Media Releases

PolyU participates in University Alliance of the Silk Road Forum 2023

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) representatives participated in the University Alliance of the Silk Road (UASR) Forum 2023, held in Xi’an on 8 October 2023. Under the theme of “Development and Innovation of World Higher Education in the Context of the New Technology Revolution”, the Forum was hosted by Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU), the President Unit of UASR, and brought together more than 160 representatives from 58 universities in 23 countries and regions. Delegates included Mr WANG Xiao, Member of the Standing Committee of the Shaanxi Provincial Party Committee and Executive Vice Governor; Ms XI Ru, representative of the International Cooperation and Exchange Department of the Ministry of Education; Mr LU Jianjun, Secretary of the Party Committee of XJTU; Mr WANG Shuguo, President of XJTU; Dr Laura LO, Associate Vice President (Institutional Advancement) of PolyU; and Prof. LU Haitian, Director of the PolyU Mainland Development Office. The Forum initiated the mechanism of the China-Central Asia Higher Education Cooperation Forum and launched the Belt and Road Industry-Education Alliance Initiative, aiming to create a platform for higher education exchange and cooperation and promote the development of the USAR. PolyU was appointed by the UASR Executive Council to the next rotating Alliance presidency. Dr Lo received the Alliance flag from XJTU Vice President, Prof XI Guang, stating that “PolyU is honoured to assume the Presidency coinciding with the momentous 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. PolyU and XJTU jointly established the UASR in 2015. Since then, the UASR has grown from comprising four members to including over 160 member institutions, facilitating diverse academic exchanges and research collaborations. Looking to the future, the Alliance will continue to provide a remarkable platform for cultural exchange and talent cultivation among the Belt and Road countries.” During the Forum, Dr Lo and Prof. Lu also attended a meeting to discuss the fostering of closer co-operation between higher education institutions in Hong Kong and Central Asia, hosted by Dr Choi Yuk-lin, Secretary for Education of the HKSAR. Dr Choi said that the Government is committed to developing Hong Kong as a regional education hub. Leveraging the distinctive advantages of enjoying the Mainland’s strong support and its global connectivity, the Government hopes to attract international academic talent to pursue further studies and develop a career in Hong Kong. Dr Lo also noted that PolyU has established partnerships with over 280 universities from 40 countries. As a leading higher education institution in Hong Kong pioneering in the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, PolyU has been actively supporting talent exchange and research cooperation among Belt and Road countries and looks forward to establishing and strengthening partnerships with higher education institutions in Central Asia in the future. Jointly established by XJTU and PolyU in 2015, the UASR is a non-government and non-profit alliance aimed at providing an open and international collaborative platform in higher education. PolyU holds the Vice Presidency of the Alliance and takes a leading role in fostering talent development, research on technologies and policies, cultural exchange and medical services among members institutions along the Belt and Road. In May 2023, President Xi Jinping stated in his keynote speech at the China-Central Asia Summit that China needed to strengthen dialogue between nations and also stressed that China would continue its support for universities in Central Asian countries in joining the UASR”   ***END***

PolyU Information Day (Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate Programmes) to be held on 21 October, integrating AI elements to provide updated admissions and programme information

