| 21st Congregation of FCE |
On 3-4 November 2015, the 21st Congregation and Prize Presentation Ceremony of the Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE) was held. Prof. You-lin Xu, Dean of FCE, presided over the proceedings, which conferred diplomas and degrees to over 1,500 graduates. He delivered a memorable speech about the Faculty’s various accomplishments and exhorted the graduates to seize the opportunities presented by unprecedented urbanization in China and Hong Kong. The Guests of Honour namely Ir Prof. Vincent Tse, Managing Director of Parsons Brinckerhoff (Asia) Limited, Ir Chan Chi Chiu, President of Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, and Mr Cheng Wai-pun, Deputy Director of the Surveying and Mapping Office of the Lands Department, also shared their wisdom with the Congregation. Valedictory speeches were delivered by graduating students from each of FCE’s departments. The heartfelt thanks and gratitude that they expressed were palpable. Furthermore, staff and graduates with outstanding achievements received prizes from the Dean. It was an unforgettable occasion for all concerned. |
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| Prof. Xu addressing the Congregation |
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| Launching Ceremony of the “One Belt One Road” Southern Trip of ASRTU (Association of Sino-Russian Technical Universities) |
On 30 November 2015, an opening ceremony for the southern trip of China’s “One Belt One Road” initiative by ASRTU was held. In attendance were senior management of PolyU, CityU, HKUST, the University of Macau, the Harbin Institute of Technology, as well as representatives of a number of universities in Russia, which are all members of the Association of Sino-Russian Technical Universities (ASRTU). After speeches from PolyU’s Deputy President and Provost, Prof. Philip Chan, the Chinese Secretary to ASRTU, Mr Gu Jianjeng, and the Russian Secretary to ASRTU, Mr Anatoly Alexandrov, there was a high-level meeting of representatives from PolyU and several Russian universities. Prof. Xiaoli Ding, Associate Dean (Partnership) of the Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE), gave a detailed introduction of FCE to the visitors, including its structure and programmes, research strengths, and rankings in construction-related subjects by different organizations. They also had a chance to visit the Industrial Center, the House of Innovation, and the Innovation Tower on campus.
The ASRTU aims to promote communication and scientific cooperation between Chinese and Russian universities. It is made up of 18 universities in China and 18 universities in Russia.
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| The ASRTU visitors and their hosts |
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| Research by LSGI Team on Show at Eco Expo Asia 2015 |
At the Eco Expo Asia during 28-31 October 2015, Dr Charles Wong and his team from the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI) exhibited their latest research on an integrated micro-environmental monitoring system (IEMS) for construction sites. Eco Expo Asia is an international trading platform for environmental professionals to showcase the latest innovations in environmental protection industries from around the world. The IEMS developed by Dr Wong’s team can incorporate real-time environmental information into a Building Information Modelling platform and enhance current on-site risk assessment, thus raising the environmental quality of construction sites. It has already been deployed on-site at MacDonnell Road as well as Block X on the PolyU campus. |
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| Research on Teaching and Learning Methodologies |
Two scholars from the Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE) have recently been awarded grants for their eLearning and Blended Learning project proposals. Dr Johnny Wong of the Department of Building and Real Estate (BRE) received HK$240,000 for his proposal entitled “Blending pedagogical concept and e-learning in construction measurement and estimating course,” while Dr Charles Wong of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI) received HK$500,000 to develop a location-based driven application for innovative and technology-assisted teaching and learning based on iBeacon technology. |
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| Former Head of Department of PolyU Predecessor Celebrated |
On 5 November 2015, the 95th birthday of Dr Deric Daniel Waters was celebrated with gusto by the senior management of PolyU and his former students. Organized by the Alumni Affairs and Development Office, the celebration party was attended by Prof. Timothy W. Tong, President of PolyU; Prof. H.C. Man, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering (FENG); Prof. Y.L. Xu, Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE); Prof. Xiaoli Ding, Associate Dean (Partnership, FCE); and Prof. Albert Chan, Head of the Department of Building and Real Estate (BRE). Prof. Xu presented a gift to Dr Waters, expressing his gratitude for the significant contribution made by Dr Waters to the development of FCE. A former Head of the Department of Building, Surveying, and Structural Engineering at the Hong Kong Technical College, PolyU’s predecessor, from 1963 to 1968, Dr Waters became the Founding Principal of Hong Kong’s first Technical Institute at Morrison Hill in 1969. He joined the government’s Education Department in 1972 to oversee the setting up of additional institutes, and subsequently became its Assistant Director for Technical Education. Dr Waters’ leadership in the 1960s and 1970s led to the establishment of five technical institutes before his retirement in 1980, including the one at Morrison Hill, the Haking Wong and Lei Wai Lee institutes and two more in Kwun Tong and Kwai Chung. His legacy provided a solid foundation for the growth of the erstwhile Polytechnic into today’s FCE.
The majority of the guests were former students of Dr Waters, who were delighted to have an opportunity to reminisce with their beloved principal. It was a memorable evening for them all.
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| The guests at Dr Waters’ birthday party |
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| Dean of Tongji University’s College of Civil Engineering Visits FCE |
On 11 November 2015, the Dean of Tongji University’s College of Civil Engineering, Prof. Gu Xianglin, visited the Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE) for a meeting with Prof. You-lin Xu, Dean of FCE, and 10 academic staff whose research interests are in the field of structural, geotechnical, and hydraulic engineering. They had a mutually beneficial discussion about the development of both colleges. Prof. Gu also had an opportunity to meet a group of research students under the PolyU-Tongji Joint PhD Scheme. Plans are in place for more collaboration between the two universities.
