Campus Reports

PolyU Research Student Conference 2023: Research with Impact

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) Graduate School is pleased to celebrate the resounding success of the PolyU Research Student Conference (PRSC), held on 8 and 9 May 2023. This first flagship student conference, themed “Research with Impact”, provided a platform for research students and undergraduate researchers within the University to demonstrate their research achievements and build a collaborative research community. Around 300 research students and undergraduate researchers attended the Conference. A celebratory banquet cum award presentation ceremony was held on the first day at Hotel Icon. The banquet was attended by senior management representatives from the Conference award sponsor, China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec). The two-day conference featured keynote presentations, student paper presentations and discussions, and various networking opportunities. Student research project posters were also exhibited. PRSC served as an excellent opportunity for young researchers to present and disseminate their innovative research findings, interact and connect with peers from diverse disciplines, expand their knowledge, and gain insights into the latest trends and technologies shaping their fields of study. A total of 126 presentation submissions were accepted from more than 330 submitted, spanning the STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), the Humanities, Health and Social Sciences, Business and Finance, Design and Fashion. The breadth of topics reflects the University's dedication to research and innovation by fostering an interdisciplinary and supportive research environment. At the opening ceremony, PolyU President and Honorary Conference Co-Chair, Professor Jin-Guang Teng, expressed his enthusiasm for the event, stating, "The PolyU Research Student Conference is an excellent platform for young researchers to showcase their work, exchange ideas and build collaborations. We are delighted to witness our students' achievements and the vibrant research community that we have cultivated at PolyU." The keynote presentations highlighted global research interests in artificial intelligence and energy sustainability. In the first keynote, ChangJiang Chair Professor Yunhao Liu from Tsinghua University focused on the industrial Internet of Things, illustrating the importance of transiting from the digital follow-up to digital lead-off. In the second keynote, PolyU Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Conference General Co-Chair, Professor Zuankai Wang, encouraged students to achieve great things through persistence and having an open mind. Six candidates competed for the best paper awards, sponsored by Sinopec, through presentations and question-and-answer sessions. The awardees were honoured at the banquet award ceremony.   Completed Research track awardees Best Paper Award Yezhou Hu and Ye Zhu in Applied Physics Paper Title: A Co pre-embedding strategy induced highly efficient catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction Award Prize: HK$20,000 Two Best Paper Runners-up i) Nga-Yin Dik, Paul Wai-Kei Tsang, Ah-Pun Chan and Kwan-Yu Lo in Fashion and Textiles Paper Title: Developing a Prediction Model for Virtual Garment Fitting Size with Psychographic Characteristics and 3D Body Measurements ii) Yiteng Li and Ling Zhu in Logistics and Maritime Studies Paper Title: The Technical and Regulatory Aspects of Unmanned Merchant Ships Reconsidered Award Prize: HK$10,000 per team   Work-in-Progress track awardees Best Paper Award Xintong Liu and Ling Jin in Civil and Environmental Engineering Paper Title: Unexpected Discovery of an Algal Toxin as a Major Toxicity Contributor in Hong Kong Marine Waters Impacting the Finless Porpoise Award Prize: HK$15,000 Two Best Paper Runners-up i) Hao Wang and Songye Zhu in Civil and Environmental Engineering Paper Title: Dynamic Behaviour of Latched Tuned Mass Damper ii) Shuai Zhou and Mengyu Wang in Applied Social Sciences Paper Title: Window Dressing or Change Making? Party Building in Chinese Social Work Organisations Award Prize: HK$8,000 per team   At the banquet, Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Conference Honorary Co-Chair, Professor Christopher Chao, highlighted the significance of research and innovation and the role of the University, saying, "With our research expertise and global reach, we are well-positioned to contribute to knowledge advancement and society's betterment, and to reinforce the city’s development into an international I&T hub in the Greater Bay Area." Dean of the Graduate School and Conference General Co-Chair, Professor Jiannong Cao, shared the missions and visions of the School, expressing his view that, "PRSC highlights the strong research postgraduate education at PolyU. We sustain meaningful research impact by nurturing aspiring researchers through nurturing creativity, critical thinking and interdisciplinary collaboration." In closing, special gratitude was extended to the generous donors, while PolyU's faculties and schools were commended for their continued support and the Graduate School for making the conference a success.

