PolyU Honorary Doctorates, University Fellows, and the Outstanding Alumni Award

A master of game theory, a discoverer of Helicobacter pylori, a university president with the rank of provincial party secretary in mainland China—PolyU's roster of honorary doctorate recipients reads like a cross-disciplinary who's who. This article catalogues three tiers of honour and recognition at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU): Honorary Doctorates, University Fellows, and the alumni-focused Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award, alongside a record of major national and international prizes won by alumni and professors. For detailed biographical sketches and academic standing, see ./faculty-and-leaders.md (Faculty) and ./notable-alumni.md (Alumni).

---

# 1. Honorary Doctorates

PolyU confers nine categories of honorary doctorate: Business Administration, Design, Engineering, Humanities, Laws, Literature, Science, Social Sciences, and Technology (per the PolyU Honorary Degrees and University Fellowships directory). According to public records, the earliest recipients date back to the late 1980s (from 1989), continuing to the present^※. The list of awardees spans Nobel laureates, academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering, business leaders, and public figures.

# Nobel Laureates (Selection)

The Nobel laureates listed above are drawn from PolyU's official "Honorary Degrees and University Fellowships" page^※; specific years are subject to the official register.

# Scientists and Scholars (Selection)

# Business and Public Figures (Selection)

Note: Honorary doctorates are titular degrees. Recipients are mostly not PolyU graduates. Donald Tsang, Henry Tang Ying-yen, and others were awarded honorary doctorates, which does not equate to being PolyU alumni by qualification (see the clarification section on myths in ./notable-alumni.md).

---

# 2. University Fellowships: Since 2000

"University Fellow" is an honorary title awarded by PolyU to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the University. According to PolyU's Honorary Awards and Appointments page^※, this scheme was established in 2000 to confer titles upon distinguished individuals who have made significant contributions to the University and society. Recipients need not be PolyU graduates, though there is often overlap with alumni.

The distinction between a University Fellowship and an Honorary Doctorate lies in the emphasis:

According to public records, designer Vivienne Tam was conferred a PolyU University Fellowship^※. In the business sector, Lam Tai-fai received a PolyU University Fellowship in 2000^※. For the complete genealogy and individual cases of PolyU University Fellows from the performing arts (Clifton Ko, Tim Yip, Josephine Siao, Chung King-fai, Cally Kwong, Lang Lang), see honorary-degrees-and-awards-2.md. The full register can also be found on PolyU's official "University Fellows" page.

---

# 3. Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award

The Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award was inaugurated in 1996 to commend PolyU graduates for their outstanding achievements in their respective professions, their support for their alma mater, and their contributions to society. From its inception to around 2022, there have been 113 awardees^※. The Outstanding PolyU Alumni Association was established in 2012, comprising past award recipients. Starting in 2022, the award was restructured into three tiers—departmental, faculty/school, and university levels—and a "Young Alumni" category was introduced.

# Recent Awardees (Selection)

Note: PolyU also organises the "Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award (Mainland Programme Graduates) / Outstanding Achievement Award" to recognise graduates from its mainland China programmes. These three honours—Honorary Doctorates, University Fellowships, and the Outstanding Alumni Award—correspond to three distinct dimensions: "distinguished individuals from all sectors of society," "those who have contributed to the University," and "accomplished individuals nurtured by PolyU."

---

# 4. Major National and International Awards Won by Alumni/Professors (Selection)

---

# 5. Named Professorships

PolyU has established several Named Chair Professorships / Endowed Professors funded by donors, a key mechanism for the University to attract leading academics:

The establishment of named chairs is typically tied to donations, reflecting PolyU's deep collaborative ties with Hong Kong's business and philanthropic community (for details on donors, see 08-finances/benefactors-and-donors.md).

---

# 6. Major Academic Awards and Fellowships (A Systemic Overview)

# 6.1 Academicians of the Chinese Academies of Sciences and Engineering

Several PolyU faculty members have been elected as academicians of the two national academies in China (Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS; Chinese Academy of Engineering, CAE):

For other chair professor-level members, this site relies on existing verifiable sources and does not attempt an exhaustive list.

# 6.2 Fellows of the Royal Society / Royal Academy of Engineering (UK)

• Prof. Jin-Guang Teng: International Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (2025)^※.

# 6.3 IEEE/ACM Fellows

Numerous professors from PolyU's Department of Computing and the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering hold the title of IEEE Fellow or ACM Fellow, among the highest professional recognitions in engineering and computer science.

