, Prof. Andy Wong advised students on “how to slow down time” by doing five things in their university life ahead. He recommended students to fill their new chapters with stories and memories by reading more, making more friends, making more mistakes, exercising more, and learning more. He ended the Inauguration Ceremony by saying that, “The best four years of your life start now. Do more to make it slow, to make them last.”