“PolyU Taster Programme 2023” successfully completed

The “PolyU Taster Programme 2023”, with 25 individual programmes organised by different faculties, schools and departments has been successfully completed with around 1,100 Secondary Four and Secondary Five students participating. The Programme aimed to provide an opportunity for secondary school students to experience university life and learn about different disciplines such as business, construction, fashion and design, health science, hotel and tourism, language and STEAM (i.e. Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics). Participants interacted with PolyU scholars and students through a wide variety of activities, including undergraduate programme talks, thematic talks, student sharing sessions, workshops, interactive games, guided campus tours, and visits to laboratories and teaching facilities. They gained insight into features of our undergraduate programmes, which will prepare them to make better informed university choices when planning for their further studies.  

APSS and IASSW Forge a Landmark Partnership to Enhance Social Work Education with a Global Online Learning Platform

The Department of Applied Social Sciences (APSS) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) held a signing ceremony on 3 May 2023 to mark the beginning of a significant joint initiative.  APSS and IASSW will work together to provide a global online learning platform on IASSW Global Standards for Social Work Education and Training for international users. The collaboration aims to enhance and promote the quality of social work education and the professional standards of social work practitioners around the world.   Prof. Ben YOUNG, PolyU Vice President (Student and Global Affairs), delivered the opening remarks. He expressed confidence in the agreement, which enables APSS to positively contribute to the international community of social work educators as well as to build global networks for its students and academic staff.  Following the opening remarks, Prof. Annamaria CAMPANINI, President of IASSW, gave the opening address, expressing her delight in celebrating this important moment of cooperation between APSS and IASSW.   The agreement was signed by Prof. Eric CHUI, Head of APSS, and Prof. Annamaria CAMPANINI. The signing was witnessed by Prof. Kwok-yin WONG, Vice President (Education) of PolyU, Prof. Ben YOUNG and Dr Varoshini NADESAN, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Social Work and Community Development, University of Johannesburg.  Prof. CHUI delivered the closing speech where he thanked all of the guests for witnessing this important milestone in international social work education.   The collaboration between APSS and IASSW is expected to make a significant impact in the field of social work education.  The signing ceremony was a demonstration of the strong commitment and dedication of both parties towards nurturing future generations of social workers globally.

Annual “Counsellor Fly-in Programme” concludes successfully

The Global Engagement Office of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology jointly hosted the six-day “HKUST x PolyU Counsellor Fly-in 2023”, which came to a successful conclusion on 31 March 2023. To strengthen the close connection between PolyU and the rest of the world, 39 counsellors from 38 schools in 15 countries and regions, namely Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam, as well as counsellors from local schools, were welcomed at PolyU. Professor Ben Young, Vice President (Student and Global Affairs), Professor Kwok-yin Wong, Vice President (Education) and Professor Geoffrey Q. P. Shen, Associate Vice President (Global Partnerships) shared information about how talented students are helped gain access to PolyU’s top-quality education.   During the three-day programme organised by PolyU, groups of counsellors toured the University’s facilities, student halls, and nine faculties and schools, accompanied by PolyU staff and student ambassadors. The focus was on demonstrating the University’s unique strengths and enabled the counsellors to experience PolyU’s dynamic learning environment. Student representatives also shared their own stories, their experience of colourful campus life and how to become responsible world citizens through PolyU’s diverse educational programmes and its global connections. The entire fly-in programme ended with a dinner for PolyU and HKUST representatives and the counsellors, with all parties exchanging educational experiences and expressing their hope of jointly nurturing tomorrow’s leaders with a global vision.  