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) will hold the Information Day (Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate Programmes) (Info Day) from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on 21 October, offering the latest information for those interested in applying to full-time undergraduate and taught postgraduate programmes. This year, six thematic talks will be hosted by virtual artificial intelligence staff “AIDA IE” and “URIS”, who are specially designed by the University’s Academic Registry. The talks will cover admission information for applications via JUPAS, non-JUPAS (non-local qualifications), senior year admission (Associate Degree or Higher Diploma qualifications) and National College Entrance Examinations (Gaokao), as well as the details of taught postgraduate programmes and the Special Talents Admission and Recognition Scheme (STARS). These talks will be progressively made available on the Info Day website starting from 18 October. Prospective students and parents are all welcome to register and join the talks. On the Info Day, there will be a broad range of activities, including over 200 thematic talks and programme information seminars organised by faculties, schools and departments; guided tours to various laboratories and facilities; alumni and student sharing; consultation sessions; exhibitions and workshops. To enhance interactivity, registered participants who complete designated tasks online and in-person on the Info Day will be able to redeem a dessert and participate in creative workshops by using cutting-edge technologies to make sandblast glass, robot-assisted bookmarks, and wooden phone stand provided by the University’s teaching and research hotel “Hotel ICON” and Industrial Centre respectively. For more details, please visit the Info Day website. Starting from the 2024/25 academic year, PolyU will further optimise some of its departmental scheme-based admission programmes. The Faculty of Science will launch the new BSc (Hons) Scheme in Food Safety and Technology and rename the BSc (Hons) Scheme in Biotechnology, Food Safety and Chemical Technology as BSc (Hons) Scheme in Biotechnology and Chemical Technology. Meanwhile, the Faculty of Construction and Environment will introduce the new BSc (Hons) in Urban Informatics and Smart Cities under the BSc (Hons) Scheme in Spatial Data Science and Smart Cities (Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics / Urban Informatics and Smart Cities). In addition to undergraduate programmes, PolyU is committed to nurturing professional talents by providing a wide array of high-quality postgraduate programmes to meet the ever-changing needs of industry and society. In the academic year of 2024/25, the University will offer more than 100 taught postgraduate programmes, including 13 newly launched Master’s degree programmes listed below. All taught postgraduate programmes are now open for application: MSc in Electric Vehicles* MSc in Smart Manufacturing* MSc in Medical Data Science* Master of Medical Imaging* Master of Medical Laboratory Science* MSc in Quantitative Finance and FinTech* MSc in Innovative Multimedia Entertainment* MA in Sustainable Fashion and Innovation MA in Bespoke and New Couture* MA in Fashion Venture and Leadership* MSc in Intelligent Wearable Technology* MSc in Luxury Experiences Management* MSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Hospitality* * The offer of the programme is subject to approval For Info Day details and registration, please visit: www.polyu.edu.hk/infoday/. For undergraduate and taught postgraduate programme details and application procedures, please visit: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/study.   ***END***

PolyU and Rohto join forces to establish the Centre of Research Excellence for Eye Care

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) partnered with Rohto, an eye care brand under Mentholatum, to establish the PolyU-Rohto Centre of Research Excellence for Eye Care (“the Centre”). The Centre’s inauguration took place at the “Leading Research in Eye Fatigue, Empowering the Joy of Seeing” launch ceremony held in Hong Kong. During the event, PolyU and Rohto also jointly released the “Promoting Healthy Vision and Prioritizing Standardised Diagnosis of Eye Fatigue” advocacy paper, which aims to enhance eye health within the broader community. Honourable guests witnessing this significant event included Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU, Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation), Prof. ZuanKai WANG, Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation), Prof. David SHUM, Dean of Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Prof. Mingguang HE, Director of the PolyU-Rohto Centre of