FCE leaps to No.1 in Hong Kong for Environmental Sciences in QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025

FCE is proud to share its outstanding performance in the newly released Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject 2025. This year, FCE has made significant strides in the field of Environmental Sciences, climbing an impressive 19 places to secure the 27th position globally, ascending to 1st in Hong Kong, alongside The University of Hong Kong. The rankings of FCE in Architecture & Built Environment as well as Civil & Structural Engineering remain strong at 17th globally and 2nd in Hong Kong.

The leap in Environmental Sciences is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Faculty’s academics, who have been instrumental in driving forward high-impact research and internationally competitive education. The uplifting news reflects FCE's commitment to advancing knowledge in environmental sustainability and resilience and strengthens its reputation as a leading academic entity on the international scene.

Launch of Bachelor’s Degree Scheme in Construction and Environment (JS3004)

Starting in the 2025/26 academic year, PolyU has expanded its admission pathways for students, providing them with more flexibility and options to customise their studies based on their interests. Students with specific academic goals can directly choose their preferred departmental schemes or programmes. The new Bachelor’s Degree Scheme in Construction and Environment (JS3004) to be offered by FCE provides a flexible educational pathway, enabling students to explore various disciplines within construction and environmental studies.

Our Bachelor’s Degree Scheme offers students the opportunity to select from nine specialised Majors, allowing them to align their academic pursuits with their interests and career aspirations. Students can choose their preferred Major through a ranking assessment that considers entrance qualifications, Year One GPA, and interview performance. The Common Year One curriculum establishes a solid foundation across multiple fields in construction and environment, assisting students in making informed decisions about their preferred programme towards the end of their first year. The available Majors include:

• BEng (Hons) in Building Sciences and Engineering
• BSc (Hons) in Architectural Studies
• BSc (Hons) in Building Engineering and Management
• BSc (Hons) in Surveying
• BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering
• BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering (Smart Mobility) with a Secondary Major in AIDA
• BEng (Hons) in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Development
• BSc (Hons) in Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics
• BSc (Hons) in Urban Informatics and Smart Cities

At PolyU, we prioritise innovation and technology, cultivating an academic culture that promotes national pride, social responsibility, and a global perspective. Our Bachelor’s Degree Scheme in Construction and Environment features programmes that are mostly accredited/recognised by professional organisations, preparing students for professional careers and leadership roles across various relevant fields. Selected programmes also offer students the opportunity to pursue a Secondary Major in Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IE) or Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics (AIDA), expanding academic and career opportunities.

Click here for full details of the Bachelor’s Degree Scheme in Construction and Environment (JS3004).

FCE’s Architectural Studies programme attracts broad interest from international counsellors at PolyU Counsellor Fly-In 2025

To attract high-calibre students from around the globe, FCE actively participated in the PolyU Counsellor Fly-In 2025 on 7 March 2025 at Hotel ICON. FCE representatives showcased the Faculty's diverse academic offerings to counsellors from more than 30 overseas high schools, alongside non-JUPAS counsellors from Hong Kong.

During the Panel Discussion, Prof. Andy LEUNG, Associate Head (Partnership) and Associate Professor of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), represented the Faculty and addressed the counsellors' inquiries regarding admission criteria, professional accreditation, and career prospects of various FCE programmes. In particular, the newly launched Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Architectural Studies garnered significant interest, highlighting its broad appeal to prospective international students. In the Mini Fair that followed, department representatives engaged with the counsellors for in-depth discussions about the unique programmes offered by each department.

This event underscored FCE's commitment to fostering global academic connections and enhancing its international student recruitment efforts.

FCE students gain insight into data centre industry at cross-discipline career talk

On 6 March 2025, FCE co-hosted a career talk with the Faculty of Engineering (FENG), featuring guest speakers from iAdvantage, Hong Kong's leading data centre provider. The event offered students from both faculties an in-depth introduction to iAdvantage's Graduate Engineer Programme.

This career talk provided FCE students with a valuable opportunity to explore diverse career prospects within the data centre industry, expanding their potential career paths. Attendees gained insights through an industry overview and company introduction presented by Mr Penny NG, Assistant Vice President of Facility Management, and Ms Sand TAM, Vice President of Human Resources at iAdvantage, as well as from a PolyU alumna, Ms Amy WONG, who participated in the programme and is now a Facility Engineer at iAdvantage. She shared her firsthand experiences, offering a personal perspective on the opportunities and challenges.

In addition to nurturing FCE students within their chosen fields, FCE is dedicated to broadening their career horizons by facilitating connections with potential employers across disciplines.

Study by Prof. Tao Wang’s team provides new insights into soil emissions to help combat climate change and food security

A study on the impact of soil emissions on air quality, conducted by Prof. Tao WANG, Chair Professor of Atmospheric Environment of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), and Dr Yanan WANG, Postdoctoral Fellow of CEE, has been published in Nature Communications. 

The study titled “Increasing soil nitrous acid emissions driven by climate and fertilization change aggravate global ozone pollution” underscores the important role of soil reactive nitrogen emissions in global ozone and their impact on vegetation. As the challenges of climate change and food security intensify, understanding and managing soil emissions will be crucial for the sustainable development of society. The study advocates for more efficient fertiliser use in agriculture and recommends strategies such as deep fertiliser placement and precise application rates to support sustainable food production while preserving the environment.

FCE academic honoured as ASHRAE Fellow for advancing building energy efficiency with AI technologies

Prof. Linda XIAO, Associate Dean (Partnership) of Faculty and Professor of the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE), has been conferred the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Fellowship for her over 20 years’ dedication to researching dynamic modelling, optimal control, and fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) of heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigerating (HVAC&R) systems.

Her innovative research in utilising big data and AI technologies to enhance building energy efficiency and resilience has not only advanced research methodologies but also significantly promoted their practical applications in buildings.

ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is an international society of more than 50,000 heating, refrigerating and air-conditioning professionals from over 132 nations, dedicated to serving humanity and promoting a sustainable world.

Dean’s informal meeting with newly recruited academics

As a part of FCE's new academic staff orientation, Prof. Xiang-dong LI, Dean of Faculty, had an informal meeting on 27 February 2025 with a group of new recruits across various academic ranks, ranging from Research Assistant Professor to Professor. In addition to introducing the Faculty’s strategic priorities and outlining expectations, the Dean briefed the new joiners on FCE’s new and upcoming research initiatives, encouraging them to identify potential areas of collaboration and contribution.