CityU launches second Honors Class with a lineup of top cross-disciplinary mentors to nurture future sci-tech talents
The opening ceremony for the second Honors Class at City University of Macau (CityU) was held yesterday at the Ho Yin Convention Centre in the Taipa campus. Attendees included Vice Rector Ip Kuai Peng, University Council members Cintia Chan and Sandy Chan, Pro-Rector Wicky So, responsible person of the Honors Class and Executive Associate Dean of the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sun Pei, and class mentor-in-chief Ren Jianxun.
In collaboration with X-Institute Shenzhen, CityU conducted the selection process for this year’s Honors Class, attracting over 200 student applicants. A total of 30 students stood out. Additionally, an “extracurricular class” was established, admitting another 30 students. Through specialized lectures, workshops, and academic salon activities, the program aims to help students broaden academic perspectives and inspire their passion for exploration.
In his address, Vice Rector Ip Kuai Peng reviewed the achievements of the Honors Class since its launch, emphasizing that the program has been committed to building an innovative talent cultivation model with a focus on developing five core competencies, including intrinsic motivation, openness, perseverance, wisdom, and leadership to select outstanding students with scientific research potential. He mentioned that the Class promotes students’ engagement in research projects, competitions, industry-academia collaborations and innovative practices supported by the diverse resources of the University and the mentor team.
Vice Rector Ip noted that students, having emerged from a fierce selection, represent a vital force in driving scientific innovation and holistic education at CityU. He encouraged students to cherish the opportunity, dare to explore and pursue breakthroughs in the process. By fostering leadership and a global perspective through cross-disciplinary collaboration, and striving for excellence, he believed that the students will grow into future pioneers who contribute to the development of Macao, the Greater Bay Area, and the world.
Following the ceremony, the University held a mentor-student meeting and dual-selection session for the new class. This year’s Honors Class brings together distinguished mentors from multiple faculties, including the Faculty of Data Science, Faculty of Finance, Faculty of Health and Wellness, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Business, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Innovation and Design, and Faculty of International Tourism and Management. More than 20 renowned scholars, such as Professor Li Jianqiang, Professor Hou Shengtian, Professor Li Qiang, and Professor Chen Wenfeng, join the team. Their research spans cutting-edge fields including green finance, digital health, psychology and artificial intelligence, brain-like intelligence, social policy, product design, criminal law, tourism economics, behavioral finance, language education, multimedia security, and blockchain privacy.
Subsequently, Associate Professor Ren Jianxun, class mentor-in-chief, delivered an academic presentation titled “How to Conduct Research Training for Undergraduates: Insights from Tsinghua’s Tsien Excellence in Engineering Program”. Drawing on the practical experience of class experience, he systematically introduced an undergraduate research training system centered on project-based learning and emphasized that in the era of digital intelligence, effective research training has become a shared challenge for both students and faculty. Furthermore, Professor Ren elaborated on the construction of a “gradated research learning system”, the design and implementation requirements of Student Research Training (SRT and eSRT) courses and illustrated students’ growth tracks and innovative outcomes in research projects through multiple eSRT case studies. He encouraged Honors Class students to actively engage in research practices to develop problem-discovery and problem-solving skills, laying a solid foundation for their future academic and professional development.
Moving forward, the Honor Class will continue to deepen its collaboration with renowned academic institutions and enterprises both domestically and internationally. It aims to further integrate interdisciplinary research with practical applications, cultivating top talents equipped with innovative thinking, practical capabilities, and a global perspective. This initiative will bring new momentum into technological innovation and social development in Macao and the Greater Bay Area.
The opening ceremony was also attended by Dean Lixian Jin of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Dean José Alves of the Faculty of Business, Dean Adrian Cheung of the Faculty of Finance, and other distinguished guests.
Source: Honors Class
Photo credit: CityU Reporter
