Campus Reports

Co-creating virtual summer learning experience along the New Silk Road

To foster multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary learning experiences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) joined hands with the University Alliance of Silk Road (UASR) to organise the UASR Virtual Summer Courses 2021. The summer programmes comprised 97 online lectures, hosted by over 70 experts from UASR universities including Xi’an Jiaotong University and Politecnico di Milano, as well as other speakers from the Chinese Museums Association, the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, the University of Tokyo and Tsinghua University. PolyU’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management contributed a MOOC programme themed “Innovation and Technology Management in Tourism & Hospitality” (10 lectures), while the Faculty of Humanity offered “Chinese Culture: Tradition, Transformation and Interaction” (15 lectures) to this virtual summer school, enriching Silk Road students’ cultural and tourism understanding. In addition, in August 2021, PolyU further collaborated with the Heritage Alliance of the New Silk Road (HANSAR) for the Heritage Summer Lecture Series. Dr Casey Schoenberger from PolyU’s Department of Chinese Culture hosted an online lecture on “Introduction to Kun Opera”, sharing classical Chinese performance arts.

PolyU Foundation holds appreciation receptions for its members

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Foundation (PolyU Foundation) held two appreciation receptions on 27 May and 10 June 2021 respectively to express gratitude to its new and elevated members in the categories of Honorary Life Chairman, Honorary Life President and Honorary Life Vice President. The tremendous contributions from members enable the University to forge ahead with its commitment to pursuing education and research excellence. Dr Katherine Ngan, Chairman of the PolyU Foundation, expressed her heartfelt thanks to the members for their long-standing support, particularly during the pandemic. She also introduced the newly launched Endowed Young Scholars Scheme and encouraged members’ support for the Scheme. The Scheme, supporting and nurturing distinguished young scholars at Associate Professor and Assistant Professor levels, is a partnership for excellence between the donor and the University aiming to drive innovations that bring positive and long-term changes to the world. Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, PolyU President, then updated members on PolyU’s latest developments in education and research. He expressed delight in sharing encouraging results from the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2020, in which PolyU received high ratings in various research areas. He also shared with members the news that one of the main themes of the 85th anniversary celebrations will be “Alumni Homecoming” and encouraged them to actively participate in the celebratory activities. As a token of gratitude, a Certificate of Appreciation and a specially designed souvenir were presented to members by Prof. Teng and Dr Ngan.

France & Hong Kong Digital Design Day @POLYU Online Webinar

With the aim of examining and deepening the role of design and innovation in post-2020 society, clarifying relevant skills and trends in the design industry, and raising awareness of the training of excellence in Hong Kong and France, the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, Campus France, and PolyU School of Design (SD) co-organised the first-ever “France & Hong Kong Digital Design Day @PolyU” on 23 March 2021. Prominent academic and industry representatives from Hong Kong and France exchanged professional insights and discussed key themes in Social Innovation and Interactive Media & Animation in plenary sessions moderated by Full Professor in UX Design & Design Intelligence at PolyU-SD Prof. Stephen J. Wang. Representatives from institutions including SD and the three leading French institutes of design, image and sound (3iS - International Institute of Image & Sound, L’École de Design Nantes Atlantique, and The Sustainable Design School) also introduced their programmes and study opportunities during the webinar. The webinar was introduced by Consul General of France Mr Alexandre Giorgini and PolyU-SD Dean Prof. Kun-Pyo Lee, and supported by PolyU Global Engagement Office and Hong Kong Design Centre. It attracted approximately 200 registrants from Hong Kong, France and different parts of the world, and over 500 views on Facebook live streaming. The dedicated Facebook Event Page has also reached more than 14,000 users.

‘What are universities good for?’ The University Social Responsibility Network (USRN) and the University of Pretoria successfully co-host the first digital International University Social Responsibility Summit

