Prof. Kwok-yin WONG, Vice President (Education) and the IPAO team were invited to participate in the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia Universities Summit (the Summit) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 29 April to 1 May 2024. With the theme “Bridging frontiers: Changing the landscape of education in Asia”, the Summit attracted over 600 academic and industry leaders to engage in rewarding discussion on the rise of transnational education in Asia, enhancing employability of university graduates, and fostering collaboration to forge closer connections between institutions and government.
During the panel discussion “Teaching excellence: How to ensure that teaching and learning remains at the core of the curriculum for universities”, Prof. WONG shared teaching and learning practices implemented at PolyU. He discussed the adoption of immersive learning, integration of “artificial intelligence and data analytics” into mandatory undergraduate programmes, establishment of the Institute for Higher Education Research and Development, and recognition of excellent teaching faculty. The audience found his experience-sharing stimulating and engaged in further discussion with Prof. WONG after the panel session.
Prof. WONG also served as a panelist in another panel discussion session, “Innovative approaches to curriculum design and skill development”. He shared his thoughts on student-centric curriculum design and empowering students to become self-directed learners through the use of emerging educational technologies.
The Summit Gala dinner revealed the results of THE Awards Asia 2024. A PolyU project led by Dr Jin LAM, Assistant Professor of the School of Fashion and Textiles was recognised as “Highly Commended” in the category of “Research Project of the Year: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences”. This affirms the contribution of Dr. Lam’s team to promoting self-esteem and quality of life in community textile arts participation for older adults.
