PolyU Chinese Culture Festival “The Mainland-Hong Kong-Macau University Students’ Chinese Classics Recital Show 2024” successfully held

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is dedicated to promoting the rich traditions of Chinese culture. On 16 November 2024, PolyU successfully hosted “The Mainland-Hong Kong-Macau University Students” Chinese Classics Recital Show 2024” at the Chiang Chen Studio Theatre. Over 40 university students from Hong Kong, Macau and Mainland China participated in reciting classic works from various eras to showcase the diversity and charm of Chinese culture. The show aimed to enhance the younger generation’s appreciation of Chinese culture and promote the art of recitation in Chinese heritage. This Show, part of the year-long “PolyU Chinese Culture Festival”, was co-organised by PolyU, the Jiangsu Normal University, and the University of Macau, with The Tertiary Putonghua Recitation Society as a collaborator. It was also supported by the “Ten Thousand People’s Scheme” provided by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. The event was launched by Prof. Kwok-yin WONG, Vice President (Education) of PolyU; Prof. YANG Yiming, Chairperson of the Academic Committee of the Jiangsu Normal University and Chairperson of the State Language Promotion Institute; Prof. XU Jie, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Macau; Prof. LI Ping, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities of PolyU; and other distinguished guests. In his welcoming address, Prof. Kwok-yin Wong said, “PolyU is committed to promoting the rich traditions of Chinese culture, bringing together outstanding scholars, and nurturing a diverse range of talents to contribute to Hong Kong and serve the Nation. Last year, PolyU established the Research Centre for Chinese History and Culture to facilitate promotion of Chinese history and cultural education on campus. Through this Recital Show, PolyU has collaborated with the Jiangsu Normal University, the University of Macau, and The Hong Kong Tertiary Putonghua Recitation Society to unite teachers, students, alumni and friends, providing everyone with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the exceptional Chinese arts and the profound history and culture of China.” PolyU also invited faculty and students from the Jiangsu Normal University to host the Language and Literary Arts Workshops, allowing participants to experience Chinese culture related to language and literary, including classic poetry, drama, sign language, Hanfu and calligraphy. For the latest information about PolyU Chinese Culture Festival, please visit: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/tc/cpeo/chinese-culture-festival/

Dr Emmanuele Chersoni Receives Best Paper Award at BlackboxNLP 2024

Dr Emmanuele Chersoni, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies, has won the Best Paper Award at the BlackboxNLP 2024 Conference held in Miami on 15 November 2024. The award-winning paper, titled “Log Probabilities Are a Reliable Estimate of Semantic Plausibility in Base and Instruction-Tuned Language Models,” was co-authored by Dr Chersoni along with Dr Carina Kauf and Dr Evelina Fedorenko from MIT, Prof. Alessandro Lenci from the University of Pisa, and Dr Anna Ivanova from Georgia Tech. Click HERE to read the full article. The Blackbox NLP is an important international workshop on analysing and interpreting neural networks for natural language processing.

Dr Elaine Kwong on Diet for Dysphagic Patients and Promotion of Gerontechnology

Dr Elaine Kwong, Associate Professor in the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies, was featured on the local TV programme News Magazine. Dr Kwong discussed the implementation of a standardised diet modification framework for dysphagic patients and the promotion gerontechnology in Hong Kong. Click (Part I) and (Part II) to watch the videos.

30th Congregation of the Faculty of Humanities

Congratulations to the Class of 2024! The 30th Congregation (FH) has been successfully concluded on 9 November 2024. It was kicked off with opening remarks from the Faculty Dean Prof. Li Ping. This year, we were honoured to have three Guests of Honour delivering the congratulatory address: Mr Chen Qiufan, Adjunct Professor of the Department of Chinese History and Culture at PolyU and Deputy Director of the Science Fiction Literature Committee of the China Writers Association, in the first session; Mr Phil Woo Pak Fai, Co-founder of allcareAI and Recipient of the Outstanding Alumni Award in Entrepreneurial Achievement of PolyU Faculty of Humanities 2024, in the second session; and Dr Louis Ng, Director of Hong Kong Palace Museum, in the third session. A total of 872 students graduated this year, including 704 students receiving postgraduate degrees and 168 students receiving bachelor’s degrees. Awards and certificates were presented to students and Faculty members for their outstanding achievements and services. Once again, we wish all graduates a bright future ahead and every success in their future endeavours!