Research Excellence for Eye Care and Chair Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology School of Optometry, Mr Michael SIN, President of Mentholatum Asia Pacific, and Mr Wesley CHAN, General Manager of Sales and Marketing, Mentholatum (China) Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Establishment of The PolyU-Rohto Centre of Research Excellence for Eye Care marks a breakthrough for the optometry industry At the launch ceremony, Prof. Teng, said, "The University's School of Optometry is one of the world's leading institutions in optometry and vision science, and PolyU is the only university in Hong Kong offering optometry education. We have established several research centres related to ophthalmology, including the Centre for Eye and Vision Research launched with the University of Waterloo in Canada and supported by the HKSAR Government, as well as the Centre for Vision Science Research under the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research. The partnership with Rohto represents a powerful alliance in eye care." Moving forward, the Centre will gather teams of ophthalmic experts to conduct research and testing in multiple locations and establish collaborative networks with various regions to develop eye health and care technologies, aiming to provide comprehensive medical and care solutions for eye fatigue. Early attention is crucial in the face of rising eye fatigue cases Prof. Mingguang He, Director of the PolyU-Rohto Centre of Research Excellence for Eye Care and renowned scholar in the international optometry field, corroborated these findings at the launch ceremony, stating “Due to society’s digital transformation and fast-paced lifestyles, eye-fatigue problems are increasingly prevalent. This problem can significantly impact both quality of life and work efficiency, but the majority of people tend to overlook its significance.” Prof. Mingguang He also noted that eye fatigue is caused by prolonged eye usage, leading to tiredness and discomfort. It already affects approximately 20-30% of children and adolescents and 50-80% of adults, including university students and office workers who use computers extensively. However, the establishment of an innovative and standardised treatment system for eye fatigue is still a work in progress. Currently, the traditional diagnosis of eye fatigue relies heavily on subjective questionnaires, while treatment methods vary, lacking a unified objective diagnostic standard and evaluation. As a result, eye fatigue is often overlooked by patients and clinical practitioners, leading to a relatively limited understanding of this condition in terms of both public awareness and academic research. It is crucial to prioritise high-quality research into and resolution of eye fatigue issues. Rohto partners with PolyU to introduce Eye Fatigue advocacy: Enhancing public eye health in four key areas The low level of public awareness of eye fatigue and the existing diagnosis system being ill-prepared to effectively tackle this issue are of growing concern. Mr Michael Sin, President of Mentholatum Asia Pacific, said, "Mentholatum holds a strong commitment to scientific research, grounding its practices in scientific principles and relying on experimental evidence. It prides itself on introducing products of the highest quality. The Rohto brand is recognised as the world's leading eye-care brand. Over the years, Mentholatum has been dedicated to promoting eye health, particularly through the development and introduction of a range of eye drops targeting eye fatigue. We are honoured to collaborate with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in establishing the PolyU-Rohto Centre of Research Excellence for Eye Care. We share a common vision in promoting research into eye fatigue, recruiting talented individuals, and focusing on the study of eye-fatigue technology to aid in treatment and alleviate the impact of eye fatigue, allowing us to appreciate the world with our eyes to the fullest.” On this occasion, Rohto and PolyU also jointly announced the launch of the "Promoting Healthy Vision and Prioritizing Standardised Diagnosis of Eye Fatigue" advocacy paper." This advocacy, centred around the "Know-Diagnose-Explore-Engage" framework, aims to enhance public awareness of eye fatigue. Its objectives are to establish and promote globally unified diagnostic standards and develop a multi-level diagnosis system. It also seeks to explore new prevention methods and treatment approaches. Through collaboration with various sectors, the Centre is dedicated to creating a healthy environment for eye health, cultivating healthy eye habits, and mitigating the impact of visual fatigue on public eye health, thereby improving individuals' quality of life.   ***End***