Universities have a mission to discover their own strengths in order to improve their contributions to society. This was the overarching sentiment at the three-day International University Social Responsibility (USR) Summit for 2021 that was virtually co-hosted by the University Social Responsibility Network (USRN) and the University of Pretoria. The summit is a biennial flagship event of the USRN, which was founded by PolyU in 2015 with the aim of bringing together thought leaders to exchange ideas, resources, and practices of varied scope and scale to steer global discussion and the development of USR in higher education. The broader conversations also covered topics such as the transformation of higher education institutions and innovation. The conference, which took place from 3 to 5 February 2021, provided more than 21 hours of earnest discussion, with contributions from more than 70 academics, students and practitioners from 27 institutions and 14 countries. Participants shared ideas on how social responsibility programmes and projects can be used in innovative and meaningful ways within the university community and the broader society within which the institutions operate. Dr Miranda Lou, Co-Chair of the University Social Responsibility Network Executive Committee and Executive Vice President of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Prof. Tawana Kupe, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria officiated at the launch of the Summit in the morning of 3 February (South Africa time). Dr Lou noted in her welcome address that the pandemic reminded us at this time of global crisis when the world is in crisis, people are vulnerable, and the educational model is under tremendous pressure, that we should reflect on the essence of university social responsibility. “Let us seize the opportunities amid the current crisis to further advocate for broader social responsibility in higher education; to find solutions to make our communities more just, inclusive, peaceful and sustainable; and to co-create a world we and the next generation deserve.” Dr Lou urged. Introducing the topic of the widespread effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the higher education sector, Prof. Angelina Yuen-Tsang, Hon. Professor in the Department of Applied Social Sciences and former Vice President (Student and Global Affairs) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, spoke on the theme ‘The transformative power of higher education in fostering global connectedness and solidarity amidst the COVID-19 pandemic’ in her keynote address. “Every time there is a crisis, there is opportunity. I believe that it was Winston Churchill who, after World War Two, said: ‘Never let a good crisis go to waste’. I also like the statement by former statesman Nelson Mandela, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world’. I see the pandemic as an opportunity, even though it has caused great destruction in our world, to our families, communities and universities. I think we should look at it from a positive angle, and try to see how we can make use of this crisis as a way to transform the world and to change education,” Prof. Yuen-Tsang said. A massive open online course (MOOC) on “Introduction to University Social Responsibility” was also launched on the first day of the Summit and the teaching commenced on 17 February on the edX platform. This four-week MOOC was developed through the joint efforts of seven USRN member universities. The course explores the foundations of the new mission of social responsibility in higher education in matters of societal and community partnership. Prof. Toru Iiyoshi, the director of the Centre for the Promotion of Excellence in Higher Education at Kyoto University, said it was a big day for the USRN whose aims include providing fresh ideas about social responsibility in universities. “Our key message through the new MOOC is that university social responsibility should be adopted as a progressive management system for pursuing sustainability,” said Prof. Iiyoshi. The three-day Summit concluded on 5 February 2021. USR Summit 2021 Special Report on University World News: https://www.universityworldnews.com/special-report.php?publication=africa&report=USRSummit21

Launch of USR MOOC “Introduction to University Social Responsibility” co-developed by PolyU and Kyoto University

The USR MOOC “Introduction to University Social Responsibility”, a new joint project from the University Social Responsibility Network (USRN), is now open for enrollment on edX. Co-developed by PolyU and Kyoto University, this pilot massive open online course (MOOC) describes the theoretical underpinnings of University Social Responsibility (USR) and showcases effective practices and activities from seven USRN member institutions from around the world - PolyU, Kyoto University, The University of Manchester, Simon Fraser University, University of New South Wales, University of Pretoria and University of Sao Paulo. The course also promotes understanding of the USR concept, its implications, impacts, evaluation, implementation methods and replicability. In doing so, the course contributes to the expansion and consolidation of the USR movement. It provides a knowledge base for designing, planning, implementing and evaluating programmes based upon the fundamentals of USR and existing good practices. Learners are expected to gain a better understanding of the USR concept and its implications, and to observe how USR is materialised in a wide range of activities and social engagement. They will also learn to design, plan, implement and evaluate USR activities, as well as understanding key challenges faced when implementing the activities. About the University Social Responsibility Network Established in 2015, the USRN is a global alliance comprising 16 universities unified by one mission, which is to steer global discussion and advocacy for broader social responsibility in higher education. Member institutions believe that universities have an obligation to work together to find solutions to address economic, social and environmental challenges facing the world today, thus making the world more just, inclusive, peaceful and sustainable. PolyU is one of the USRN’s founding members. The Network Secretariat is currently hosted at the Global Engagement Office of PolyU. Dr Miranda Lou, Executive Vice President, and Ir Prof. Ben Young, Vice President (Student and International Affairs), are Co-Chairs of the USRN Executive Committee. Course Trailer: https://youtu.be/khLtqxjQgNo Course Enrollment: https://www.edx.org/course/introduction-to-university-social-responsibility

Forging Collaboration along the Belt and Road

On 16-27 November, PolyU participated in a series of annual events organised by the University Alliance of the Silk Road (UASR). On 23 November, Prof. Ben Young, PolyU Vice President (Student and International Affairs), delivered a presentation titled “Pandemic - Driving New Reset for Higher Education” at the UASR President Forum 2020. In the presentation, Prof. Young shared PolyU’s experiences in combating COVID-19, revisited the value of “Higher Education” and explored the new “norm” of future universities. School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) took a lead in organising a webinar themed “New ways of teaching and research in Tourism Management brought by COVID-19 challenges” on 20 November, engaging with the Tourism Sub-alliance of UASR, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Mae Fah Luang University and Xi’an Jiaotong University. The webinar discussed the latest research findings and explored future collaborations, attracting over 50 participants. Other PolyU faculty members also attended other UASR thematic webinars, on topics such as the Security of Cyber Space.

