Rector Jun Liu encourages students at Lou Hau High School to seize the opportunities of the times and become versatile talents｜City University of Macau School of Finance Alumni Association

Prof. Jun Liu, rector of the City University of Macau (CityU) was invited to attend the 46th graduation ceremony of Lou Hau High School, where he delivered a keynote speech to 214 graduates, encouraging them to seize the opportunities of the times and grow into versatile talents.

Notable guests included Macao deputy to the National People’s Congress and president of the Macao Federation of Trade Unions, Ho Sut Heng; deputy director-general of Social Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Zhao Heqing; head of the Department of Educational Resources of the Macao SAR Government Education and Youth Development Bureau, Tang Wai Keong; vice chairman of the school board and president of the alumni association, Law Tak Meng; Macao deputy to the National People’s Congress and member of the Administrative Committee of the Macao SAR Government, Lao Ngai Leong; school advisor, Man Kuan; and school principal, Zheng Jiezhao.

Rector Jun Liu, representing CityU, extended warm congratulations to the graduates and shared his personal journey. He recounted his experiences as a high school student who practiced English reading daily and singing while hiking. After graduating from Soochow University, he stayed on to teach, later earned a master’s degree in English from East China Normal University and a doctorate in the United States.

During his time abroad, Rector Liu served as Associate Provost of Georgia State University, as well as Assistant Vice President and Head of the Department of English at University of Arizona. As a renowned expert in applied linguistics and intercultural communication, Rector Jun Liu currently serves as the president of The International Research Foundation for English Language Education (TIRF). He was also elected as the first Asian and non-native English-speaking President of TESOL International Association (2006-2008) through a global voting.

Rector Liu inspired the graduates with his compelling stories of learning and perseverance, encouraging them to pave their paths to success with confidence, determination, and resilience.

Faced with the rapidly changing global landscape, he encouraged graduates to maintain an inclusive attitude, stay open-minded, to actively embrace changes, and create opportunities. He urged students to develop themselves into a versatile talent with a global perspective, local sentiments, and to equip themselves with both professional knowledge and humanities through engaging in in-depth intercultural integration and intellectual exchange.

In the face of a new era driven by artificial intelligence, Rector Liu proposed a two-pronged approach to talent cultivation. He highlighted CityU’s strategy in promoting AI and interdisciplinary development while emphasizing that Chinese students should transform their strengths of “humility and eagerness to learn” into international competitiveness, and enhancing their language skills.

Drawing from his academic research experience, he shared five principles for holistic growth with the students:

Focus to solidify foundations;
Diligence to deepen knowledge;
Openness to embrace changes;
Reflection to optimize paths;
Collaboration to leverage strengths for advancement.

Finally, Rector Liu quoted the school’s core values, encapsulated in the motto, “love the motherland, study diligently, uphold discipline, be polite, and maintain hygiene”, and the school song, “innovate with scientific knowledge”. He encouraged students to remain true to their roots, be courageous in innovation, and share the spirit of Lou Hau across the globe.