IFEC and PolyU jointly release the results of the Behavioural Science Study on Investor Behaviour on Virtual Assets Call on investors to review their investment behaviour and attitude

The Investor and Financial Education Council (IFEC) has commissioned The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) Department of Applied Social Sciences to understand behavioural factors that affect virtual asset investors’ investment decisions The research from PolyU showed investors tend to use “heuristics” (mental shortcuts) to select easily available information for processing and tend to overestimate their investment acumen About three-quarters of virtual asset investors surveyed said they invest in virtual assets in pursuit of short-term returns (75%), believe that virtual assets is an investment trend (74%), and worry about missing out on investment opportunities (73%) IFEC urges the public to exercise caution and take appropriate measures to safeguard their assets before making investment decisions With financial technology innovations, the fast-evolving financial services landscape has brought about both opportunities and challenges to investors. Among them, virtual assets have attracted much market attention. In 2022, IFEC commissioned the Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University to conduct the Behavioural Science Study on Investor Behaviour in the Virtual Asset Markets: Heuristics in Virtual Assets Investment Decision-Making to explore the behavioural factors that affect virtual asset investors’ investment decisions. Meanwhile, the IFEC conducted the Retail Investor Study 2023 to further monitor and evaluate the attitude and behaviour of virtual asset investors. Virtual asset investors tend to rely on “heuristics” (mental shortcuts) to select information and be overconfident in their judgement The IFEC commissioned the Department of Applied Social Science of PolyU to conduct a behavioural science research on virtual asset investors. Data was collected through a questionnaire from October to November 2022 with 501 respondents aged 18-69 who have traded or held virtual assets in the past 12 months. The study found that investors use habitual mental shortcuts (known as “heuristics” in behavioural economics) including: Availability – tendency to rely on information that is readily available, easy to recall and highly familiar Anchoring – pay too much attention to past information, such as prices of initial coin offering Overconfidence – overestimate personal investment intuition and the ability to achieve high investment returns, etc. The research team also summarised various mental shortcuts related to virtual assets into five strategies, namely Herding, Secure Obedience, Distrustful Empiricism, Wishful Speculation and Intuitive Confidence, with each type being vulnerable to different cognitive biases. Virtual assets attracted the attention among the young generation and incidence of investing recorded an upward trend IFEC Retail Investor Study 2023 was conducted in the form of face-to-face interviews from June to July 2023. About 1,000 interviews were conducted with retail investors aged 18-69 who held or traded a defined list of financial products in the past 12 months. The study showed that most retail investors had invested in stocks (96%) in the past year, followed by investment funds (24%) and bonds (18%). At the same time, 8% of retail investors surveyed said they had invested in virtual assets and related products in the past year, an upward trend compared to studies conducted earlier (1% in 2019 and 6% in 2021). The young generation demonstrated a stronger interest in virtual assets, 23% of the young working adult surveyed (18-29 years old) had invested in virtual assets and related products in the past year. The proportion was about three times that of the overall retail investor respondents, and had recorded a significant upward trend (3% in 2019 and 12% in 2021). According to the International Survey of Adult Financial Literacy report released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development International Network on Financial Education (OECD/INFE) in 2020, Hong Kong ranked first among 26 countries and economies. The study measured overall levels of financial literacy, indicated by combined scores on knowledge, attitude and behaviour. Hong Kong ranked first in terms of financial knowledge, sixth for financial behaviour and fourteenth for financial attitude. This indicated that the Hong Kong public possessed solid financial knowledge, but there is room for improvement in both financial management behaviour and attitude. The Retail Investor Survey 2023 reflected a similar situation. Awareness of the “Regulation of Virtual Asset Trading Platforms” was 47% among the surveyed retail investors while the level of awareness was much higher among the surveyed virtual asset investors at 96%. In addition, approximately three-quarters of the surveyed virtual asset investors indicated that they invested in virtual assets with the aim to pursue short-term returns (75%), considered virtual assets as an investment trend (74%) and expressed concerns about missing out on investment opportunities (73%). This implied that investors should look into applying the knowledge they acquired to improve and review their investment behaviour and attitude in order to make informed investment decisions. IFEC General Manager Ms Dora Li said, “The rapid development of financial products and digital technology has brought about more opportunities and challenges for investors. The IFEC would like to thank Professor Eric Chui, Head and Professor of Department of Applied Social Sciences and Co-Director of the Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and his team for the research findings on the behavioural science study of virtual asset investors and their related recommendations. Regardless of the choice of investment products, it is imperative for investors to adhere to three fundamental investment principles. First, investors should maintain a vigilant approach to safeguard their assets. In addition, investors should understand the product characteristics and related risks before investing, in order to align their choices with their financial goals and risk tolerance level. Last but not least, investors should regularly review their investment decisions and outcomes, engage in self-reflection to assess their own behaviour and attitude towards investing.” Professor Eric Chui, Head of Department of Applied Social Sciences and Co-Director of the Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology at PolyU said, “As in other types of investments, the judgement and decision to invest in virtual assets should not rely solely on “mental shortcuts”. In addition to personal intuition, virtual asset investors should think more deliberately and rationally. They should also build up their financial literacy and collect high-quality market information to avoid the irrational investment behaviour and biases, in order to make better informed investment decisions.” The IFEC is committed to promote and strengthen investor education. The Hong Kong public is encouraged to take full advantage of the tools and resources available on IFEC’s social media platforms and website to develop sound investment and financial behaviour and habits. The IFEC website also features a dedicated page on virtual assets, offering a range of educational resources to help enhance the public’s understanding of the characteristics and risks associated with virtual assets. The IFEC calls on the Hong Kong public to get prepared and embrace the opportunities brought about by the emerging trends of financial digital technology.   ***END***

Six innovative PolyU railway technology projects supported by MTR Research Funding Scheme

