The MPH Programme recently presented a highly distinguished High Table Dinner—“Oscar Night”—to mark the completion of the Master of Public Health (MPH) programme at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK). Held on 5 May 2026 at the Faculty Lounge, the evening was designed as a formal celebration of academic achievement and the scholarly community. It welcomed 84 outgoing MPH students and honoured the graduates for a year characterised by intellectual rigour, professional growth, and a sustained commitment to public service.
True to the programme’s purpose, the outgoing cohort reflects the breadth of modern public health practice. Students bring expertise and perspectives rooted in Health Sciences, scientific disciplines including Biomedical Science and Food Science and Engineering, and career pathways in Management, with concentrations in health administration and public policy. The group also comprises training and experience across Veterinary Medicine, Medicine, Preventive Medicine, and Nursing, reinforcing the MPH’s interdisciplinary philosophy—where diverse disciplinary strengths converge to address health challenges with analytical precision and real-world relevance.
The evening began with a formal welcome by Prof. Vanessa Barrs, Dean of the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences. In her remarks, Dean Barrs underscored the transformation of the MPH journey: students have, indeed, “traded their lab coats for couture,” carrying forward their scientific discipline into an Oscar-themed programme of fellowship, celebration, and recognition—culminating in a high-table dinner befitting the occasion.
This spirit of advancement was further echoed by the MPH Programme Leader, Prof. Ming Wai Kit, who congratulated the students and reaffirmed the programme’s mission to advance public health through evidence-led education and meaningful impact. Prof. Ming highlighted the CityUHK MPH programme’s strengths in global academic collaboration, including partnerships with leading international universities such as the University of Cambridge, alongside strategic relationships with multiple industry stakeholders. Together, these partnerships provide students with a learning experience that is both academically distinguished and professionally connected. With a 100% graduation success rate, the programme remains steadfast in its forward momentum and will expand its intake to more than 100 students in the coming academic year.
As the evening progressed, students and faculty strengthened ties through structured engagement—through food, games, and activities—bringing together University colleagues who contribute essential expertise to the programme’s academic ecosystem. Faculty and staff from departments including the Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, the Department of Chemistry, and the Department of Biostatistics, among others, participated in celebrating the shared purpose that unites teaching, research, and student development within the MPH pathway.
With its emphasis on interdisciplinary mastery, global perspective, and societal impact, the “Oscar Night” High Table Dinner not only celebrated the achievements of the MPH cohort but also reaffirmed the CityUHK MPH community’s unwavering commitment to excellence. It underscored a shared resolve: to nurture capable, purpose-driven leaders who will help shape healthier societies for generations to come.
Let’s take a look back at the night’s highlights.