News

HKPFS Selection Panel Meeting

The review of Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) is going in full swing for academic year 2022/23. A selection panel meeting was organised to assemble nominations with reviewers’ ratings and comments. Discussion over concerns such as divergent views from the reviewers was carried out. The Graduate School (GS) serving as the session facilitator, provided on-site advice to departmental representatives to address inquiries and illustrated the rationale of nominating the suitable candidates to become our top quality PhD students. Selected nominations would then be submitted to the Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong. Notification of results by RGC will take place by April 2022. Appreciation is expressed to all participating representatives and efforts of our experienced reviewers with an eye of discernment.

Undergraduate Research and Innovation Scheme (URIS) Student Sharing Session

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is honoured to have received a generous donation from Lee Wan Keung Charity Foundation for supporting the full nurture of research and innovation among the undergraduates. On 29 December 2021, a student sharing session of the Undergraduate Research and Innovation Scheme (URIS), under the College of Undergraduate Researchers and Innovators (CURI) was hosted by the Graduate School (GS), since CURI’s grouping moved under GS from 1 December. The sharing session was rich in content, by inviting students and chief supervisors from four selected funded research projects of URIS, to showcase their research ideations and how to tackle real-world challenges; accompanied by an engaging discussion panel to exchange views with the Central Management Team of PolyU, Head of CURI and Residential College Master of CURI. It was encouraging to receive a genuine and supporting comment from the donor representative, Ms Rosanna Lee. A vote of thanks was expressed by Associate Dean of GS, and thank you gifts were presented by student representatives to Ms Lee towards the end of the programme with a group photo. We are also pleased to have the presence of the Central Management Team and their opening remarks and greetings. URIS was launched in summer 2021, as the basis of professional university education through enquiry-based learning. Supported by the University Grants Committee (UGC) and the strategic plan of PolyU from 2019 to 2045, we embedded the objective of enhancing the involvement of undergraduates in research activities under the supervision of academic staff and expanding the research element in the curriculum. Thereby, the scheme ignites the academic curiosity of students to become the next generation of intellectuals, for a greater impact on knowledge application beyond boundaries. We express our gratitude to our donor for participating in this meaningful scheme and the project presentation. Together we excel, as PolyU. Individual projects Study of Fire Impact on Glass Panels of Modern Buildings Chief supervisor: Dr JIANG Liming (BEEE) Individual researcher: Doremi LAM (BEEE) “This URIS project aims to study the fire impact on glass panels of modern buildings. Using high-fidelity fire simulation and laboratory tests, the internal fire impact before breakage and the external impact after breakage are studied. Trial designs of glass system will be developed and examined for fire-safe modern buildings.” Development of Carbon Emission Quota (CEQ) Theft Detection Platform: Towards Carbon Neutrality Future Chief supervisor: Dr BU Siqi (EE) Individual researcher: ZHU Zixuan (EE) “To achieve carbon neutrality target in a timely manner, it is rather critical to strictly implement their allocated carbon emission quota (CEQ) for individual enterprise. This project aims to develop an innovative CEQ prediction and theft detection platform, and design effective penalty mechanism to prevent the malicious carbon emission behaviors.” Group projects Developments of a Collaborative UAV Simulation Platform for Smart City Applications Chief supervisor: Dr HSU Li-ta (AAE) Group researchers: AHAD Sugata (AAE), SHIU Wai Ching (AAE), HUANG Xinyue (AAE), SU Meiling (AAE), SAJID Zahin (EE) “Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) will be key technologies to support smart cities application including search and rescue, and traffic monitoring, etc. This project develops a simulator platform that integrates real hardware-based flight controller with 3D city models to mimic the actual flight operation in the city of Hong Kong.” Impacts on off-axis Astigmatism on Short-term Refractive and Ocular Biometric Changes Chief supervisor: Dr LEUNG Tsz Wing (SO) Group researchers: TAI Cheuk Yiu (SO), LIU Wai Cheung (SO) “Myopia is a prevalent refractive error that leads to multiple sight-threatening eye diseases. While numerous ophthalmic optical designs employed off-axis defocus to control myopia, the underlying mechanism is still unclear. Here we hypothesize that off-axis stigmatism helps decode defocus information and investigate its effect on refractive and ocular biometric changes.”

Communication Session for HKPFS Reviewers and Selection Panels

Moving along the scheduled timeline, the Graduate School (GS) organised another communication session for Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) Reviewers and Selection Panels on 29 November 2021. Dean, Professor Jiannong Cao, and Associate Dean, Professor Christina Wong, illustrated the new selection process with guidance notes for reviewers and selection panels. A review and demonstration of the system were also carried out onsite for better understanding and experience. With this means to re-structure our selection approach, reviewers and panels, together we aim to excel in identifying the best HKPFS candidates for PolyU and increase the overall success rate.

Graduate School Departmental Retreat 2021

The Graduate School (GS) conducted a staff retreat on 26 November 2021. We got a day surrounded by warm sunlight off-campus and overlooking the green next to the meeting room in harmony. Formed in September 2020, the GS plays a pivotal role in the planning, management, quality assurance and promotion of the University's research postgraduate (RPg) education via PhD and MPhil studies. Striving to consistently promote university-wide academic excellence for postgraduate education, and deliver leading professional development opportunities to postgraduate students, we spared some quality time to sit down and reflect on our strategies and directions with concrete action plans to bring forward all good suggestions and critique. Appreciation and recognition to all has been made by Dean of GS, Professor Jiannong Cao, for being a collaborative team determined to achieve better and more, and build the best graduate school on a whole new level. Professor Cao shared his insights and experience of strategically identifying the true goals and how to attain them by managing time and energy with the art of balance, self-awareness and mindset. Ongoing discussions interwoven in our retreat were facilitated by Associate Dean, Professor Christina Wong, and School Secretary, Dr Kelly Chan, in aspects of organisational structure and operations and functional strategic plans, and we were pleased to receive open-up suggestions and are ready to embrace our reflections for actual execution among every member of GS.