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has received funding from the MTR Academy’s 2023 MTR Research Funding Scheme for six forward-looking research projects aimed at exploring advanced railway technology applications. PolyU researchers from the Faculty of Construction and Environment and the Faculty of Engineering lead these innovative research projects to initiate cutting-edge technologies for the future advancement of railways. These six projects have received total funding of HK$7.25 million. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, said, “PolyU has consistently demonstrated strong research capabilities in the field of smart railways, dedicating itself to providing comprehensive and practical innovative solutions for the industry. The MTR Research Funding Scheme plays a crucial role in supporting these transformative advancements. We will continue to drive innovation, delivering long-term benefits to the railway development of Hong Kong, the Nation and even on the global stage.” The funded research projects encompass a broad spectrum of potential applications for environmental, social and governance aspects of rail operations and smart community development. Leveraging PolyU’s academic and research excellence in construction, environment and engineering, these projects develop innovative solutions for emergency evacuation, achieving sustainable development goals, noise control in railway engineering, autonomous modularised trains and fire resilience. Launched by the MTR Academy in February 2023, the MTR Research Funding Scheme supports forward-looking research projects to explore, shape and realise the mass public transport systems of tomorrow, breach the boundaries of current solutions and thinking, and offer insights into achieving services and operational excellence for tomorrow's transport. Maximum total funding of each proposal is up to HK$1.5 million for three years. PolyU Projects Supported by MTR Research Funding Scheme 2023 Faculty of Construction and Environment Principal Investigator Project Title Project Abstract Dr Xinyan HUANG, Associate Professor, Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering Intelligent Emergency Digital Twin System in Metro Station for Fire Evacuation The proposed intelligent safety monitoring system employs cutting-edge technologies, including AIoT, computer vision and deep learning, to achieve a smart fire emergency response and evacuation. The system can predict the dynamic flow of occupants and risk of a stampede in a fire emergency, and can provide onsite evacuation guidance through dynamic exit sign systems. Moreover, it can recognise the status and behaviours of occupants to identify those who need immediate help near the fire incident and transfer real-time information to firefighters and rescue teams. Dr Anthony Chun Yin YUEN, Assistant Professor, Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering Coupling Fire and Toxicty Predictions Using CFD-MD Simulations for Enhanced Pedestrian Movement Modelling and Fire Resilience Designs of Metro Stations The identification of parental combustion fuel gases, which are essential for toxicity, such as the pyrolysis and combustion releases resulting from the burning of specific building and furnishing materials, are yet to be characterized. This project will develop a new strategy to incorporate coupled and non-linear pyrolysis-combustion kinetics via Molecular Dynamics characterisation of the thermal degradation process validated by thermal gravimetry data. It considers the formation pathways and predictions of toxic chemical species and smoke/soot particulates, contributing to firefighting and egress system designs. Dr Siu Kai LAI, Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Development of a New Inerter-based Rail Damper to Mitigate Railway-induced Ground-borne Noise by a Physics-informed Deep Learning Framework Using rail dampers is an effective mitigation measure to reduce the impact of structure-borne noise caused by railway vehicles. However, installation difficulty and their working performance pose limitations. To overcome these challenges, this project proposes a new inerter-based rail damper in metamaterial structure. This design aims to enhance the force transfer characteristics of a mechanical system. In addition, a time-sequencing physics-informed neural network approach will be employed to optimise the structural design. Faculty of Engineering Principal Investigator Project Title Project Abstract Prof Chi-yung CHUNG, Head of Department, Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Chair Professor of Power Systems Engineering Developing an Electromagnetic Energy Harvesting System to Energize Monitoring Systems in the Hong Kong MTR System This project aims to develop a sustainable energy supply system for wireless sensor networks (WSNs) devices by utilizing electromagnetic energy harvesting (EMEH) techniques without interfering with the operation of the railroad system. WSNs energized with the EMEH techniques will offer a long-lasting and comprehensive monitoring network, paving the way towards sustainable smart railway systems. A cost-effective, efficient, reliable, scalable and sustainable smart solution for energizing railway monitoring and condition assessment systems is proposed. Dr Hongbo YE, Research Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Planning and Operation of Future Railway System with Autonomous Modularized Trains and Virtual Coupling Signalling This project proposes a vision of future railway systems, realised by autonomous modularised trains running under virtual coupling signalling, in order to handle the tempo-spatial variation of passenger demand. The proposal envisages three phases: developing optimisation models and algorithms for scheduling, investigating rescheduling methods, and exploring energy-efficient trajectory planning. Dr Jingzheng REN, Associate Professor, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering Promoting Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) in MTR for Pursuing Sustainable Development Goals and Better Service Quality This project aims to establish a scientific and comprehensive criteria system for performance assessment regarding ESG and sustainable development goals (SDGs). By combining multi-criteria decision-making methods and systems dynamics, the proposed novel multi-dimensional assessment tool can incorporate the interdependences and interactions among the ESG and SDGs for identifying complex cause-effect relationships and the critical factors, and then mapping and analysing them both qualitatively and quantitatively. This new tool for performance assessment and improvement related to both ESG and SDGs can not only be used for Metro/Rail operators, but can also be implemented in other fields and in other cities.   ***END***

PolyU holds flag-raising ceremony to celebrate the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China at the new University Square