Undergraduate ENGL Conference PolyU-CALLS 2023 a Resounding Success

Organised by the Department of English and Communication (ENGL), the first-ever PolyU Undergraduate Conference on Applied Linguistics and Language Studies (PolyU-CALLS) was held on Saturday, 4 March 2023. Over 100 students from PolyU and other universities in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area participated, showcasing undergraduate student research in Applied Linguistics and Communication. The Conference featured plenary speeches by ENGL faculty members Professor Dennis Tay and Dr Anne Schluter and research presentations by undergraduate students on topics that included language and social media, the linguistic landscape and urban spaces, next-generation workplaces, and language and European studies. The organisers of PolyU-CALLS 2023 were thrilled with the level of engagement and energy at the event, with attendees including faculty, postgraduate students and undergraduate students. A post-conference survey received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with attendees praising the content and organisation of the conference. PolyU-CALLS reflects ENGL’s increasing focus on undergraduate student research. "We saw a need for an event that was tailored to students' research interests, especially those who are completing their Capstone or Final Year projects. We hope that the conference will inspire Applied Linguistics and Communication students in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area to get involved in language-based research more actively and spearhead their own original research studies," said Professor Eric Friginal, Head of ENGL. The Department recognises the outstanding presenters whose work went above and beyond in demonstrating research excellence. After evaluating both abstract submissions and the presentations themselves, ENGL would like to announce the following PolyU-CALLS 2023 award winners: Best PolyU-CALLS presentation: Ashima Shukla from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Best ENGL presentation: Nok Lam Wong from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Best non-ENGL presentation: Sum Wai Li from Hong Kong Baptist University The level of student participation at PolyU-CALLS 2023 highlights an appetite for more student-oriented conferences in Applied Linguistics and Language Studies. Dr Max Diaz, ENGL Undergraduate Programme Leader, stated that "It's exciting to see students getting exposure to new research topics, receiving feedback on their studies, and experiencing an authentic academic conference. We're already planning next year's conference and hope to make it bigger and better." With its first chapter having come to a successful close, students and ENGL are already looking forward to PolyU-CALLS 2024.

PolyU participated in the Global Engagement & Empowerment Forum on Sustainable Development (GEEF) 2023

The Global Engagement & Empowerment Forum (GEEF) 2023 was hosted by Yonsei University on 2 and 3 February. The Forum, themed “Turning Point: From Crisis into Opportunity” aimed to examine progress at mid-point on the way to the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and facilitate discourse on the future directions of SDGs. Professor Kwok-yin Wong, Vice President (Education) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University was invited to participate in GEEF 2023 virtually as a panelist in a featured session themed “Future of Higher Education” on behalf of the University Social Responsibility Network. During the session, Professor Wong shared his views regarding the significance and practices of innovative education methods for sustainable growth. Moderated by Professor Donghoon Kim, Senior Vice President of Yonsei University, the session was devoted to SDG 4 “Quality Education” and discussion focused on the role of higher education institutions in realising a sustainable future. Other panellists included, Dr Shinki An, Director of the Yonsei Institute for Global Health, Mr Duncan Ross, Chief Data Officer of Times Higher Education, and Professor Mohd Hamdi Abdul Shukor, Vice Chancellor of the University of Malaya. About GEEF The Global Engagement & Empowerment Forum on Sustainable Development (GEEF), is an annual international forum, organised by the Institute for Global Engagement & Empowerment at Yonsei University, the Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future, and the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens. Stakeholders, including various global leaders and experts, convene to collaborate towards accomplishing the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Yonsei University is one of the founding members of the University Social Responsibility Network, of which PolyU is the Chair while the Network Secretariat is hosted at the University’s Global Engagement Office.   

PolyU hosts virtual International University Social Responsibility Summit to share actionable insights and chart the role of higher education in a sustainable future

