Campus Reports

PolyU participated in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Alliance for Space Science and Technology online conference

The online conference of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Alliance for Space Science and Technology was held on 25 October. It comprised two discussion sessions "Alliance Management" and "Academic Exchange and Development Planning". Attendees included alliance members from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Sun Yat-sen University, Macau University of Science and Technology, The University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen University, Shantou University, South China Normal University, Guangzhou University and others. The aim was to foster expertise in space science in the GBA for the purpose of exchange, resources sharing and further co-operation. The "Academic Exchange and Development Plan" session was open to the public, and Alliance members were invited to introduce their potential projects to facilitate more co-operation opportunities. PolyU representatives included Professor Yu Changyuan from the Department of Electronic and Information Engineering, Dr Fangxin (Frank) Zou, Assistant Professor of the Interdisciplinary Division of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering, and Ms Karen Jiang, Assistant Director of Innovation and Technology Development Office. Dr Zou gave a presentation on “A Highly Sensitive Nanocomposite Ultrasonic Sensor Fabricated from Polydopamine-Coated Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene” and shared how the new technology enhances sensor specificity and stability.

PolyU for Silk Road Education Collaboration

On 25 October, Ir. Prof. Alex Wai - Deputy President and Provost, shared PolyU’s collaboration experience with Silk Road and Belt & Road partners at the “2020 Silk Road Innovation Design Forum”. Organised by the Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society, the forum invited speakers from Italy, mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, and explored new modes of international manufacturing collaboration during the pandemic.

PolyU Blood Donation Campaign 2020

It is the third year that PolyU has co-organised the campus-wide Blood Donation Campaign with the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) during the University Social Responsibility (USR) Month in October. Being a founding member of the USR Network, PolyU plays a key role in pursuing university social responsibility. More than 230 students and staff participated in this meaningful blood drive between 14 and 16 October.   Besides promoting blood donation on campus, the Blood Donation Campaign co-organised by PolyU’s Global Engagement Office, Student Affairs Office and School of Nursing also provided a training opportunity for our nursing students to learn about the operation of a mobile blood drive. Dr Jennifer Leung, Associate Consultant of the Hong Kong Red Cross BTS, presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Ir Prof. Ben Young, PolyU’s Vice President (Student and International Affairs) in recognition of PolyU’s continued support to BTS’s life-saving efforts. Besides donating blood, students were also encouraged to register as a marrow donor by donating a blood sample. (From the left) Dr Grace Ngai, Head of the Service-Learning and Leadership Office, Ms Wynne Wong, Acting Interim Director of Global Engagement, Prof. Esmond Mok, Dean of Students and Director of Student Affairs Office, Dr Jennifer Leung, Associate Consultant of the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Ir Prof. Ben Young, Vice President (Student and International Affairs), Prof. David Shum, Dean of Faculty of Health and Social Sciences and Dr Eric Tam, Associate Dean of Students encouraged students to play a broader role in the University’s social responsibility by donating blood. 

Capacity Building for Central Asian Social Work Educators

On 14-15 October, PolyU collaborated with Al-Farabi Kazakh National University to organise a two-day online programme themed “Capacity Building on Social Work Education and Social Work Research”. PolyU has closely been collaborating with Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) since 2015 through two university platforms, namely the University Alliance of the Silk Road (UASR) and the University Social Responsibility Network (USRN). This joint workshop aimed at supporting the needs of social work education in the Silk Road region, promoting social responsibility among higher education institutes, and synergising the strengths of UASR and USRN to better serve Central Asian countries. Led by Dr Benjamin Hok Bun KU, Associate Professor of Department of Applied Social Sciences (APSS), this workshop was organised by the APSS China Research and Development Network, and the Department of Sociology and Social Work at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. Attracting more than 60 social work educators, researchers and practitioners from Central Asia, the programme offered a rare opportunity for international scholars from Denmark, Hong Kong, Italy, Kazakhstan, South Korea and Tajikistan to share valuable experiences in the development of social work education and research. The workshop was well-received by the delegates with meaningful questions and inspiring feedback.

