On the afternoon of 6 June 2025, we held our annual department retreat, bringing together faculty and leadership to reflect on our department's progress and explore future directions. The event was graced by the presence of several university leaders, including Professor Jian Lu (Dean of the College of Engineering), Professor Tony Feng (Associate Dean for Industry Engagement and Director of the Co-operative Education Centre), and Professor Ray Cheung (Associate Provost for Digital Learning).

The retreat opened with a presentation by Professor Cheung, who introduced CityUHK's upcoming Digital Classroom initiative and the CityUHK (DG) platform, showcasing the university's commitment to enhancing digital teaching and learning environments. Representatives from the Research Office, Mr. Alan Purvis and Mr. Neil Cormack-Bissett, followed with a practical session on evaluating and boosting research impact, encouraging faculty to align their work with broader societal goals.

Department Head Professor Yong Yang gave a comprehensive overview of MNE's current status, including research strengths, staffing profile, and global rankings. He stressed the importance of high-quality, impactful research and interdisciplinary collaboration. Professor Alice Hu, Associate Head, provided key updates on undergraduate and postgraduate programs, student development, and curriculum planning, while Professor Jiong Zhang, Chair of the newly formed Academic Networking and Promotion Committee (ANPC), highlighted the committee's achievements in organizing distinguished seminars and promoting faculty and students' achievements and news. Mr. Jack Wong, MNE Chief Technical Officer, also shared an update on the deployment of new departmental platforms aimed at improving internal management and operations.

The retreat concluded with open discussions, reaffirming a shared commitment to advancing excellence in education, research, and innovation.