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today held a flag-raising ceremony at the new University Square on campus to celebrate the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The University was honoured to have had Ms WU Cheng, Deputy Director, Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Mr WANG Wenxian, Deputy Director, Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR officiate the ceremony. They were joined by PolyU’s Council Chairman Dr LAM Tai-fai; President Prof. Jin-Guang TENG; Deputy Council Chairman Dr Lawrence LI Kwok-chang, University Court Chairman Dr Katherine NGAN, together with Council and Court members, University senior management, and over 1,000 distinguished guests and PolyU members, and close to 70 visiting teachers and students from Tsinghua University, wishing prosperity and stability for the Nation and Hong Kong. The ceremony was performed by the PolyU Student Flag-Raising Team. Dr Lam Tai-fai, PolyU’s Chairman of Council remarked, “This year marks the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Through reform and opening up, the Nation has achieved remarkable accomplishments and has become increasingly influential on the global stage, bringing its people tremendous pride. ‘When China succeeds, Hong Kong will prosper’. Hong Kong must fully ensure the steady and sustained implementation of the principle of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ and integrate itself into the Nation’s overall development. Going forward, PolyU remains committed to promoting a sense of national identity among students and nurturing capable talents who are ready to shoulder greater responsibilities, possess a deep affection for the Nation, and who will leverage their strengths for the betterment of the Nation and Hong Kong.” Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, PolyU’s President said, “As we celebrate the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, our Nation has accomplished remarkable achievements in high-quality social and economic development, as well as innovation and technology. As a member of the higher-education sector, PolyU is dedicated to becoming an innovative world-class university as we strive for excellence in education, research, innovation and knowledge transfer. The University will continue providing holistic education to nurture socially responsible talents who possess a strong sense of national identity and a global perspective, and make further contributions to the Nation’s self-reliance in science and technology.”   ***END***

PolyU nursing scholars awarded prestigious UGC Teaching Award

The Internationalisation at Home (IaH) team from the School of Nursing of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) received the University Grants Committee (UGC) Teaching Award in the Collaborative Teams category for 2023 in recognition of their achievements in pioneering the adoption of novel IaH activities in nursing education. This new education model goes beyond conventional clinical practices to develop students’ cultural awareness and global competence. The Award was presented by Mr Tim LUI, Chairman of UGC at a presentation ceremony held today. Prof. Wing-tak WONG, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU congratulated the team, and said, “PolyU is committed to pursuing excellence and impact through its education and research endeavours, while nurturing students to be global-minded leaders. The five members of IaH are enthusiastic proponents of innovative teaching and learning, thus helping to foster professionals who are ready to cope with multi-cultural contexts and the growing demand for healthcare. The team has also extended the impact of IaH to collaborating universities worldwide. We warmly congratulate the team on their accomplishments.” The IaH team, led by Prof. Engle Angela CHAN, Interim Head and Professor of the School of Nursing, included Dr Arkers Kwan-ching WONG, Assistant Professor; Mr Timothy Kam-hung LAI, Associate Professor of Practice; Dr Betty Pui-man CHUNG, Assistant Professor of Practice; and Dr Doris Yuet-lan LEUNG, Adjunct Assistant Professor. To prepare nursing students for their profession in Hong Kong’s culturally diverse society with its increasing healthcare demands, the team has adopted IaH activities in the BS (Hons) in Nursing since 2015. It serves as an alternative to the offline “overseas exchange” learning experience in developing students’ cultural awareness. The team has worked closely with overseas institutions, including Malmo University in Sweden and La Trobe University in Australia, to design a series of online student-led group activities for exchanging insights on major challenges in nursing. The IaH has additionally provided a platform for cultural exchange activities to continue and cultivate talents with global vision during the pandemic. The School of Nursing of PolyU has also integrated IaH activities into a Service-Learning subject, a summer exchange programme and collaborative projects with local and international peers designed to enhance students’ global learning experience, impacting over 1,100 undergraduate and postgraduate students globally. With nine journal articles published and seven presentations at international and local conferences on their IaH work, the team hopes to expand the impact of IaH across multiple disciplines and will integrate virtual reality technology to provide students with an immersive learning experience. Prof. Engle Angela Chan is honoured to receive the award, and said, “I am pleased that our team’s work has been recognised by the UGC. My heartfelt gratitude goes to my teammates and the University for their effort and support. Both drive us to realise our shared vision of providing high-quality training and learning experiences for nursing students. IaH activities focusing on peer learning help students enhance their global competence and ability to communicate with culturally diverse patients by gaining in-depth understanding of clinical practices worldwide through bilateral exchange. We look forward to the wider adoption of IaH activities in collaborative partners to cultivate future nursing professionals.” The UGC Teaching Award was introduced to honour academics of the UGC-funded universities for their outstanding teaching performance and achievements, as well as their leadership in and scholarly contributions to teaching and learning within and outside their campuses. The Award consists of three categories, namely General Faculty Members, Early Career Faculty Members, and Collaborative Teams. The last is given in recognition of outstanding interdisciplinary pedagogical work.   *** END ***

