(18 December 2017, Shantou) Several hundred overseas and Chinese guests and students gathered today to witness the inauguration ceremony of the Guangdong Technion Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT). A total of 216 students from Guangdong and other parts of the Mainland have been admitted to GTIIT, which is dedicated to innovative technology and research, with enrolment of international students to begin next year. GTIIT is a new milestone for Sino-foreign cooperation. During the inauguration ceremony, students performed a multi-cultural rendition of the Jewish hymn “Hine Ma Tov” with lion dancing and Chaozhou drums to welcome their Israeli guests. The song celebrates the fraternity of all men.
The global environment is changing rapidly, said GTIIT Chancellor Professor Li Jiange, and every nation is competing for talents who can meet these challenges. The mission of GTIIT is to nurture creative explorers and innovators with the capacity to tackle future challenges with theoretical knowledge as well as practical skills.
Chancellor Li expressed his gratitude to LKSF Chairman Mr Li Ka-shing for his donation of US$130 million five years ago, and to Mr Zhu Xiaodan, former Governor of Guangdong Province, for his enormous support in bringing this institution to Shantou. Chancellor Li also announced that Mr Li had just pledged another contribution of RMB 10 million to support the development of GTIIT as a hub of innovation in Guangdong.
Four months ago, GTIIT held a commencement ceremony for its first class of students. Over a hundred parents accompanied their excited sons and daughters to GTIIT, where Professor Aaron Ciechanover, Vice Chancellor and 2004 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, welcomed them in person and explained the key missions of the institution.
Speaking at a welcome dinner last night, LKSF Director Mr Richard Li shared his father’s expectations of him, “My own father has always reminded me that there is no limit to the quest for knowledge, and his unwavering support of higher education and research to better mankind is a testament to this belief.”
About the Li Ka Shing Foundation
Established in 1980, the Li Ka Shing Foundation (LKSF) has invested over HK$20 billion to work on education, medical services and research initiatives globally. In 2006, Mr. Li described his philanthropic effort as akin to having another son in the family. He called for a paradigm shift in our Asian culture of giving, through apportioning more of our wealth and means towards social capital so that we could bring forth great hope and promises for the future.
