On the evening of November 12, 2023, the inaugural lesson of Xinya College Class II was successfully conducted. Xinya College Class II was designed for all first-year students at Xinya College and aims to ensure a seamless transition from high school to college by focusing on the development of new academic concepts, capabilities, and norms. The keynote speaker, Mr. David Pang, Founder and Chairman of the Yen Su-Lan Pang Charitable Foundation, shared his life journey and the values and philosophies that guide him under the theme of "From Economic Entrepreneurship to Social Entrepreneurship—My Life Journey". Presided over by Mei Ciqi, Dean of Xinya College, the lecture drew the participation of over 100 teachers and students online and offline.

At the start of the lecture, Mr. Mei formally introduced Mr. Pang to the students and presented him with a letter of appointment as a teacher at Xinya College.

Dr. David Pang serves as Chairman of the Yen Su-Lan Pang Charitable Foundation and CEO of the Kerry Group Kuok Foundation. He also acted as Chairman of South China Morning Post Publishers Limited, CEO of the Airport Authority Hong Kong, Corporate Vice President of DuPont de Nemours, Inc., and Chairman of DuPont Greater China. Moreover, Dr. Pang was a director of Kerry Holdings Limited and Visa Inc., and he still holds a directorship with Broad Group.

Mr. Pang possesses a wealth of life experience, alongside exceptional organizational leadership and strategic planning capabilities. His multifaceted operational expertise spans multiple academic disciplines and business sectors. Mr. Pang formerly served as a teacher at Columbia Engineering in the United States. He is currently an honorary tutor at Yuanpei College, Peking University, a consultant at the Center for the Study of Contemporary China of Tsinghua University, and a visiting professor at both the Chinese University of Hong Kong Business School and the College of Business, City University of Hong Kong.

In his speech, Mr. Pang shared his life experience over the past decades. As with numerous overseas Chinese entrepreneurs, he initially devoted himself to the restaurant business. The visit of then-President Richard Nixon to China sparked a trend for Chinese cuisine and chopsticks. Taking this opportunity, he diligently expanded the number of his restaurants from one to four. After joining DuPont de Nemours, Inc., a technology-centered enterprise that prizes humanistic care and environmental respect, Mr. Pang accrued experience in scientific research (addressing technical problems), manufacturing (managing safety crises), and sales (handling interpersonal problems). With the trust and support of leadership, he bravely led his team to introduce DuPont into China and successfully facilitated its localization. The business of his team extended across the Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. During the third stage of his career, Mr. Pang was faced with great challenges—Hong Kong International Airport, a large project with an investment exceeding HKD 50 billion, encountered numerous difficulties stemming from typhoons, logistical setbacks, financial issues, and more. Meanwhile, the media frequently broadcast negative reports concerning the project. Upon taking over the airport, he enhanced the management of crises, processes, and experiences to improve the integration and assessment of passenger and logistics movements across sea, land, and air, along with the management of capital flows. Furthermore, he incorporated best practices from airports of other countries. These initiatives culminated in a significant improvement in the overall customer experience. During his tenure, Hong Kong International Airport underwent a significant transformation. It has been rated as the "World's Best Airport" for five consecutive years, garnering high praise from both the citizens of Hong Kong and international travelers.

Currently, Mr. Pang is primarily dedicated to establishing public welfare undertakings focused on generating social values. He firmly believes that entrepreneurship encompasses not only economic entrepreneurship related to wealth but also social entrepreneurship pertaining to human values. While entrepreneurs accumulate wealth through the establishment of businesses, and their donations to philanthropy are indeed acts of kindness, Mr. Pang thinks that is not enough. In his view, philanthropy is a band-aid solution; it may provide temporary relief but falls short of addressing the root causes of social problems. While philanthropic efforts can offer comfort, they are incapable of resolving societal problems in a lasting way. What we truly need is a deep understanding of the root causes behind these problems. On this basis, we ought to develop effective solutions and take practical actions through social entrepreneurship. Mr. Pang identifies money, time, and love as the three essential elements of social entrepreneurship. Together, they constitute the foundation for social entrepreneurship, enabling entrepreneurs to wholeheartedly devote themselves to solving social problems.

Mr. Pang's social entrepreneurship endeavors are not only driven by his personal sense of values but also profoundly shaped by the influence of his mother Yen Su-Lan Pang. Influenced by Wu Xun's philosophy advocating free popular education in the Qing Dynasty, his mother dedicated herself to educational undertakings. To help children in poverty receive education, she saved money for establishing schools. To realize his mother's dream of supporting children's educational endeavors, Mr. Pang established the Yen Su-Lan Pang Charitable Foundation in 2002, in homage to his mother. For more than 20 years, the foundation has supported approximately 150 college students faced with financial challenges in Hunan Province, enabling them to complete their education. The foundation remains committed to nurturing these students into individuals who excel both in character and academic achievement.

Mr. Pang believes that in order to achieve sustainable development, social entrepreneurship must exhibit four fundamental traits: first, employing a targeted poverty alleviation model centered on people; second, investing in time and love, which cannot be replaced by money; third, establishing a platform that fosters a mutual-aid community among recipients; fourth, addressing social challenges in a rigorous, systematic and standardized manner. Mr. Pang motivated the students by emphasizing the importance of three key principles: first, to set clear goals while embracing flexible strategies; second, to maintain a grand vision while being mindful of the minutiae; third, to dedicate themselves fully to their endeavors and to continue with steadfast dedication. The principles could provide insight into Mr. Pang's decision to assume the role of CEO at the Kerry Group Kuok Foundation following his departure from Hong Kong International Airport. He is committed to promoting harmony among people and between people and nature. He is actively engaged in poverty alleviation and rural revitalization in rural areas of the Chinese mainland. The foundation has launched projects spanning various fields, including education, environmental protection, medical care, and health. It has established 12 poverty alleviation bases in Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Inner Mongolia. To address the issue of unequal opportunity distribution, Mr. Pang has proposed the cooperative model, which aims to achieve equitable wealth distribution among farmers. He has showcased the significant effect of this model with the successful example of poverty reduction in Aipo Village, Baojing County. "The essence of poverty alleviation lies in self-help. While it does involve support from others, its success ultimately hinges on the individual's own efforts," concluded Mr. Pang. The success of the "Water Conservation with Water" project for impounding reservoirs and the 2008 Beijing Migrant Workers' Children Learning Assistance Program exemplifies the powerful impact of the concept of solidarity and mutual assistance—transforming social burdens into social assets through education.

Finally, Mr. Pang addressed the topic of campus education. He emphasized that what the Great Learning teaches is to illustrate illustrious virtue of understanding the truth; to renovate people who are eager to put their knowledge into practice; and to rest in the highest excellence that guides individuals to learn to behave themselves. To achieve this goal, the Yen Su-Lan Pang Charitable Foundation has partnered with many colleges and departments, including Xinya College of Tsinghua University, to cultivate future leaders with both political integrity and professional competence for society. The foundation sows seeds of philanthropy on barren and fertile land in China. Mr. Pang concluded that the true measure of a person's life achievements is not found in the quantity of ventures he has started, but instead in the multitude of hopes he has planted within the hearts of others. He motivated the students to seek the power of "me", do simple things with a simple heart, and uphold their integrity in a society dominated by utilitarianism. He also urged them to consider the welfare of both themselves and those around them, to speak fewer grandiose words, and to focus on performing more humble deeds.