USR Network Webinar: The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings

On 6 October 2020 (2:00pm BTS), the University Social Responsibility Network (USRN) organised a webinar on the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings for its member institutions. Mr Duncan Ross, Chief Data Officer of Times Higher Education (top left), and Dr Julian Skyrme, Director of Social Responsibility of The University of Manchester (bottom left), were invited as speakers. The Webinar was moderated by Prof. Valmor Tricoli, President of the International Affairs Office and Provost for International Cooperation of University of São Paulo (bottom right). 30 participants from 11 USRN member institutions, including PolyU, joined the webinar to discuss these newly established Impact Rankings and debate on their future. Dr Skyrme also shared a case account of University of Manchester’s work and its participation in the THE initiative. Besides PolyU, the following institutions also sent representatives to join the discussion: Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Beijing Normal University Kyoto University Simon Fraser University The University of Manchester University of Haifa University of New South Wales University of Pretoria University of Sao Paulo Yonsei University In 2019, Times Higher Education launched the inaugural University Impact Rankings, a pioneering initiative to provide a showcase for the work being delivered by universities in our communities. The rankings measure how universities worldwide are performing against the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They allow THE to demonstrate the differences a university is making to the world in which we live. The keynote speaker, Mr Duncan Ross, is the Chief Data Officer at Times Higher Education. As well as developing university and college rankings, he is responsible for the analysis and interpretation of higher education data. More about the USRN Webinar on THE Impact Rankings: Using the United Nations’ SDGs as a framework, Times Higher Education (THE) developed this new set of social impact rankings for higher education to measure the real impact that universities are making on their students and wider communities, by taking global issues and incorporating them into their governance. As a founding member of the USRN, PolyU sees the significant role of the Impact Rankings in recognizing universities’ social responsibility performance, and has therefore taken the lead in organising a Webinar with THE, with the aim of promoting the Rankings and their methodology to USRN member institutions and in order to advocate university social responsibility in a broad range of higher education institutions. During the Webinar, a consultative briefing was given by Mr Duncan Ross, the Chief Data Officer at THE, to explore the purpose, methodology and data of the Impact Rankings. Followed by a presentation from Dr Julian Skyrme, who shared a case account of University of Manchester’s work and its participation in this THE initiative. The University of Manchester, a USRN member, has been ranked as the top higher education institution in the UK in the 2020 Impact Rankings. Attendees at the Webinar were also able to discuss the future development of the Rankings and provide recommendations to THE on improving the ranking methodology. The USRN is impressed with the effort THE has made to incorporate social impact into rankings. It is hoped that with these new rankings that directly examine how higher education works in the society positive behavior changes will be induced in higher education to make the world a more inclusive, peaceful and sustainable place.

PolyU researchers’ smart pavements won two awards at iCAN 2020

PolyU and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd (VTT) collaborated in contributing to an EU-funded project entitled Urban Nature Labs (UNaLab) led by a consortium comprising 29 partners from 15 countries. As part of the UNaLab project, PolyU researchers, led by Professor Yuhong Wang from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Dr. Ivan Wang-Hei Ho from the Department of Electronic and Information Engineering, developed “A smart integrated road pavement and drainage system for stormwater storage, de-icing, dust suppression, and cooling”. This project aims to develop integrated pervious concrete pavement systems and their components as part of the nature-based solutions (NBS), and to selectively adopt UNaLab NBS and implement them locally through “living labs”. This system has won two awards: the Canadian Special Awards and the Organizer’s Choice Awards in the International Invention Innovation Competition in Canada (iCAN 2020). The project, with its innovative designs to change the urban road, aims to make roads more environmentally friendly and to tackle significant challenges brought about by climate change. The UNaLab consortium is coordinated by VTT, and the research components led by VTT have been funded through the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 Research Scheme, while the research components PolyU is responsible for, were funded separately by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council. For more details of the system, please click HERE To access a brief of the H2020 Project UNaLab, please click HERE