PolyU makes recommendations for 2023 Policy Address advocating establishment of University Town in the Northern Metropolis and propelling green economy

The Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has submitted recommendations for the Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address during the public consultation period, covering the development of a carbon neutral city, Greater Bay Area (GBA) innovation, and technology (I&T) and the Belt and Road. Key recommendations include: 1. Encouraging the Development of the Green Economy and Building Carbon Neutral Cities PReCIT supports the HKSAR Government in its aim of strengthening global and regional collaboration for building carbon-neutral cities and developing an international carbon market, as well as to leverage the Science Park, Cyberport and tertiary institutions as entry points to support research and development of eco-friendly technologies and encourage businesses to adopt green technologies in their production. It is also recommended that the government considers evaluating the risks and feasibility of introducing hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles and conducting relevant policy and legal studies. To achieve sustainable waste management, it is suggested that automatic food waste collection and dewatering systems should be in place in newly established public housing estates. Shortening the time between building energy audits and implementation of energy-saving measures could reduce carbon emissions from building construction. Other recommendations include approval of the PolyU Green Deck project which can help publicise the concept of sustainable development for attracting talents and enterprises from around the world to come and settle, live and work in Hong Kong. 2. Building a University Town in the Northern Metropolis to Establish a Seamless I&T Ecosystem The government is advised to optimise existing education policies and establish an international education hub. Building a university town in the Northern Metropolis, together with the provision of accommodation support or housing subsidies to students, will help create a conducive ecosystem for collaboration between industry, academia, research and startups. To tap into the opportunities and address the challenges of digital transformation, PReCIT advocates the government establishing an international data centre and a supercomputing centre, promoting the application of blockchain-based Legal Entity Identifier, optimising the regulation of artificial intelligence, and adopting the PolyU Innovation and Technology Index as an indicator of Hong Kong’s I&T development. In relation to fostering the development of the Chinese Medicine (CM) industry, PReCIT proposes the establishment of a central research platform and an International Dietary Supplement and Botanical Drug Research Centre to strengthen validation of CM’s efficacy and safety. 3. Facilitating Cross-Border Trade Activities and Academic Collaboration with the Belt and Road Countries This year marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). PReCIT supports the government in promoting cross-border trade activities under the BRI and advocates the establishment of a BRI I&T hub, as well as a government-industry-academia-research consortium dedicated to BRI. It is recommended funds are allocated for interdisciplinary and collaborative research. To attract outstanding students to study and stay in Hong Kong after graduation, the government may consider setting up BRI scholarships, research funding schemes, BRI outstanding student grants and loan schemes. In addition, it is crucial to reinforce promotion of tourism and cultural exchange initiatives in the BRI countries as these can help strengthen connections with these countries, particularly in areas pertaining to ASEAN countries' I&T development. Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Director of PReCIT, said, “Hong Kong has unique geographical advantages, a well-established legal system, and five world-class universities that have attained exceptional achievements in basic scientific research. However, the private sector’s investment in R&D in Hong Kong is relatively low. It is imperative for the government to drive industry-academia-research collaboration and research commercialisation as a new driving force for Hong Kong’s economic growth. As an innovative world-class university, PolyU is committed to providing excellent education and impactful interdisciplinary research in order to support the City’s I&T development.” Prof. Eric CHUI, Co-Director of PReCIT and Head of the Department of Applied Social Sciences of PolyU, added, “Talent is a key element for Hong Kong’s development as an international I&T hub. Offering scholarships, grants, and loans to outstanding students from Belt and Road countries, along with a pre-requisite requirement of serving in Hong Kong upon graduation, would be helpful in attracting talents to Hong Kong for long-term contribution and fostering mutual economic collaboration.” Founded in 2022, PReCIT is a university-level interdisciplinary policy research centre. The primary areas of its research include carbon-neutral cities, Greater Bay Area I&T development, and the Belt and Road Initiative in Southeast Asia. For more information about PReCIT, please visit www.polyu.edu.hk/precit/. The full recommendation report is available at: https://polyu.me/PolyUPReCIT_2023PolicyAddress_EN   ***END***