The International University Social Responsibility (USR) Summit 2022, themed “Education and Action for a Sustainable Future”, was hosted virtually by PolyU and the University Social Responsibility Network (USRN) from 16 to 18 November 2022.  This biennial USRN flagship event brought together from around the world 140 speakers and over 640 online participants, including higher education leaders, academics, students and practitioners to exchange ideas, foster partnerships among universities and advance the global USR movement.  In addition to the focus on education and the global community, this years’ USR Summit further broadened its scope to attract presentations from science and technology experts in order to mobilise all-round collaborative research to make our planet more sustainable, and our communities more advanced and inclusive.  Prof. Jin-Guan Teng, President of PolyU, Prof. Ben Young, Vice President (Student and Global Affairs)  and Prof. Daniel Shek, Associate Vice President (Undergraduate Programme) kicked off the Summit, which was organised in conjunction with the 4th International Conference on Service-Learning.  President Teng addressed speakers and guests at the joint welcoming session of the International USR Summit 2022 and the 4th International Conference on Service-Learning,  commenting that the joint event was timely as the world is currently facing many challenges that require universities to promote social responsibility in order to make the world a better place. “We promote social responsibility not only in education but also in our research endeavours” said President Teng. “Be challenged and inspired by what you learn from the community and turn those findings into research ideas and projects. Bring the research back into the community where it can do the most good.” President Teng concluded his welcoming address to the educators and researchers. As the Chair of the International USR Summit 2022 Organising Committee, Prof. Ben Young believed the Summit to be an event where participants reflect on the USRN’s trajectory and an occasion to celebrate accomplishments and partnership. “The light attracts us, the vision gathers us from around the globe, the responsibility empowers us and guides us to co-create a sustainable future for the betterment of all beings on this planet” said Prof. Young.   The three-day Summit comprised various plenary and parallel sessions which delved into six sub-themes:  Assessing and Reinforcing USR Impacts; Collaborative Research to Address Global Challenges; Driving Institutional Changes for USR; Education to Cultivate Social Responsibility; Elevating Sustainable Development through Regional and Global Collaboration; and Social Innovation for Inclusive Communities. Click here for the USR Summit 2022 event playback. About the University Social Responsibility Network  The University Social Responsibility Network (USRN) was initiated by PolyU in 2015 in the belief that universities have an obligation to work together to find solutions to address the economic, social and environmental challenges facing the world today, making the world more just, inclusive, peaceful and sustainable. Serving as a global platform to connect and foster partnership among members, the USRN shares ideas and resources to develop collaborative USR projects with varied scope and scale, advancing higher education as a catalyst for social change through education, research and community service. The USRN comprises 20 member institutions with wide geographic spread.  USRN website: https://www.usrnetwork.org/ About the International USR Summit 2022 The International USR Summit 2022: Education and Action for a Sustainable Future, hosted virtually by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the University Social Responsibility Network, aimed to nurture and guide generations of new leaders who will drive social change, and translate innovative ideas into concrete steps towards a better, inclusive and sustainable future.  The USR Summit 2022 was organised in conjunction with the 4th International Conference on Service-Learning.  Service-Learning is moving into a whole new stage of institutional commitment and societal impact.   USR Summit 2022 website: https://usrsummit2022.org/

PolyU President invited to speak at EU-HK SDGs Roundtable Discussions 2022

The Czech Republic Consul General in Hong Kong, Mrs Klára Jurčová, invited Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU to participate as a panel speaker at the EU-HK SDGs Roundtable Discussions 2022 that the Consulate General organised on 31 October 2022. The President joined the third roundtable on the topic of Sustainable Development Goals related to the environment and economics, together with two other panel speakers, Mr Per Augustsson, Consul General of Sweden, and Mr Simon Ng, CEO of the Business Environmental Council. Holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, this is the first time in Hong Kong for the Czech Republic to arrange such an event for policy exchange and aimed at experts from industry, NGOs, academia and the government, as well as Consuls General of the EU countries.

PolyU BME Alumni Homecoming Day 2022

PolyU Department of Biomedical Engineering is proud to present the PolyU 85th, BME 10th and REC 35th anniversary Alumni Homecoming Day on 19 November 2022 (Saturday). You are cordially invited to join either in person at PolyU Room TU201 or online.   All graduates, including Prosthetics & Orthotics, Health Technology and Biomedical Engineering-related BSc, MSc, MPhil, PhD and other graduates from Jockey Club Rehabilitation Engineering Centre (1987-2005), Department of Health Technology and Informatics (2005-2012), Interdisciplinary Division of Biomedical Engineering (2012-2017) and Department of Biomedical Engineering (2017- 2022), and all current students ,former staff are welcome to join this Homecoming Day.   For registration, please click here before 31 Oct. 

Associate Vice President (Global Partnerships) visits top partner schools in Harbin

To strengthen connections with top high schools in Mainland China, Prof. Geoffrey Q. P. Shen, Associate Vice President (Global Partnerships) and Director of Global Engagement, visited Harbin No. 3 High School, Harbin Normal University High School and Harbin No. 9 High School in mid-August. They are the leading high schools in Heilongjiang Province, with an average over the past five years of more than a dozen outstanding students coming to study at PolyU annually through the Joint Entrance Examination admission scheme. Prof. Shen's visit was warmly received by the three schools, and he had a meaningful and constructive exchange with the school principals, during which they exchanged views on how to attract more outstanding students to study at PolyU.