City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan) held its 2026 Opening Convocation Ceremony on 2 September 2026, welcoming the university's third intake of more than 1,300 students. The ceremony takes place only months after CityUHK (Dongguan) celebrated its first cohort of master's graduates in June 2026, highlighting the institution's impressive development trajectory since its official launch in 2024.

During the ceremony, distinguished speakers delivered addresses to share their perspectives on the university's development, extend warm wishes to new students, and outline future aspirations for cross-border higher education collaboration.

Prof ZHOU Yu, Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Vice President of the China Association of Higher Education, noted that CityUHK (Dongguan)'s rapid development—marked by its first master's graduation in June and arrival of the third student intake—illustrates the enormous potential of Guangdong-Hong Kong higher-education cooperation.

Prof YU Yang, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Education Association for International Exchange, described CityUHK (Dongguan) as a successful practice for cross-border higher education. It serves as a tangible platform enabling young Chinese to engage with the world, and develops an innovative Guangdong-Hong Kong higher‑education model to nurture talent with both global vision and social commitment.

Prof CHUNG Shui-ming, Pro-Chancellor of CityUHK and Honorary Chairperson of CityUHK (Dongguan)'s Education Foundation, said the university's expansion from Hong Kong to Songshan Lake represents concrete progress in serving national strategies and Guangdong‑Hong Kong collaborative innovation. Upholding identical quality across two campuses, CityUHK (Dongguan) aims to become a bridge linking Hong Kong, Chinese mainland and the world.

Prof the Hon Michael NGAI, Council Chairman of CityUHK, noted that strong graduate employability and improving student intake quality attest to CityUHK (Dongguan)'s achievements. Drawing on CityUHK's international academic strengths and the GBA's industrial‑innovation ecosystem, he urged students to forge their own paths at the confluence of two cities and two ecosystems.

Prof Chun-Sing LEE, Acting President of CityUHK and Chairperson of CityUHK (Dongguan)'s Governing Board, welcomed the 2026 intake via video address. He defined internationalisation and innovation as CityUHK's core DNA, explaining that internationalism means not only diverse communities coming together, but also open‑mindedness, pragmatic scholarship and broad global perspectives.

Prof DUAN Baoyan, Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and President of CityUHK (Dongguan), remarked that new students are joining a fast-growing, ambitious university. Against opportunities and challenges brought by emerging technological shifts such as artificial intelligence and smart manufacturing, he encouraged them to adapt to university life, stay pragmatic and grounded, build capabilities through practice, cultivate resolve through exploration, and embrace a global outlook to fulfil their missions.

Tayyeb Shah, Vice-President and President‑Designate of the European Association for International Education (EAIE), underscored that new students have joined a genuinely global university family, with international standards, faculty and networks rooted in the Greater Bay Area. He highlighted the university's partnerships with over 40 top-tier global institutions such as Cambridge, UCL, UC Berkeley and Utrecht. He stressed that the challenges of this generation will be solved by those who collaborate across cultures and systems, turning diversity into strength, which is the very purpose of international education.

The event was presided over by Prof Lu Chun, Executive President of CityUHK (Dongguan) and Vice-President of CityUHK.

Subsequently, student representatives shared their growth journeys and aspirations for campus life. Prof Duan Baoyan delivered the inaugural first lecture of the new semester, setting an inspiring intellectual tone for the academic year.