69 PolyU students and alumni take part in the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou while rehabilitation experts provide support to national athletes and conduct applied research

With the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou approaching, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) will send a strong delegation of 69 students and alumni to compete in 20 sports, including swimming, water polo, athletics, fencing, archery and artistic gymnastics. It is the largest PolyU delegation for an Asian Games. We know the PolyU athletes will try their best and strive for excellence to win Asian Games glory for Hong Kong. PolyU has long been supportive of whole-person education and sports development. The Outstanding Sportsmen Recommendation Scheme, which was established in 1998, has admitted over 1,600 elite athletes to various full-time undergraduate programmes. The University also offers the Elite Athletes Study Programme in partnership with the Hong Kong Sports Institute, and participates in the Student-Athlete Learning Support and Admission Scheme to further support young athletes in achieving both academic and sporting excellence. Additionally, PolyU and the Center for Weight Lifting, Wrestling and Judo of the General Administration of Sport of China (the Center) signed a Memorandum of Understanding and an agreement last month to conduct the project “Rehabilitation strategies in preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympics”. Under the collaborative agreement, PolyU will provide rehabilitation services to the Center, and the Center will assist in conducting applied research focusing on raising exercise performance in order to enhance athletes’ performance and prevent injuries. In order to promote athlete performance and reduce the possibility of injuries, a team led by Prof. Amy FU, Peter Hung Professor in Pain Management, Associate Head and Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences of PolyU, will provide rehabilitation services to national athletes in the National Olympic Sports Center in Beijing and other training locations. The team is responsible for formulating a sports recovery research plan, exploring recovery strategies for fatigue and overload strain caused by exercise, and fully preparing the national judo team for the coming Asian Games Hangzhou and Paris Olympics next year.   ***END***

Historian Dr Joseph S.P. Ting leads students to explore Chinese history with PolyU Artists’ Alliance’s first programme “Hong Kong People's Ancestral Origins”

To enhance the University community’s appreciation of Chinese culture and history, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has established the PolyU Artists’ Alliance (the Alliance). Curated by Alliance member Dr Joseph S.P. TING, also PolyU Historian-in-Residence and former Chief Curator of the Hong Kong Museum of History, the inaugural programme, flagship historical exploration series “Hong Kong People’s Ancestral Origins”, leads students in exploring historical stories of Guangdong and Hong Kong through thematic talks and site visits. With the support of Dr Liza WANG, Convener of the Alliance, guests, students and alumni, the first talk of the programme was successfully held on 19 September. Established in April this year, the Alliance comprises leading figures and prominent experts in the arts and culture sector in Hong Kong and the Mainland. Aiming to promote the arts and cultural environment of the campus and nurture a younger generation who possesses a strong sense of national identity, it proactively forges collaboration with practitioners in the sector and co-organise activities such as exchanges and public lectures. It also offers advice regarding admission to PolyU of talents in relevant fields. Members of the Alliance represent various domains of art and culture including the performing arts, visual arts, intangible cultural heritage, Chinese history, Chinese literature as well as film and creative media. Among them, many are current and past PolyU Artists-in-Residence who have long supported the University, as detailed in the attachment. The first chapter of “Hong Kong People’s Ancestral Origins” series, “Explore the Historical Stories of Guangzhou”, commenced with a prelude talk by Dr Ting. During the talk, Dr Ting presented Guangzhou as a renowned city of Lingnan culture with rich history and shed light on the close ties between Guangzhou and Hong Kong from historical and geographical perspectives. To deepen students’ understanding of Guangzhou’s history and the connection between Guangzhou and Hong Kong, Dr Ting, together with Dr Liza Wang, will lead a group of PolyU students to Guangzhou at the end of the month. They will visit local museums and historical sites, including the Nanhai God Temple, Thirteen Hongs Museum, former Whampoa Military Academy, Museum of the Peasant Movement Institute, Chinese Artists Association, Zhenhai Tower and the Liberation Monument in Yuexiu Mountain. After the focus on Guangzhou, the “Hong Kong People’s Ancestral Origins” series will put the spotlight on Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macau to explore the Xiangshan Culture formed uniquely in these three cities and their coordinated development with Hong Kong. The thematic talk and site visits will be held in November.   ***End***