Online Research Postgraduate Info Session with Sichuan University

The Graduate School (GS) actively participated in the invited online research postgraduate info session hosted by Sichuan University, one of our partner institutions of Joint PhD Programmes leading to dual awards, on 15 November 2021. PolyU’s research postgraduate programmes have been catching the eye among our prospective students by the success of this event. Our Associate Dean, Professor Christina Wong, showcased the solid capability of PolyU, research and teaching excellence, advanced research facilities, and the attractive surroundings of the campus. PolyU also offers a wide array of financial support, international exposure, career development and knowledge transfer to equip our students to exert a positive impact on the society. What could be a better way to gain your research postgraduate admission through Joint PhD Programmes with our collaborated universities? Topping up, Joint PhD applicants can also apply through Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme to obtain a higher stipend package (with the University’s selection) to kickstart your research-learning journey at PolyU. Learn more today and do not miss the application deadline this December!

PolyU Research Postgraduate Info Session 2021

The Graduate School (GS) organised an Info Session on 29 October 2021 to provide all registered prospective students from different corners of the globe, with a comprehensive guideline on pursuing research postgraduate (RPg) studies, as well as to showcase PolyU’s research areas and excellence. We were honoured to have invited the President and Vice President of Research and Innovation upon event opening by Dean of GS, Professor Jiannong Cao, to deliver their welcome speech to our prospective research students. Professor Christina Wong, Associate Dean of GS, further delivered an informative session to cover an introduction on RPg studies at PolyU with a clear flow of insights. Appreciation goes to academic representatives for presenting each Faculty’s/ School’s research areas and excellence to our aspiring participants. As a fruitful wrap-up, a current PhD student from the Department of Computing shared his first-hand research-learning experience, followed by a popular Q&A session. December 2021 is our RPg studies application deadline, Act NOW, and see you all at PolyU!

Communication Session on Assessment and Selection Mechanism for Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) 2022/23

The Graduate School (GS) organised a communication session on assessment and selection mechanism for Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) 2022/23 on 20 October 2021. Previously, the GS conducted a review on the internal assessment and selection mechanism for the HKPFS based on findings drawn from data analytics of past PolyU HKPFS candidates, as well as advice from external advisors who are former members of the Research Grants Council's (RGC's) selection panels and research-teaching colleagues who supervise successful HKPFS awardees. New selection guidelines and mechanism have been drawn up for HKPFS 2022/23, and the GS invited feedback from FRC/SRC/DRC Chairs in early October. We believe that with a detailed and explained mechanism and timeline, our concerted efforts will bring together more quality research postgraduate candidates to PolyU.

Research Postgraduate Recruitment Admissions Talk 2022 by Shanghai-Hong Kong University Alliance (SHUA)

PolyU’s Graduate School (GS) was pleased to be invited to participate in the online Research Postgraduate Recruitment Admissions Talk 2022 hosted by the Shanghai-Hong Kong University Alliance (SHUA) on 8 October 2021. Professor Jiannong Cao, Dean of GS, delivered a fruitful information session to facilitate the understanding of PolyU and the academic trajectory for prospective research students. We shed light on PolyU’s excellent research-teaching team, advanced research facilities, the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021 (Top 100), our star faculties, admission figures and cultivated PhD vision. We also included research support and service of PolyU in aspects of fellowship and scholarship, our Joint PhD Programmes (leading to Dual Awards) and Research Student Attachment Programme with top-tier partner list, tangible international exposure, knowledge transfer, entrepreneurship and employment support for graduates. Outstanding alumni achievements were also highlighted, followed by a detailed application know-how. The application deadline is in December 2021, please grab this lifetime opportunity of realizing your impactful research aspirations for mankind.

Orientation for Research Postgraduate Freshmen 2021/22

Welcome 2021/22 PhD and MPhil students onboard at PolyU! Applause to the Student Orientation in hybrid-mode organised by the Graduate School (GS) on 10 September 2021. We were honoured to have invited President, Professor Jin-Guang Teng, and Vice President of Research and Innovation (VPRI), Professor Christopher Chao, to deliver welcome speeches to kickstart research postgraduate (RPg) students’ journeys at PolyU. Special thanks also went to Professor Jiannong Cao who acted as event facilitator with his deanship of the Graduate School since May 2021. Accompanied by corporate videos showcasing the modern campus with encouraging worldwide rankings of PolyU, President shared the history and positioning of our University, our proud latest research achievements, research vision to create impact for greater wellness of mankind, and the pursuit of inner research aspiration beyond proposals to encounter challenge gracefully. Next, VPRI further introduced the research missions and how the University facilitates the research environment by providing world-class research infrastructures. Moreover, he introduced the role of GS and expectations of our RPg students for a consistent connection to create research impact hand in hand. Closely following, Professor Cao and Associate Dean of GS, Professor Christina Wong, shared useful learning details governing and helping RPg studies. We were also delighted to have gained support from Student Affairs Office to talk about psychological health and wellness, along with their available services. Last but not least, event ended in a light-hearted ambience. Thank you once again for attending the event and we wish our RPg students a successful and productive research journey with us at PolyU after this orientation with all-you-need fundamentals.