• Prof. Cao Jiannong: IEEE Fellow^※.
• Other IEEE Fellows: This site relies on official sources. The list is subject to change with appointments and is not intended to be exhaustive.

# 6.4 National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Fellows

According to PolyU press releases, some PolyU professors have been elected Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) in the U.S., one of the highest recognitions for patented inventions and innovation.

---

# 7. HKSAR Government Honours

Each year, the Hong Kong government confers honours such as the Grand Bauhinia Medal (GBM), Gold/Silver/Bronze Bauhinia Star (GBS/SBS/BBS), and Medal of Honour (MH) during the New Year and July 1st honours lists. Recipients among PolyU faculty and leadership (selection):

The complete register is subject to the HKSAR Government Gazette as the authoritative source. This site lists only confirmed cases corroborated by multiple sources.

---

# 8. Overview of International Awards

The awards listed above are corroborated by official PolyU press releases (see 04-research/achievements.md and individual press releases). This article provides an aggregate honours view.

---

# 9. The Historical Background and Value Orientation of the Honorary Degree System

# 9.1 Institutional History

According to PolyU's official page, the conferment of honorary doctorates dates back to 1989^※, when the institution was still the Hong Kong Polytechnic. Following its upgrade to university status in 1994, the honorary degree system continued, gradually expanding its scope—from an initial emphasis on business donors and professionals to outstanding scholars, scientists, artists, and public officials from various fields globally.

Conferment ceremonies usually take place during the Congregation period, typically held on campus in November each year. According to PolyU publications, the honorary degree conferment ceremony is presided over by the Chancellor (served ex officio by the Chief Executive of the HKSAR) or their representative.

# 9.2 Criteria and Selection Mechanism

According to PolyU, its honorary degrees are nominated and vetted by the Honorary Degrees and University Fellowships Committee, with final approval by the Council. Core selection criteria include:

• Outstanding achievements in one's field of study, achieving international recognition.
• Significant contributions to society, Hong Kong, or one's profession.
• A certain level of connection or collaboration with PolyU at the academic, professional, or community level.
• Impeccable integrity and reputation.

The list of recipients is usually announced a few weeks before the conferment ceremony, but the selection process remains confidential.

---

# 10. Background and Contributions of Selected Recipients

# 10.1 The Scientist Cohort: Why PolyU Chose Them

Among the Nobel laureates in PolyU's honorary doctorate roster, several choices highlight a specific selection logic:

• Barry Marshall (2005 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine): Co-discoverer of the role of Helicobacter pylori in peptic ulcer disease. PolyU not only awarded him an honorary doctorate but also established the Marshall Research Centre^※ on campus, focusing on gut microbiota and disease prevention research, reflecting a substantive collaborative relationship.

• John Nash (1994 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences): A pioneer of game theory. He received an honorary Doctor of Science from PolyU in October 2011^※. Before his death in a car accident in 2015, his academic exchanges left a lasting impression on many Hong Kong students. The film A Beautiful Mind made his story widely known.

• Bernard Feringa (2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry): A pioneer of molecular machines. PolyU conferred an honorary doctorate upon him in 2024, about eight years after his Nobel Prize—reflecting the University's focus on nanotechnology and molecular materials research.

# 10.2 The Business Cohort: Hong Kong Tycoons

Recipients from the business sector in PolyU's honorary doctorates are often associated with philanthropic donations to the University—a common practice globally, subject to independent review by academic committees:

• Lui Che-woo: Founder of K. Wah International, philanthropist; several PolyU buildings are named after his family.
• Cheng Yu-tung (1925–2016): Founder of New World Development Group, a giant in Hong Kong's jewellery industry; listed as a recipient in the PolyU Honorary Degrees directory.
• Victor Fung Kwok-king: Honorary Chairman of the Li & Fung Group, former Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries; a long-time promoter of research on Hong Kong and international supply chains.

# 10.3 The University Scholar Cohort: Cross-strait and Regional Academic Exchange

Awarding honorary doctorates to presidents and academicians of top mainland universities serves as an institutional signal of PolyU's integration into the national research system:

• Gong Qihuang (President of Peking University / Optical scientist / CAS Academician) was awarded in 2023—PKU and PolyU have substantive cooperation on multiple research projects.
• Xu Ningsheng (CAS Academician) was awarded in 2023—during his tenure as a university president in Hong Kong, he promoted collaboration between Hong Kong institutions and the mainland.
• Gang Pei (then-President of Tongji University) was awarded in 2015—Tongji and PolyU have joint research institutes in civil engineering and urban development studies.

