Official Unveiling of Minerva College at CUHK-Shenzhen

On 8th September, a ceremonious inauguration took place to mark the establishment of Minerva College, whose name embodies the virtues of loyalty, tolerance, benevolence, and generosity, at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen.

In attendance at the ceremony were Weizhong Qin, Deputy Secretary of the Shenzhen Municipal Party Committee and Mayor of Shenzhen; Beifang Dai, former Chairman of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and current President of the Shenzhen Charity Federation; Hongbo Zheng, Member of the Standing Committee of the Shenzhen Municipal Party Committee; Yihuan Wu, Vice Chairman of the Shenzhen CPPCC; Shengyuan Gao,  Secretary-General and Director of the General Office of the Shenzhen Municipal Government; Yangsheng Xu, President of CUHK-Shenzhen and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Xue Qiao, Chairwoman of Shenzhen Hexi Industrial Co., Ltd; and representatives from various donor organizations.

In his erudite speech, President Xu extolled, "Ms. Xue Qiao, our benefactor and the formidable Chairwoman of Shenzhen Hexi Industrial Co., Ltd, is a woman of tremendous compassion and accomplishment. Starting from humble beginnings, she has devoted decades to nurturing over 30,000 artisans in the realms of embroidery and intangible cultural heritage. Her philanthropic endeavours have provided employment opportunities for a significant number of disadvantaged women and persons with disabilities. These virtuous acts reflect her magnanimous character and altruistic spirit. Minerva College is profoundly grateful for her unequivocal support, as well as that of Shenzhen Hexi Industrial Co., Ltd. I am confident that the College will flourish, guided by the principles of benevolence and generosity, to cultivate the future pillars of society."

Chairwoman Xue Qiao of Shenzhen Hexi Industrial Co., Ltd Addressing the Gathering

Ms. Xue Qiao, in her remarks, expressed, "As an entrepreneur, I feel immensely privileged to contribute to a city like Shenzhen—a metropolis brimming with warmth and opportunity. Supporting education has always been a cherished dream of mine. I am grateful for the opportunity bestowed upon Shenzhen Hexi Industrial Co., Ltd to make a contribution to this prestigious international institution, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen. I look forward with great anticipation to seeing our students harness their potential to become morally and intellectually equipped leaders of tomorrow."

President Yangsheng Xu Presents a Commemorative Inscription to Chairwoman Xue Qiao, Alongside Minerva Master Shiu-Yuen Cheng

Students of Minerva College Witnessing the College Unveiling

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen adopts a college system where each student belongs to a specific college, each with its unique culture. Thanks to the generous donation from Shenzhen Hexi Industrial Co., Ltd, the University has successfully founded its sixth college—Minerva College. Under the stewardship of its Master, Professor Shiu-Yuen Cheng, the College welcomed its inaugural cohort of students, signifying the commencement of an exhilarating chapter in their academic journey.

The college system is distinctive as it breaks down the boundaries of faculties and majors. Students and teachers from different programmes and cultural backgrounds are thus allowed to live together, which is conducive to close interaction and growth among students and teachers as well as peers. Inspired by its guiding philosophy of “Kindness, Inclusiveness, Dedication and Creativity” and armed with the donor's ardent passion for preserving intangible cultural heritage and entrepreneurial spirit, Minerva College will offer a plethora of experiential activities and developmental programmes, and endeavours to shape its students into compassionate, socially responsible young adults capable of navigating the ever-changing societal landscapes and challenges of our time.