Dr Leung Wai-mun Introduces the Evolution of Banquet Etiquettes in Ancient China

Chinese culinary culture is deeply intertwined with rituals and social customs. Dr Leung Wai-mun, Associate Professor of the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies, explores the evolution Chinese banquet culture in the Hong Kong Economic Journal. Click HERE to read the full article.

Prof. William Shiyuan Wang on Rebuilding Trust and Goodwill to Retain Control in the Age of AI

Prof. William Shiyuan Wang, Chair Professor of Language and Cognitive Sciences, penned an opinion piece in the South China Morning Post, arguing that to maintain control over our lives and the planet amidst the rise of artificial intelligence, we must rebuild trust and goodwill while curbing our destructive behaviour. Click HERE to read the full article.

Dr Winsy Wong Discusses Visual Impairment and Dementia on Local TV Programme

Dr Winsy Wong, Research Assistant Professor of the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies, was recently featured on RTHK’s TV programme Healthpedia. Dr Wong shared her expertise on the relationship between visual impairment and dementia, as well as “A Trip of Memory” – an innovative cognitive stimulation training programme. This initiative, launched by The Kowloon Motor Bus Co. (1933) Ltd., The Hong Kong Society for the Blind Residential Services, the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, and the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies of PolyU in collaboration with the University, uses nostalgic bus trips to enhance cognitive function in visually impaired elderly individuals. Click HERE to watch the interview.

Generous Donation in Support of New Areas of Humanities Study

Ruhui Foundation Limited has generously donated seven million Hong Kong dollars to PolyU Faculty of Humanities in support of new areas of humanities study, in particular, in the areas of technology and Chinese history and culture, and translation and culture. In the fields of Chinese culture, the funding will be used to support research that aims to explore how technology can be integrated into the understanding of Chinese history, culture, language, and literature, and to foster innovative teaching in Chinese history and literature. It also aims to enhance public interest in traditional culture, while exploring modern issues such as cultural identity and ethic challenges of new technologies. This will increase the public awareness of understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture, promoting the harmonious coexistence of cultural heritage and technological innovation. In the fields of translation and culture, the funding will be used to support research that aims to explore the impact of cultural differences and technological development on translation, thereby gaining a deeper understanding of history and history of translation, as well as promoting the positive dissemination of Chinese language and culture. Besides, one million Hong Kong dollars will be used to set up a “Ruhui Scholarship in Humanities and Artificial Intelligence” to cultivate students to be interdisciplinary professionals who can integrate generative AI with humanities to address the humanities-related challenges, including ethical issues, racial biases and data privacy, brought about by AI, especially today’s generative AI. Students from our MSc in Generative AI and the Humanities programme will be eligible to apply for these scholarships. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Foundation for this philanthropic donation. The donation not only enables the Faculty and its researchers to explore innovative ideas and conduct research projects with high social impact, but also provides students with opportunities to implement their innovative ideas in a real-life context.

FH Scholars Named Among World’s Top 2% Scientists

Four current scholars from the Faculty have appeared among the top 2% scientists of the world, according to the newly released 2024 Stanford/Elsevier list. Faculty Dean Prof. Li Ping, Associate Dean Prof. Hu Guangwei have been ranked again as top scholars globally in the fields of Psychology and Cognitive Sciences (sub-field: Experimental Psychology) and Communication and Textual studies (sub-field: Languages and Linguistics), respectively. Prof Li is ranked 9th on Annual Impacts in the Psychology/Cognitive Science area in the Greater China region. Prof. Hu is ranked 45th worldwide in his field. Prof. Huang Chu-Ren, Chair Professor of Applied Chinese Language Studies, and Prof. Li Shaofeng have also been featured on the list in the fields of Information and Communication Technologies (sub-field: Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing) and Communication and Textual studies (sub-field: Languages and Linguistics). The Stanford/Elsevier list covers the top 100,000 names across 22 scientific fields and 174 sub-fields using indicators such as citations, an individual’s scientific research output, co-authorship and a composite indicator for career-long citation impact up to the end of 2023.

Faculty Dean Prof. Li Ping Conferred at 5th Inauguration of Endowed Professorships cum 2nd Inauguration of Endowed Young Scholars

The Fifth Inauguration of Endowed Professorships cum The Second Inauguration of Endowed Young Scholars was held yesterday (12 September). The event marked the inauguration of five new Endowed Professorships, four successive Endowed Professorships, five new Endowed Young Scholar positions and one successive Endowed Young Scholar position. Our Faculty Dean, Prof. Li Ping, was conferred as the Sin Wai Kin Foundation Professor in Humanities and Technology. Prof. Li’s research sheds light on how the human brain functions when learning a new language. His findings could revolutionise the future of language acquisition and education. Click HERE to watch his Endowed Professor video. PolyU established the Endowed Professorship Scheme in 2012 to honour distinguished scholars for their outstanding academic and research achievements. With extra resources from the Scheme, Endowed Professors will be able to step up their excellent work in research and education.

