Dr Henry Chan, Associate Professor at the Department of Computing, is receiving international attention for nurturing a new generation of computing professionals who promise to reshape our future.

Carrying his concern for students in his heart like a parent, Dr Henry Chan is far from the stereotypical computer science teacher. His focus is not on applications or code, but on how the next generation of computer scientists will grow personally and make lasting contributions to society. The key, he notes, is to recognize that this is a "digital era with rapid changes in technology", and his job is to "prepare students for unknown careers".

Underpinned by his CARES philosophy, with its emphasis on Computing for Application, Research, Entrepreneurship and Service, Dr Chan's efforts have earned him Faculty and President's Awards, including a President's Award in 2010/11 for achievements in teaching. Most recently, he received international recognition through the IEEE Computer Society's 2015 Computer Science and Engineering Undergraduate Teaching Award for his "outstanding contributions to computing education through teaching, mentoring students, and service to the education community".

Dr Chan earned his PhD at the University of British Columbia in Canada. Since launching his academic career at PolyU in 1998, he has developed expertise in networking/communications, cloud computing, internet technologies and e-commerce. He has conducted projects with significant impacts on Hong Kong's well-being, such as one focused on "Enhancing the Competitiveness of the Hong Kong Air Freight Forwarding Industry Using RFID and Software Agent Technologies", and has published numerous papers in international journals.

Dr Chan has also co-authored a textbook on teaching e-commerce using an integrated computing-business approach, and is aware that learning should never be static, but dynamic. He understands that knowledge in his field is ever changing, and has immersed his students in a paradigm shift from logical thinking to problem solving.

 

Dr Chan attaches great importance to exchange with students.

This critical shift has guided his students as they have collected more than 30 external awards. Indeed, Dr Chan has played the role of mentor, inspiring them to learn. He has also extended the notion of problem solving to his own efforts in guiding them through the intricacies of taking part in international competitions and conferences, completing internships and applying for funding.

Ultimately, Dr Chan treats his students as though they were his own children. A clear example of this is the relationship he developed with the late Lau Hiu-fung, a student who graduated from the Department of Computing in 2009 with First Class Honours and gold awards in two regional information technology competitions. Mr Lau faced great hardships brought on by muscular dystrophy, but Dr Chan recognized his intelligence, respected his perseverance and made every effort to help him overcome difficulties to facilitate his learning.

For all of his students Dr Chan has only one wish – that their "talents can be developed and unleashed to make remarkable contributions to society". With their broadened horizons and indomitable will to succeed, they certainly have our future in their hands. ♦