Mr Phil Woo Receives the Faculty’s Outstanding Alumni Award in Entrepreneurial Achievement 2024

Mr Phil Woo Pak Fai was honoured with the Outstanding Alumni Award in Entrepreneurial Achievement of PolyU Faculty of Humanities 2024 at the Faculty’s Congregation on 9 November 2024. Mr Woo is a serial founder turned social entrepreneur, with a diverse portfolio in digital, AI, and robotics across Asia. He is also a consultant and mentor for InnoHK teams at HKSTP to promote the development of I&T in Hong Kong. As a co-founder of the PolyU startup PREN Limited, Mr Woo recently led the company to victory in the Open Group (I&T for Community) of the City I&T Grand Challenge, organised by the Innovation and Technology Commission. Their winning innovation, the allcareAI™ anti-infection mobile toilet, is a commode chair with built-in sensors specifically tailored to cater to the needs of the elderly and patients with limited mobility or infectious diseases. Click HERE to read more.

HKLO Team Shines at 21st International Linguistics Olympiad in Brazil

Our Hong Kong Linguistics Olympiad (HKLO) team has achieved outstanding results at the 21st International Linguistics Olympiad held in Brasilia, Brazil this year. The term earned one silver medal, two bronze medals, and one honourable mention in the individual contest, as well as an honourable mention in the team contest. Individual Contest: Silver Medal: Henry Wong Bronze Medals: Maxwell Ji and Choi John Nathaniel Honourable Mention: Lin Cheuk Hang Team Contest: Honourable Mention: Choi John Nathaniel, Maxwell Ji, Lin Cheuk Hang, and Henry Wong The team is jointly supported by the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies and the Department of English and Communication. For more information about the team, please visit the HKLO page.

Historical and Cultural Significance of the Yungang Grottoes

Dr Leung Wai-Mun, Associate Professor in the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies, authored an article in Hong Kong Economic Journal discussing the historical and cultural significance of the Yungang Grottoes (雲岡石窟). The article also explores how the evolution of the grottoes’ themes and styles reflects the societal changes of the era and the adaptation of Buddhism to Chinese culture. Click HERE to read more.

FH Undergraduate Named Top 10 Outstanding Tertiary Students of Hong Kong 2024

Lui Ho Ching Josette, a final-year student from the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies, has been recognised as one of the Top 10 Outstanding Tertiary Students of Hong Kong this year. Josette stood out among over one hundred applicants due to her active participation in case competitions, internships, and various leadership initiatives. The award presentation took place on 26 October 2024. Organised by the Hong Kong Youth and Tertiary Students Association, this annual award honours promising students dedicated to the future development of the Greater Bay Area.

BAEAL Student Wins Gold at AUSF 1st Asian University Wushu Championship

Our BAEAL student, Leung Yu Hong, has won the gold medal in the Men’s Sanda 60kg at the AUSF (Asian University Sports Federation) 1st Asian University Wushu Championship held in Harbin, China, from 19 to 22 June. The event brought together 87 athletes from 12 Asian countries and regions, competing in Taolu and Sanda. Click HERE to read more.

PolyU Information Day 2024

The PolyU Information Day 2024 was successfully held on 12 October. This event provided an excellent opportunity for visitors to learn about FH’s undergraduate and taught postgraduate programmes and explore their study options. FH Departments introduced their programmes and facilities on the occasion. Visitors enjoyed a variety of activities, including Information seminars, thematic talks, guided visits and many more. The online information seminars can be viewed at https://www.polyu.edu.hk/study/events/infoday2024.