DALS Student Publishes Article with Dr Nate Ming Curran in TESOL Quarterly

Our Doctor of Applied Language Sciences (DALS) student, Jinyan (Stephy) Wang, has co-authored an article with Dr Nate Ming Curran from the Department of English and Communication in the top journal TESOL Quarterly. The article, titled “Competing for Views and Students: The Implications of Platformization for Online Language Teaching”, examines the accounts of two popular English teachers on the social media platform Douyin. It argues that platformization significantly impacts TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), influencing not only how language teachers construct their identities but also how the role of language teachers is perceived in the age of ubiquitous social media. Click HERE to read the full article.

In Memory of Dr Doreen Dongying WU

The Faculty of Humanities extends its heartfelt condolences on the passing of Dr Doreen Wu on 27 August 2024. Dr Wu served our Faculty with great distinction for 27 years, from 1994 until her retirement in 2021, as an Associate Professor in the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies. Dr Wu made remarkable contributions to the fields of linguistics and communication studies throughout her career. She also served as the Founding Programme Leader of the Doctor of Applied Language Sciences programme from 2012 to 2015, significantly contributing to its design and successful implementation. Her intellect and dedication will continue to impact our students and colleagues. We extend our deepest condolences to Dr Wu’s family, friends, and all those whose lives she touched. May her dedication to education and her enduring spirit continue to inspire us all. .page-title-blk__title{ color:#000000 !important; }

FH Students Participated in the 12th University Scholars Leadership Symposium

Three undergraduate students from our Faculty attended the 12th University Scholars Leadership Symposium from 6 to 9 August 2024, at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok. Organised by Humanitarian Affairs Asia, this prestigious event, held under the theme “Empowering Global Leaders for Social Change”, brought together over 500 delegates from more than 40 countries, fostering global leadership and social change. Our FH students attended the the four-day event, which was designed to inspire and equip participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to drive positive change in their communities. They shared their experience: Hamson Kwan (BAEAL) “I was given the opportunity to get in touch with the refugees at the border of Thailand and Myanmar on “Kindness Day”. I visited a refugee camp and school, and it was a priceless experience I can never forget. I was responsible for teaching a group of adorable kids how to dance. Although there were communication barriers, the smiles on our faces said everything. When you start doing something good, others will follow. Be kind.”  Rachel Chiang (BACHC) “One of the most impressive speeches was by the founder of the Hong Kong Crossroads Foundation. He shared how he fundraised for 500 computers in the early days, providing many children with access to electronics. During the Q&A session, a student revealed that he had been helped by one of these computers and now wants to help others. The thunderous applause, which even surprised the speaker, vividly illustrated the power of help and change.” Ivy Wang (BAEAL) “I gained lots of ideas from the global thought leaders, experts, and peers, significantly broadening my understanding of humanitarian topics. Additionally, it also provides a valuable opportunity for me to talk to and learn from professionals and like-minded scholars all over the world, opening doors for collaboration on projects, internships, and future employment.” Click HERE to read the full story from our students.

Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Faculty of Humanities 2024

Congratulations to the following award recipient on receiving the Faculty’s Outstanding Alumni Award: Outstanding Alumni Award in Entrepreneurial Achievement of PolyU Faculty of Humanities 2024 Mr Phil WOO Pak Fai Co-founder, allcareAI BA (Hons) in English for Business and Professional Communication (2008) Department of English and Communication Master of Design (Design Strategies) (2013) School of Design Mr Woo is a serial founder turned social entrepreneur, with diverse portfolio in digital, AI, and robotics throughout Asia. He is also a consultant and mentor for InnoHK teams at HKSTP to promote the development of I&T in Hong Kong. Starting from 2010, he co-founded Pred to deliver digital solutions to renowned corporations and consultancies. Followed by the startup and venture boom in 2014, he co-founded Catalyst Ventures and Opium Ventures, co-incubated award-winning influencer data platform Advwhere (now Cloudbreakr), which expanded across Southeast Asia and received investment from Alibaba etc. In 2018, he spun off Pren to develop unmanned robotic beverage bars for WeDrink Robotics, which became a subsidiary unmanned store of Coca-cola China. During the pandemic in 2021, he led the company to invent allcareAI, innovated the toilet seat-wrapping and bowl-sealing automation technology, which greatly saves carers’ daily procedures for taking care of the toileting needs of the seniors and people with disabilities. It is supported by PolyU and Cyberport as a featured GeronTech and SocTech startup. The Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Faculty of Humanities aims to recognise the graduates of the Faculty for their contribution to the University and Faculty, and their diverse accomplishments in various areas, including professional achievement, scholarly achievement, and community service achievement.