SmartHK 2020 - Smart Manufacturing Seminar

The Innovation and Technology Development Office of PolyU co-organised with The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) a thematic seminar on Smart Manufacturing during SmartHK 2020 on 25 November in Chengdu, Sichuan. Speakers were invited to share the latest technological developments and integration in smart manufacturing. These included the development of smart operations in the food industry and supply chain to cope with the industrial challenges brought about by global trade competition, to encourage technological upgrading and cooperation among industries and academia, and to grasp technological advancement for a safer, more efficient and flexible production process. Smart Manufacturing Seminar  Topic & Speaker:  Welcoming remarks by Representative from Sichuan Provincial Economic and Information Department Dr Terence LAU, Interim Associate Vice President (Innovation and Technology Development), PolyU Topic: Embrace innovation and technology in smart manufacturing Speaker: Dr Terence LAU, Interim Associate Vice President (Innovation and Technology Development) of PolyU Topic: Digital innovations in food safety and quality management Speaker: Mr XU Jie, Food Safety Director of Danone Greater China Topic: How data drives smart operation Speaker: Mr Julian SIN, Senior Manager of GS1 Hong Kong Panel discussion Since 2011, The HKTDC has hosted the flagship event, SmartHK, in various mainland cities, including Guangzhou, Jinan, Chengdu, Fuzhou and Hangzhou. In 2020, SmartHK returned to Chengdu, with a focus on promoting Hong Kong as a hub for innovation and technology, as well as facilitating the connection between Hong Kong enterprises and potential partners in Sichuan. This year, in view of the epidemic, SmartHK was held in a mixed mode, combining offline and online live broadcasting. Please click to view the snapshots.

Conference on Credit Transfer Practices in Higher Education: Partnership for Success

On 27 November, PolyU collaborated with the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications and the Federation for Self-financing Tertiary Education to organise an online conference themed “Credit Transfer Practices in Higher Education: Partnership for Success”, with the Education Bureau as the supporting organisation. This conference aimed at advancing local credit transfer practices with streamlined programme articulation and more transparent information, exploring the integration of recognised overseas systems into the local education context and promoting a cross-institutional collaborative culture among sending and receiving institutions for the better learning experience of Senior Year Admitted (SYA) students. Attracting more than 300 officials, academics and administrators from 55 organisations including government, sub-degree, self-financed and UGC-funded institutions and professional accreditation bodies, the conference offered a platform for local and overseas experts from Canada, Netherlands and the USA to share valuable experiences in the development of, challenges experienced with and support to credit transfer practices in higher education. The engaging interaction contributed to fruitful discussions, which provided inspirational feedback for both audiences and speakers. The conference was organised by the UGC-funded Teaching and Learning Project “Enriching Senior Year Places Students' Learning Experience through Curricular and Co-curricular Activities in Hong Kong's Universities” (The SYA Project) led by Dr Kin CHEUNG, PolyU Associate Professor in the School of Nursing. The partnering institutions and co-organisers of the conference were City University of Hong Kong (Dr Bin Li as a co-leader), Hong Kong Baptist University (Prof. Peter Benz as a co-leader) and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Prof. Ka Ming Chow as a co-leader). For more details of the project, please click HERE.

PolyU’s School of Nursing re-designated as a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Community Health Services

The School of Nursing at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) was re-designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a WHO Collaborating Centre (WHO CC) for Community Health Services for a period of time until the end of 2023. A re-designation ceremony was held on 20 November, officiated by Prof. Sophia Chan, JP, Secretary for Food and Health, HKSAR Government; and Dr Hiromasa Okayasu, Coordinator, Healthy Ageing Data, Strategy and Innovation (DSI), WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific. The ceremony also had representatives from PolyU, including Prof. David Shum, Yeung Tsang Wing Yee and Tsang Wing Hing Professor in Neuropsychology, Chair Professor of Neuropsychology and Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences; and Prof. Alex Molasiotis, Angel S.P. Chan Lau Professor in Health and Longevity, Chair Professor of Nursing, Head of the School of Nursing and Director of the WHO CC for Community Health Services. During the 4-year period, the Centre will work towards the goals of identifying key indicators of ageing and health in the region, actively promoting and implementing the WHO Guidelines on Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE), and providing a platform for inter-disciplinary collaborations among health care professionals and academia for initiating projects on healthy ageing.

Ribbon Cutting of the PolyU - Innovation Technology (HK) Audio and Speech Signal Processing Joint Laboratory

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has announced the establishment of the Innovation Technology (HK) Audio and Speech Signal Processing Joint Laboratory. The collaboration between PolyU and the Innovation Technology Company Limited (Innovation) marks an important milestone in the development of the rapidly evolving area of audio and speech signal processing. It is the core technology empowering many information and communication technology devices and services, such as smart phones, hearing aids, speaker verification and speech recognition devices, and AI chatbots. The ribbon cutting ceremony was held on 16 October 2020.