News

Establishment of Centre for Infrastructure Delivery

We are pleased to share that Prof. Albert CHAN has transitioned from Chair Professor to Distinguished Research Professor and has taken on the role of Director of the newly established Centre for Infrastructure Delivery (CeIDE), which we expect inaugurating in March. CeIDE aims to be a hub for research, innovation, collaboration, and knowledge sharing, addressing the challenges and opportunities in Infrastructure Delivery. Its mission is to enhance the capabilities of project leaders, practitioners, and stakeholders through executive training programs, advancing research in infrastructure delivery, and providing high-level support to the HKSAR Government and other key stakeholders. We invite you to join us on this journey! Visit our official website at https://www.polyu.edu.hk/brecide to learn more and support our initiatives. Feel free to share this exciting news with your colleagues and friends! Stay tuned for our Centre's leaflet, coming soon to the general office! Together, let’s make a difference in infrastructure delivery!

Sign up for an Online Info Seminar on MSc in Construction and Real Estate Programme on 15 Feb 2025, 2:00pm-3:00pm

Are you ready to gain fresh insights and make a significant impact on your career? Let's embark on a lifelong learning journey that will help you excel in today's construction and real estate industry. Our MSc in Construction and Real Estate Programme is designed for graduates and professionals, who are qualified in architecture, building, building services engineering, building surveying, civil engineering, construction management, quantity surveying, project management, property management, real estate or town planning at various levels of responsibility. It offers students the flexibility to choose subjects from the disciplines of construction, planning and development or commercial property. Sign up for Online Info Seminar (15 February, 2:00pm-3:00pm; Registration deadline: 12 February) now: https://polyu.hk/HjjDy

Sign up for an Online Info Seminar on Doctor of International Real Estate and Construction Programme on 22 Feb, 11:00am-12:30pm

The HKSAR Government has introduced transformative policies re-shaping the construction and real estate sectors in recent years. These changes open up exciting opportunities for professionals ready to lead innovative and large-scale projects in Hong Kong and beyond. Our Doctor of International Real Estate and Construction Programme (DIREC) is designed to equip you with the essential expertise and skills needed to excel in this evolving landscape. By integrating comprehensive academic approaches with international practical applications, DIREC prepares you to tackle the challenges of these sectors. The programme has received highly positive feedback from the members of the validation panel, including Dr CHEUNG Tin Cheung, former Director of Buildings of HKSAR Government, Dr Tony LEUNG, former President of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, and Prof. Makarand HASTAK from Purdue University. To learn more about DIREC, sign up for Online Info Seminar now (22 February, 11:00am-12:30pm; Registration deadline: 18 February): https://polyu.hk/HQvbJ

Chinese New Year Greetings from Department of Building and Real Estate, PolyU

We wish you a prosperous Chinese New Year filled with happiness, good health and success! (Animated e-card)

Prof. Jeff SHEN’s Success in Securing CEPU PPR Grants

Good things come in pairs! Congratulations to Prof. Jeff SHEN, Assistant Professor of BRE, on being awarded grants from the Public Policy Research Funding Scheme (2024/25) by the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit for his two outstanding projects! Prof. Shen’s two granted projects are entitled ‘Climate Policy Risk and Green Infrastructure Financing in the Belt and Road Initiative: Policy Implications for Infrastructure Loan Securitisation’ and ‘Developing a MiC Data Platform for Reusable Modules in the Transitional Housing Projects: Towards a Circular Economy’. The Public Policy Research Funding Scheme (PPRFS) is dedicated to fostering public policy discussions, enhancing policy formulation to address societal needs, and nurturing the talents essential for future advancements. Congratulations once again to Prof. Shen on his remarkable achievements and contributions to impactful research! More about Prof. Jeff SHEN:https://www.polyu.edu.hk/bre/people/academic-staff/dr-jeff-jianfu-shen/