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| Prof. Gu (seated third from right) and Prof. Xu (seated third from left) with 11 FCE academic staff |
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| New Academic Staff |
On 13 November 2015, a new Assistant Professor joined the Department of Building Services Engineering. Dr Seung Hyun Cha obtained his bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering from Korea University in South Korea in 2009. He received his master’s degree in Sustainable Design and Construction from Stanford University in the USA and his PhD in Architecture from the University of Cambridge in the UK in 2011 and 2015 respectively.
Dr Cha was a visiting research scholar in the Design and Decision Support System (DDSS) group at the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands in 2013 and in Architecture and Civil Engineering at City University of Hong Kong in 2014. He used to work as a Research Associate in Nanyang Centre for Underground Space at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore in 2015.
Dr Cha is a building scientist and LEED AP, working in the design, operation, maintenance and management of sustainable buildings. His research interests include building information modelling, building energy and space efficiency, optimal building operation strategies, occupant behaviour, and post-occupancy evaluations.
His research interests in user behavior and building energy simulation led him to work on predicting more accurately users’ movement and space-use in buildings. His doctoral thesis developed novel space-preference models of spatial choice behaviour in favour of advanced building simulation and space planning.
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| IFMA Foundation Scholarship awarded to BSE PhD Graduate |
At the World Workplace Conference in Denver, Colorado, on 8 October 2015, Mr Raymond Man was awarded a scholarship from the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) Foundation, which has given scholarships to deserving students in Facility Management (FM) from around the world since the 1990s. Mr Man is a recent PhD graduate from the Department of Building Services Engineering (BSE) under the supervision of Dr Joseph Lai. The individual scholarships range from USD1,500 to 5,000 and are for students who were enrolled in FM or FM-related programs, having fulfilled requirements in various aspects such as academic study, depth of knowledge of the IFMA core competence, and facility management involvement.
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| Mr Man (in middle) receiving his award |
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| Associate Head of BSE Retires |
Prof. Kwok-tai Chan, Associate Head (Teaching) of the Department of Building Services Engineering (BSE), has retired from his post after almost 27 years of distinguished service at PolyU. He began his academic career in BSE in 1988, contributing much to the department’s activities in teaching and accreditation. Through a staff development programme, he received his PhD in 1996. After the completion of a research project later this year, he will move to Australia for his retirement. We wish him all the best.
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| Prof. Chan (left) with Prof. Chow, Head of BSE |
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| FCE Mourns Passing of Dr Ng Wing-hong |
The Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE) is deeply saddened by the recent passing of one of its oldest graduates, Dr Ng Wing-hong, at the age of 99. He attended the earliest precursor of PolyU, the Government Trade School, for a diploma course in Building in 1937. Upon his graduation, he devoted himself to the construction industry for 60 years. He was a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building, Managing Director of Tai Hing (Engineers and Builders) Limited and served as President of the Hong Kong Building Contractors Association.
Over the years, Dr Ng has maintained a strong tie with, and given tremendous support to, our University. In recognition of his significant and sustained contribution to the University, the building industry and the community, PolyU conferred on him the titles of University Fellowship in 2005, Outstanding Alumni in 2009, and an Honorary Doctorate in 2011. He was Honorary Life Chairman of the PolyU Foundation, and provided the University with invaluable advice on its development. He will be sorely missed by us all.
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| Dr Ng at the PolyU’s 65th Anniversary Celebration |
Dr Ng was one of our first graduates of the Government Trade School |
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| Secondary School Students Visit LSGI |
On 30 October and 12 November 2015, two groups of secondary students in Forms 4 and 5 from Wa Ying College and St Louis School respectively visited the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI) to learn about its programmes and admission requirements. Some LSGI students shared their study experiences and university life with the secondary school students. While visiting the Underground Utility Survey Laboratory, they saw a demonstration of the technology and application of ground penetrating radar. The use of GNSS instruments and satellite facilities was also demonstrated by some research students from LSGI. It was an excellent opportunity for the secondary school students to find out more about the study of LSGI. |
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| A demonstration for secondary students |
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| Invitation for Programme Admission 2016/17 |
Applications are now invited for the following taught postgraduate programmes.
For details, please visit at http://www.polyu.edu.hk/fce/postgrad-scheme/acad.html
Master of Science (MSc)/Postgraduate Diploma (PgD)
Building Services Engineering 屋宇設備工程學
Civil Engineering 土木工程學
Construction and Real Estate 建築及房地產學
Construction Law and Dispute Resolution 建築法及爭議解決學
Environmental Management and Engineering 環境管理及工程學
Facility Management 設施管理
Fire and Safety Engineering 消防及安全工程學
Geomatics (Geographic Information Systems) 測繪及地理資訊學(地理資訊)
Geomatics (Surveying) 測繪及地理資訊學(測量)
High Performance Buildings 高效能建築
Project Management 項目管理
Sustainable Urban Development 可持續城市發展學 |
For programme details, please visit http://www.polyu.edu.hk/study
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| Invitation for Postgraduate Scheme Entry Scholarship 2016/17 |
To apply for the entry scholarship, please click here to download the application form and submit it to us on or before 1 January 2016. |
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