---

# 11. The Link Between HKSAR Government Honours and PolyU

The HKSAR government confers honours on individuals from all walks of life on New Year's Day and on 1 July (the anniversary of the Handover) annually. Many PolyU staff, management, and alumni have received such honours. In addition to the Bronze Bauhinia Star (BBS) recipients listed in Section 7, some honorary doctorate recipients (such as Laura Cha) also hold HKSAR honours themselves—the two types of honours exist independently and are not bundled.

In addition to the Bronze Bauhinia Star, PolyU President Teng Jin-guang was also elected an International Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) in 2025^※, demonstrating the stature of PolyU's academic leaders in the international engineering community.

---

# 12. Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)

Q1: Does receiving an honorary doctorate from PolyU count as an academic qualification?

No. An honorary doctorate is an honorary degree, not a formal academic qualification. Recipients are not required to study any courses or pass exams. The Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (HKQF) does not recognise honorary degrees for qualification registration. A recipient's official academic attainment remains what they earned through formal coursework.

Q2: What is the difference between a PolyU Honorary Doctorate and a "University Fellowship"?

Both are honorary titles but differ in nature. Honorary Doctorates are usually awarded to individuals from all sectors of society who have achieved outstanding accomplishments in their profession or society. University Fellowships emphasise recognition of outstanding service or contributions specifically to PolyU itself, such as major donors, long-serving Council members, or alumni representatives. A single individual can hold both types of honours (e.g., Lam Tai-fai).

Q3: Did Nobel laureate John Nash have academic collaborations with PolyU?

According to public PolyU records, Nash visited PolyU in October 2011 to receive his honorary Doctor of Science^※ and exchanged views on game theory research with students. Nash died in a car accident in 2015. PolyU lists him as one of its honorary graduates of significance. Currently, PolyU undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in economics and business include content related to Nash's game theory, but there is no dedicated research centre named after him.

Q4: Does the "Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award" come with a monetary prize?

According to the official PolyU Alumni Affairs Office page, the "Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award" is primarily honorary. Recipients receive a certificate and a trophy and are invited to attend a formal PolyU award ceremony. The award does not carry a fixed monetary reward, though some recipients leverage this recognition to participate in PolyU recruitment events or give talks.

Q5: Why does PolyU grant honorary doctorates to presidents/academicians of top mainland Chinese universities?

This is a common practice among Hong Kong universities to "bridge mainland China and the international community." Awarding an honorary degree to a top mainland scholar symbolises academic recognition and a bilateral research collaboration relationship, helping to promote the establishment of joint research institutes and student exchange. Observably, PolyU's granting of honours in 2023 to scholars from Peking University, Southern Medical University, and other institutions was a move to strengthen the connection between the University and mainland research bodies under the national "14th Five-Year Plan" framework for science and technology collaboration.

Q6: How many honorary doctorates has PolyU awarded over the years? Where can I find the complete list?

The complete list is on PolyU's official page: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/en/about-polyu/honorary-degrees-and-fellowships/^※. At the time of this writing, PolyU has been conferring honorary doctorates since 1989, with the cumulative number of recipients exceeding one hundred. The University Fellows register can also be found on the same page.

Q7: When was the University Fellowship scheme established, and who are typical representatives?

According to PolyU's Honorary Awards and Appointments page, the University Fellowship scheme was established from 2000 onwards, conferring titles on distinguished individuals who have made significant contributions to the University and society, without requiring them to be PolyU graduates. Designer Vivienne Tam (herself an alumna) and business figure Lam Tai-fai fall into this category. In the performing arts, director Clifton Ko, who was conferred in 2012, is a rarer case of someone building a link "through institutional collaboration (rather than educational background)." See honorary-degrees-and-awards-2.md for details.

---

# 13. Data Notes

This file is an AI-assisted composite information document. The complete list of honorary doctorate recipients is subject to PolyU's official "Honorary Degrees and University Fellowships" directory as the final authority. Sources are cited for all recipients and years mentioned. If any discrepancies exist in the specific conferment years for individuals, the official directory prevails. The list of Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award recipients is based on the official PolyU Alumni Affairs Office page and press releases from various years.