BRE DIREC Graduation Celebration 2025

We recently hosted a memorable graduation dinner on 20 January, Monday, to honor the achievements of the first and second cohorts of graduates from our part-time Doctor of International Real Estate and Construction (DIREC) programme. The event was graced by the presence of Prof. Michael YAM, Head of BRE and Prof. Daniel CHAN, the Programme Leader, who shared inspiring words and congratulated the graduates on their remarkable academic journey. The graduates come from diverse professional fields, ranging from finance, investment, construction, real estate, project management, building management to digitalisation of construction processes. It was a wonderful evening filled with joy and laughter, with everyone grinning from ear to ear. We extend our heartfelt thanks and deep appreciation to the graduates for organising such a successful graduation dinner this year. We are incredibly proud of their academic achievements and hope this close bond will continue to blossom. Their continued support and engagement are invaluable to us. We also look forward to witnessing their future successes in their professional careers!

BRE Distinguished Lecture ‘Real Estate Bubbles and an Update on US Real Estate Markets’ – Sign Up Now

We are delighted to announce that Prof. Abdullah YAVAS from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the United States will share his valuable insights on ‘Real Estate Bubbles and an Update on US Real Estate Markets’ during our signature event ‘BRE Distinguished Lecture’. Please join us for this enlightening session on 13 February, from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. Attendees who participate in the entire Lecture will receive certificates of attendance.  ‘BRE Distinguished Lecture’ aims to further strengthen the network between BRE and the industry, providing an ideal platform for industrial professionals, our students, alumni and colleagues to engage in advanced learning. Sign up NOW: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/mysurvey2/index.php/656175?lang=en

BSc (Hons) Architectural Studies Workshop

In January, we had the pleasure of hosting an inspiring workshop to introduce our new BSc (Hons) in Architectural Studies. This workshop offered secondary school students a fantastic opportunity to discover the unique wonders of architecture and explore diverse career paths within this vibrant field. Participants also got a sneak peek at our curriculum and enjoyed an engaging architecture game. The BSc (Hons) in Architectural Studies programme is hosted by BRE and co-hosted by the PolyU School of Design, for the 2025/26 cohort. The programme aims to provide quality education to familiarise architectural students with the latest advanced technology such as Artificial Intelligence, Building Information Modelling and advanced construction technology relating to architecture, construction, building materials and building services to respond to issues of sustainable development in the built environment. The uniqueness of the programme lies in the integration of knowledge and analytical tools, digital skills and transferable skills with design capabilities for the needs of the architecture profession. Stay tuned for more exciting events!

Miss Janie CHEN Awarded OSH Best Project Scholarship

Please join us in congratulating our research student, Miss Janie CHEN Junyu, on winning the Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) Best Project Scholarship for the 2023/2024 Academic Year. In January, Janie was invited to present her project, ‘An Accident-enabled Risk Analysis Framework for the Development of Effective Off-site Crane Operator Training’ to the Selection Panel of the OSH Council. Her hard work, under the guidance by her supervisor, Prof. CHI Hung Lin, Associate Professor of BRE, was recognised with the OSH Best Project Scholarship. Janie will receive this honour at the upcoming Award Presentation Ceremony. The OSH Best Project Scholarship aims to inspire post-secondary students in Hong Kong to recognise the significance of occupational safety and health in their academic pursuits.

Visit by the Director and Dedicated Team of Construction Industry Council

We were thrilled to host Mr. Alex HO, Director – Industry Development and Mr. CK WU, Senior Manager - Industry Development and Safety, from the Construction Industry Council, along with the dedicated team on 16 January. The visit kicked off with an enthusiastic welcome from Prof. Michael YAM, Head of BRE and featured an enlightening presentation by Prof. Albert CHAN, Distinguished Research Professor of BRE. Our guests were then immersed in the world of our advanced technologies, including demonstrations of the motion simulator, 3D printing, and exoskeleton in the laboratories. We look forward to future collaborations to continuously push the boundaries of innovation!