ACCA Charitable Foundation Limited joins hands with PolyU to combat COVID-19 pandemic

On 27 August 2020, PolyU held an appreciation event to express its gratitude to the ACCA Charitable Foundation Limited for donating 5,000 face shields, designed by PolyU, to 16 NGOs. These shields provide extra protection to frontline social workers and healthcare workers in their workplace.  The face shields provide full-face coverage and help to protect the wearers from the spread of droplet-transmitted diseases.  Professor Alexander WAI Ping-kong, PolyU Deputy President and Provost (second from right), presented the certificate of appreciation to Mr Kenneth Wong (middle), Chairman of ACCA Hong Kong, and Ms Jane Cheng (second from left), Head of ACCA Hong Kong.

Fighting COVID-19: Innovative responses from USRN member institutions

The COVID-19 pandemic has crippled even the most advanced healthcare systems, and it continues to pose the toughest of challenges to governments and the general public. At the same time, this crisis has illuminated the positive impact of unity, strength and a sense of community. In all corners of the world, universities, colleges, and other academic communities have willingly and openly joined the fight against the pandemic. Conducting vital research into the design and production of personal protective equipment, providing access to relevant information and offering their own facilities to those in self-isolation, these institutions have been lending their rich resources to supporting the current efforts to address the needs arising from the effects of the crisis. To offer some insights into how universities can contribute to fighting the battle against the pandemic, a featured website has been developed, focusing the spotlight on eight member universities from the University Social Responsibility Network and their valuable contributions to their communities and beyond in battling COVID-19. More: https://covid19.usrnetwork.org

PolyU appoints new Court Chairman and Honorary Chairman

Dr Katherine Ngan Ng Yu-ying and Dr Victor Lo Chung-wing have been appointed as Chairman and Honorary Chairman of the University Court respectively, for a term of three years with effect from 1 January 2020. Dr Katherine Ngan, Vice President of May Cheong Toy Products Fty Ltd, is a distinguished entrepreneur and a keen supporter of PolyU. She has contributed significantly to the advancement of the University through various capacities over the past years: as a Member of the PolyU Council (2001–2007), a Director of the Hotel ICON Board (2008–2019), Deputy Chairman (July 2014–June 2018) and Chairman (since July 2018) of the PolyU Foundation. Dr Ngan has also served as Chairman and Co-Chairman of the Organising Committees of Fund-raising Dinners and Anniversary Dinners of the University. Dr Victor Lo, Chairman and Chief Executive of Gold Peak Industries (Holdings) Ltd, was Chairman of PolyU Council (2004–2009) and served as Chairman of the University Court (2017–2019). The University Council and Management are most grateful to Dr Lo for his invaluable contributions to PolyU throughout the years, and are pleased to secure his continued guidance through his new capacity.

President explores alumni affairs development at roundtable meeting in Beijing

At the second PolyU Alumni Affairs Development Roundtable Meeting held in Beijing on 21 December 2019, President Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, Executive Vice President Dr Miranda Lou and 20 alumni leaders from all six mainland alumni networks explored the development of alumni affairs in the coming year.   President Teng shared the latest situation on campus and the restoration plan. Dr Lou sincerely thanked the Pearl River Delta Alumni Network for their generous support and assistance in providing arrival and accommodation services for more than 300 PolyU Mainland students who left Hong Kong for Shenzhen during the emergency period in mid-November.   All alumni leaders have expressed their goodwill to help on rebuilding PolyU’s reputation. They actively shared views on and insights into how alumni networks could contribute to the restoration works, support student development and strengthen the bond of the PolyU alumni.   After the Roundtable Meeting, President Teng and Dr Lou met with 70 mainland alumni at a dinner organised by the PolyU Beijing Alumni Network.