ITC is pleased to share that among the results of the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2020 announced by the Hong Kong’s University Grant Committee (UGC), ITC research performances are appraised as “world-leading” or “internationally excellent” by multiple judging panels. The RAE was conducted by the UGC to assess the research performance of all UGC-funded universities for the past 6 years with international benchmarks.
Double full scores: remarkable improvement in ITC design research
PolyU’s RAE 2020 submission to the Creative Arts, Performing Arts & Design panel (UoA38) received double full scores for impact case studies and research environment, which is the best performance in this area among the eight UGC-funded institutions. Prof. Kinor Jiang’s research work on metallic coated textiles was one of the 3 impact case studies submitted. His work was given 4 stars in the assessment. Overall, 69% of the research work is rated 3 stars (internationally excellent) and 4 stars (world leading). In addition, research outputs saw a marked improvement from RAE 2014, with an increase of 31% to 55% for 3- and 4-stars outputs.
The collective contribution of ITC to the research outputs submission comprised research work on designing for sportswear, ergonomic apparel, fashion, interactive textiles, metal coated fabrics and fashion research for older people. ITC’s contributors to UoA38 are (in alphabetical order by last name): Dr Joe Au, Dr Chu-Po Ho, Prof. Kinor Jiang, Dr Rong Liu, Dr Wing-Sun Liu, Dr Frankie Ng, Dr Kristina Shin, Dr Jeanne Tan, Dr Kit-Lun Yick and Dr Joanne Yip.
Prof. Calvin Wong, Coordinator of the UoA 38 Steering Committee.
Prof. Calvin Wong, Coordinator of the UoA 38 Steering Committee, led ITC and SD colleagues over a period of 2 years to achieve this unprecedented submission result. The high scores highlight PolyU’s commitment to forward-looking research and the diverse and innovative research work of ITC design colleagues. Prof. Calvin Wong said, “The journey to the RAE 2020 took meticulous planning and execution by the steering committee, consultants and all of the contributing colleagues of ITC and SD. I would like to thank our former Dean, Prof. Wing-tak Wong, steering committee members from SD and ITC: Laurent Gutierrez, Johan Hoorn, Michael Siu and Jeanne Tan, our consultants and all colleagues for their support, advice and contributions.”
World leading ratings for all three ITC technology impact case studies
Maintaining a strong growth momentum, the technology and business areas of study at ITC have made remarkable contributions to UoA14 by demonstrating research excellence and great impacts on society and the industry. ITC submitted two impact case studies to UoA14 which were assessed by the mechanical engineering, production engineering, textile technology and aerospace engineering panel, and also contributed one impact case to UoA8 for assessment by the Materials Science and Materials Technology (Dept. Applied Physics) panel. All three impact cases submitted by ITC were rated as world leading (4-stars).
The 4-star research impact cases include research work by Prof. Y Li, Prof. Jintu Fan and Prof. John Xin - “New international standards and instruments upgrade the textiles and clothing industry” and Prof. Xiaoming Tao, Prof. Bingang Xu and Dr Tao Hua - “Green technology improves productivity and creates profit for global textile manufacturers” which were judged by the engineering panel. Prof. Helen LW Chan, Prof. Yu Wang, Dr Yang Chai and Prof. Xiaoming Tao were given a 4 star-rating by the physical science panel for “Flexible electronic devices for smart wearable applications”.
The assessments for research output, impacts and environment for UoA14, which include ITC technology and business areas, have achieved an overall research rating of 41% for 4-stars and 42% for 3-stars, that is, 83% of the research has been rated world-leading or internationally excellent.
Prof. Xiaoming Tao.
Prof. Xiaoming Tao, the ITC coordinator for the submission of case studies in technology and business, feels very happy and proud of the achievement of ITC’s colleagues, as it is a testimonial of the long-term vision, persistent devotion and hard work to build a world-class institution in fashion and textile research. She would like to thank ITC colleagues, the PolyU, FAST and ITC management as well as external advisers and industrial partners for their strong support and teamwork, which has resulted in such an outstanding RAE result.
ITC’s contributors to the research output of UoA14 (in alphabetical order by last name) are: Prof. Jason Choi, Dr Bin Fei, Prof. Hong Hu, Prof. Jinlian Hu, Dr Tao Hua, Dr Patrick Hui, Prof. Chi-wai Kan, Dr Robert Lau, Dr Li Li, Dr Chris Lo, Dr. Nuruzzaman Noor, Dr Tracy Mok, Prof. Songmin Shang, Prof. Xiaoming Tao, Dr Chester To, Prof. Christina Wong, Prof. Calvin Wong, Prof. John Xin, Prof. Bingang Xu, Dr Rachel Yee, and Prof. Zijian Zheng.
These results highlight the excellence and continuous improvement of ITC in world leading research work. We will continue to conduct research that leads to original, significant and rigorous research outputs, as well as having far-reaching and significant impacts on society and the industry.
