An inspiration: Luk showing his PhD to Cheung after the 62nd USM convocation ceremony in George Town. — Bernama
GEORGE TOWN: An 80-year-old former engineer from Hong Kong has successfully completed his PhD at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), becoming a beacon of lifelong learning and continuous self-improvement.
Dr John Luk Wang Kwong, who is a former Hong Kong Institution of Engineers president, said his passion for learning and desire to share his knowledge motivated him to complete his thesis titled “Innovation in Social Sustainability”.
“My story serves as a powerful reminder that it is never too late to pursue education, make meaningful contributions, and continue to grow both personally and professionally,” Luk told reporters after the 62nd USM convocation ceremony here yesterday, Bernama reported.
Having spent much of his career as an engineer, Luk pursued his doctoral degree in 2017 to focus on Hong Kong’s pressing housing issues.
“The programme offered distance learning in collaboration with the Hong Kong government, and I completed my PhD in five-and-a-half years,” he said.
While the experience was challenging, especially given the distance and limited on-the-ground support, Luk said he succeeded due to his unwavering commitment and the strong support from his wife, Dr Cheung Kit Ying, 75.
Luk said his PhD journey, while not intended to further his professional career, was more about contributing to the broader community.
His research, aimed at addressing the complexities of Hong Kong’s housing market, is a small but meaningful addition to the ongoing discourse on urban development and public policy.
On his experience with the USM system, Luk expressed respect for the university’s high standards and international recognition, particularly within the realm of business education.
“Despite challenges faced due to the distance learning format, including limited access to resources, I was able to complete the course with determination and focus on the bigger picture,” said the father of two sons, who also has a grandchild.
Working as an independent non-executive director for public companies and a dispute resolution expert, Luk said although he does not anticipate directly applying his PhD in his current professional role, he believes his research will benefit Hong Kong and contribute to the global knowledge pool.
As it is, his distinguished career in the construction industry, property development and law as well as being an avid lifelong learner, in addition to having achieved 18 academic qualifications in a variety of disciplines over the past 50 years, will certainly be an inspiration to many.
