PolyU co-hosts International Conference on Educational Leadership and Asian Culture 2023

The International Conference on Educational Leadership and Asian Culture (ICELAC) 2023, co-hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Studies at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), the Faculty of Education of the University of Manitoba in Canada and the School of Educational Studies of Universiti Sains Malaysia, was successfully held online on 5 August 2023. The Conference aimed to promote Asian culture and research on the development of educational leadership. It attracted 571 participants from 31 countries who jointly explored prospects and developments in educational leadership and Asian culture.

Several renowned experts and scholars from the education sector attended. Prof. Daniel T. L. SHEK, PolyU Associate Vice President (Undergraduate Programme), delivered the opening remarks and Prof. Ruth HAYHOE, Professor from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto in Canada, and former Director of The Hong Kong Institute of Education, gave a keynote speech that examined the influence of Chinese culture on leadership in China with reference to several eminent Chinese educators. 12 other education experts and scholars from 9 Asian countries, including Prof. Masaaki KATSUNO, Dean of the Graduate School of Education at the University of Tokyo in Japan and Prof. SONG Huan, Vice Director of Institute of Teacher Education at Beijing Normal University, participated in four sessions grouped under different themes.

Prof. Shek said, “PolyU has always upheld the crucial importance of understanding the legacy of Chinese culture and student leadership development in its education, striving to cultivate well-rounded students as outstanding Chinese and global citizens. As an innovative world-class university in Asia, PolyU is responsible for promoting the development of Asian cultural education. Through cooperation with other universities, we gather visionary ideas from education leaders to nurture a new generation of talents.”

Scholars approached topics from the perspectives of Chinese culture, Islamic culture, Southeast Asian culture and social culture, and explored the relationship between educational leadership and cultural diversity and complexity, thus stimulating the integration of Asian cultural wisdom into educational leadership. Participants called on educational leaders to take responsibility for promoting the development of education focusing on aspects of Asian culture and emphasised that only through joint efforts can Asian cultural heritage in education shine on the international stage.

One of the highlights of ICELAC is the launch of a new book Educational Leadership and Asian Culture: Culturally Sensitive Leadership Practice. The book was edited by Prof. LIU Peng, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba in Canada and Prof. Lei Mee THIEN, Associate Professor in the School of Educational Studies at Universiti Sains Malaysia. It not only encapsulates the Conference's themes but also comprehensively showcases the depth and breadth of the educational landscape in Asian cultures, pointing towards new directions for future development. The book also emphasises the importance of international exchange and cooperation and calls for greater collaboration in the realm of educational leadership within the Asian region to collectively address the challenges posed by globalisation and cultural diversity.

PolyU has always attached great importance to international cultural exchanges and has organised international summer courses for many years, allowing university students from around the world to participate in inspirational courses and cultural experience activities. Starting from the 2022/23 academic year, PolyU undergraduate students are required to study a subject related to Chinese history and culture to enhance their interest in Chinese heritage and identification with the Nation.

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