Receiving a Bachelor’s degree is a major milestone for a young adult, and graduating with a higher degree or postgraduate qualification proves one’s passion and perseverance for lifelong learning. The moment is worth celebrating, but with the pandemic still raging, CityU resorted to holding the Virtual Graduation Ceremony for Classes of 2019 and 2020. The ceremony for the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS), which presented the degrees, postgraduate diplomas and certificates to a total of 4,955 graduates, was held on 1 February 2021.

In the video address, CityU President Professor Way KUO reminded graduates to be ready to contribute to the society’s well-being and accept challenges ahead of them. He also offered his sincere blessing to the graduates and motivated them to aspire to be the best, make new friends, and think independently.

Presiding the ceremony of CLASS, Professor Richard M WALKER, the Dean, gave his heartiest congratulations to all graduates. In the era that is full of uncertainty, Professor Walker encouraged graduates not to be afraid of changes and trying something new, “More than ever, this is your moment – the world is for your generation to shape. You may think that you are facing an uncertain future. When nothing is certain, anything is possible. When there is no certainty or clarity, we need to look at things differently, think differently and act differently.” Adding that learning does not end after graduation, Professor Walker advised graduates to treat every event in their life as an opportunity to learn something about themselves and their world, and be open when facing life’s challenges. 

Following Professor Walker’s address, Professor Samuel HO, then Associate Dean (Faculty and Research) and Heads/Acting Heads of the seven CLASS departments presented the awards. Bachelor of Arts in English Studies graduate (Class of 2019) CHAN Yan-tung and Doctor of Philosophy graduate (Class of 2020) Louis Joseph TRAVIS represented the graduates to give speeches, expressing their joyous feelings over the participation of this “better late than never” ceremony and gratitude to the teaching and support offered by the College, their departments, teachers and fellow classmates. Professor KIM Sung-moon, Associate Dean (Postgraduate Studies) of CLASS and Professor of the Department of Public Policy, also received his trophy for the CityU’s Outstanding Researcher Award 2019 in the ceremony. 

Photo 2: Dean of CLASS Professor Richard M Walker, then Associate Dean (Faculty and Research) Professor Samuel Ho, and Heads/Acting Heads of the seven CLASS departments attended the ceremony and presented the awards.

Photo 3: Classes of 2019 and 2020 representatives Chan Yan-tung and Louis Joseph Travis delivered speeches to express their delight and gratitude. They are ready to move forward and start a new page in life, though there are lots of challenges ahead.

Photo 4: Professor KIM Sung-moon received CityU’s Outstanding Research Award trophy in the ceremony.