PolyU educators win three distinguished awards at the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Reimagine Education Awards 2021

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) educators received one Gold, one Silver and one Bronze award at Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Reimagine Education 2021, in recognition of their innovative teaching and learning methods. Co-organised by QS and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, the Reimagine Education Awards are regarded as the “Oscars” of education, rewarding innovative approaches that enhance students’ learning outcomes and employability.

The winning teams respectively led by Professor Daniel SHEK, Associate Vice President (Undergraduate Programme) of PolyU, and Dr Fridolin TING, Senior Teaching Fellow at the Department of Applied Mathematics of PolyU, were among 1,350 contestants from 84 countries and regions.

The winning projects of PolyU were:

Gold Award in Nurturing Wellbeing & Purpose category
Project title: Leadership and Intrapersonal Development Programme
Project leader: Professor Daniel Shek, Associate Vice President (Undergraduate Programme), PolyU
Project summary: The programme builds up important positive attributes and competencies among university students, enabling them to pursue continual self-improvement, enhance their wellbeing, and contribute to society, through a suite of four subjects, namely Tomorrow’s Leaders, Service Leadership, Promotion of Children and Adolescent Development, and Service Leadership through Serving Children and Families with Special Needs, with both formal and informal learning processes.

Silver Award in Science of Learning category 
Project title: Innovative PALMS Drawing Pedagogies and Apps to Increase Active Learning in Mathematics and Science
Project leader: Dr Fridolin Ting, Senior Teaching Fellow, Department of Applied Mathematics, PolyU
Project summary: According to extensive evidenced-based research, active learning strategies significantly improve Science and Mathematics students' achievement, understanding and application of concepts. In addition, writing and drawing are integral parts of learning and teaching in the Sciences and Mathematics, to convey abstract concepts and ideas. This project aims to increase active learning in Science and Mathematics education through innovative pedagogies, mobile writing and drawing applications.

Bronze Award in K12 category
Project title: Developing Active Learning Pedagogies and Mobile Applications in High School Mathematics Education
Project leader: Dr Fridolin Ting, Senior Teaching Fellow, Department of Applied Mathematics, PolyU
Project summary: The project combines active learning pedagogies and novel writing and drawing apps that are optimal for active learning and conveying abstract concepts and ideas for Mathematics students. Thirty-five secondary school mathematics teachers and principals have been involved in the project.

Professor WONG Kwok-yin, Vice President (Education) of PolyU, expressed his warm congratulations to the project teams. He said, “PolyU strives to foster innovative learning and teaching, aiming to provide quality education to students. The teams demonstrated great enthusiasm in developing pioneering teaching approaches that have brought real benefits to students from secondary to tertiary levels. The attainment of these prestigious awards is undoubtedly an exceptional recognition of our efforts in pursuing learning and teaching excellence.”

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