30th Congregation of the Faculty of Humanities

Congratulations to the Class of 2024! The 30th Congregation (FH) was successfully concluded on 9 November 2024. It was kicked off with opening remarks from Faculty Dean Prof. Li Ping. This year, we were honoured to have three Guests of Honour delivering the congratulatory addresses: Mr Chen Qiufan, Adjunct Professor of the Department of Chinese History and Culture at PolyU and Deputy Director of the Science Fiction Literature Committee of the China Writers Association, in the first session; Mr Phil Woo Pak Fai, Co-founder of allcareAI and Recipient of the Outstanding Alumni Award in Entrepreneurial Achievement of the PolyU Faculty of Humanities 2024, in the second session; and Dr Louis Ng, Director of Hong Kong Palace Museum, in the third session. A total of 872 students graduated this year, including 704 receiving postgraduate degrees and 168 receiving bachelor’s degrees. Awards and certificates were presented to students and Faculty members for their outstanding achievements and services. Once again, we wish all graduates a bright future ahead and every success in their future endeavours!

Mr Phil Woo Receives the Faculty’s Outstanding Alumni Award in Entrepreneurial Achievement 2024

Mr Phil Woo Pak Fai was honoured with the Outstanding Alumni Award in Entrepreneurial Achievement of PolyU Faculty of Humanities 2024 at the Faculty’s Congregation on 9 November 2024. Mr Woo is a serial founder turned social entrepreneur, with a diverse portfolio in digital, AI, and robotics across Asia. He is also a consultant and mentor for InnoHK teams at HKSTP to promote the development of I&T in Hong Kong. As a co-founder of the PolyU startup PREN Limited, Mr Woo recently led the company to victory in the Open Group (I&T for Community) of the City I&T Grand Challenge, organised by the Innovation and Technology Commission. Their winning innovation, the allcareAI™ anti-infection mobile toilet, is a commode chair with built-in sensors specifically tailored to cater to the needs of the elderly and patients with limited mobility or infectious diseases. Click HERE to read more.

HKLO Team Shines at 21st International Linguistics Olympiad in Brazil

Our Hong Kong Linguistics Olympiad (HKLO) team has achieved outstanding results at the 21st International Linguistics Olympiad held in Brasilia, Brazil this year. The team earned one silver medal, two bronze medals, and one honourable mention in the individual contest, as well as an honourable mention in the team contest. Individual Contest: Silver Medal: Henry Wong Bronze Medals: Maxwell Ji and Choi John Nathaniel Honourable Mention: Lin Cheuk Hang Team Contest: Honourable Mention: Choi John Nathaniel, Maxwell Ji, Lin Cheuk Hang, and Henry Wong The team is jointly supported by the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies and the Department of English and Communication. For more information about the team, please visit the HKLO page.

Historical and Cultural Significance of the Yungang Grottoes

Dr Leung Wai-mun, Associate Professor in the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies, authored an article in Hong Kong Economic Journal discussing the historical and cultural significance of the Yungang Grottoes (雲岡石窟). The article also explores how the evolution of the grottoes’ themes and styles reflects the societal changes of the era and the adaptation of Buddhism to Chinese culture. Click HERE to read more.

FH Undergraduate Named Top 10 Outstanding Tertiary Students of Hong Kong 2024

Lui Ho Ching Josette, a final-year student from the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies, has been recognised as one of the Top 10 Outstanding Tertiary Students of Hong Kong this year. Josette stood out among over 100 applicants due to her active participation in case competitions, internships, and various leadership initiatives. The award presentation took place on 26 October 2024. Organised by the Hong Kong Youth and Tertiary Students Association, this annual award honours promising students dedicated to the future development of the Greater Bay Area.

BAEAL Student Wins Gold at AUSF 1st Asian University Wushu Championship

Our BAEAL student, Leung Yu Hong, won the gold medal in the Men’s Sanda 60kg at the AUSF (Asian University Sports Federation) 1st Asian University Wushu Championship held in Harbin, China, from 19 to 22 June. The event brought together 87 athletes from 12 Asian countries and regions, competing in Taolu and Sanda. Click HERE to read more.

PolyU Information Day 2024

The PolyU Information Day 2024 was successfully held on 12 October. This event provided an excellent opportunity for visitors to learn about FH’s undergraduate and taught postgraduate programmes and explore their study options. FH departments introduced their programmes and facilities on the occasion. Visitors enjoyed a variety of activities, including information seminars, thematic talks, guided visits and many more. The online information seminars can be viewed at https://www.polyu.edu.hk/study/events/infoday2024.

Ancient Chinese Academies: Their Legacy and Modern Insights

Focusing on Confucianism, the concept of “academies” began in the late Tang dynasty and flourished during the Southern Song Dynasty. Dr Leung Wai-mun, Associate Professor of the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies, discusses the rich history and enduring values of ancient Chinese academies in a recent article. She also draws modern parallels, suggesting how these timeless principles can inspire contemporary educational practices. Click HERE to read more.

UBSN Researchers Advancing Therapies for Brain Disorders

Researchers at the Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience (UBSN) lab at PolyU are making significant strides in advancing therapies for brain disorders through a multidisciplinary approach. Among the notable researchers is Dr Caicai Zhang, Associate Professor in the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies, whose work focuses on developmental disorders of language. Dr Zhang and her team use neural imaging, behavioural, and machine learning methods to identify language disorders early. Their research links these disorders to specific brain circuits involved in memory and language processing, aiming to predict and provide timely support to children with language development challenges. Click HERE to read the full article in Nature’s Neuroscience Supplement.

ENGL PhD Student Receives Best Presentation Award at 2nd PolyU Research Student Conference

ENGL PhD Student Miss Xinrui Li Rachel has been awarded the Best Presentation Award at the 2nd PolyU Research Student Conference (PRSC 2024) held on 29-30 August 2024. Her presentation, titled “Small talk in academic workplace: time-wasting or work facilitator?”, stood out among the participants. Aiming at promoting innovative and high-quality research, PRSC is the flagship research student conference, providing Research Postgraduate students and the students of College of Undergraduate Researchers and Innovators (CURI) in PolyU with the opportunity to present their research work and findings. PRSC also provides an excellent opportunity for students from different disciplines to network with peers, and establishes a collaborative and supportive research community at PolyU.