Media Releases

PolyU appoints Professor Kwok-yin Wong as Vice President (Education)

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today announced the appointment of Professor Kwok-yin WONG to the post of Vice President (Education) [VP(EDU)] with effect from 1 September 2020. Professor Wong is currently Interim Vice President (Research and Innovation), Patrick S.C. Poon Endowed Professor in Applied Chemistry and Chair Professor of Chemical Technology at the University. He is also Director of the State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery. Professor Wong has a proven track record of academic excellence as well as extensive leadership and management experience. He played a pivotal role in implementing the four-year undergraduate curriculum and formulating the outcome-based learning approach when he was the Dean of Faculty of Applied Science and Textiles (FAST); he was also instrumental in launching the BSc(Hons) in Food Safety and Technology programme, which has become a very successful applied science programme. As Associate Vice President (Research Support), he led efforts in developing the learning outcomes and attributes for research postgraduate students and establishing the online project and grant management system. As Interim Vice President (Research and Innovation), Professor Wong has contributed significantly to the establishment of the Graduate School and the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research. As VP(EDU), Professor Wong will be responsible for the planning and development of learning and teaching initiatives of the University. He will play a key role in formulating and implementing Planning Exercise Proposals, leading the development and enhancement of academic programmes (including both curriculum and pedagogical aspects), as well as developing and executing institutional policies and plans for academic quality assurance. President Jin-Guang TENG said, “PolyU aims to provide the best holistic education to nurture our students as socially responsible leaders for the professions and in the community. Against the backdrop of the fourth industrial revolution, we are embarking on the upgrading of our educational offerings to embrace emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics to meet the evolving needs of the society. Professor Wong has rich experience and has demonstrated strong leadership in the area of learning and teaching through his various important roles at the University. He also has an excellent vision for the future development of the educational programmes at the University. I have full confidence that he will lead the University to scale new heights in the area of learning and teaching.” Professor Wong joined the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology (ABCT) of the then Hong Kong Polytechnic in 1990 as a lecturer after spending three years as a forensic chemist at the Hong Kong Government Laboratory. He has served in different management roles at the University, including as Head of ABCT (2005 - 2009), Dean of FAST (2008 - 2015), Director of the University Research Facility in Life Sciences (2015 - 2020), Associate Vice President (Research Support) (2016 - 2020), and Interim Vice President (Research and Innovation) since March 2020. Professor Wong received his Doctor of Philosophy degree from The University of Hong Kong and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry of the United Kingdom. Biography of Professor Kowk-yin Wong, please click this link: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/ppoffice/president/research.html   *****

PolyU researchers collaborate with international institutions to enable the next generation of batteries and energy systems

As society becomes more mobile, rechargeable batteries have become essential for a wide range of applications in strategic industries such as automotive, power grid, aerospace, robotics and consumer electronics. Such increasing societal dependence makes battery safety, reliability and performance essential. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has joined an international research team led by Collège de France, together with The French National Centre for Scientific Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Dalhousie University, to enable the next generation of portable energy storage systems by injecting smart sensing and monitoring functionalities into the dynamic electrochemical devices in a cost-effective and scalable way. Their study, titled “Operando decoding of chemical and thermal events in commercial Na(Li)-ion cells via optical sensors” (link), was published in the high-impact international journal Nature Energy this week. The research team has achieved a breakthrough by incorporating optical fibre “Bragg” grating (FBG) sensors within 18650 format cells (a standard for commercial batteries) which enables twofold enhancement. Firstly, the use of optimised internal structures in the FBGs allow for the collection of clean, high-resolution optical signals from the sensors. Secondly, advanced signal analysis is employed to decode the thermal and chemical events taking place within the battery as never seen before.

PolyU master’s degree programmes train talents in occupational therapy and physiotherapy meeting urgent demand from the social welfare sector for healthcare/rehabilitation manpower

While the demand for healthcare services is growing drastically in Hong Kong, the supply of qualified therapists is far from adequate especially in the social welfare sector, bringing difficulties to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in meeting the healthcare and rehabilitation needs of society. To alleviate this manpower shortage, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) of HKSARG has been offering a Training Sponsorship Scheme in collaboration with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and NGOs since 2012. The two master’s entry degree programmes PolyU is offering under this Scheme are Master in Occupational Therapy (MOT) and Master in Physiotherapy (MPT). Introduced in 2012, these two-year full-time programmes provide an opportunity for those who aspire to serve the community as competent and qualified therapists. Under this Scheme, potential talents are funded by NGOs to take part in a two-year master’s entry degree programme either in occupational therapy or physiotherapy. After graduation, these students are required to contribute to the work of the NGOs they signed up for three consecutive years. The Scheme has yielded good results with over 250 students having been trained in four cohorts under the Scheme to serve in NGOs that offer care and rehabilitation services for the elderly, persons with disabilities or children with special needs. Well received by the social welfare sector, the Scheme will be extended for another three cohorts in 2021, 2022 and 2023. The next cohort is open for application today (12 August 2020)

PolyU secures HK$18.2 million funding from Health and Medical Research Fund to conduct eight studies on COVID-19

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has secured over HK$18 million funding from the Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) of the Food and Health Bureau (FHB), to commence eight research studies on COVID-19. These projects cover a wide range of disciplines including health technology, biomedical sciences, healthcare, rehabilitation as well as social sciences. PolyU hopes that research teams from different fields can contribute their expertise to supporting the local community in the fight against COVID-19 and to facilitating formulation of pandemic control measures, thus helping to protect the health of the general public.

Renowned hotelier Mr Robert H. Burns honoured with PolyU’s SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award

The School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is privileged to announce that Mr Robert H. Burns, Founder of Regent International Hotels, is bestowed the prestigious SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020 and is inducted into the School’s famed Gallery of Honour at the same time. The SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award was established in 2016 to honour outstanding persons who have contributed substantially to the development of hospitality and tourism in Hong Kong, the region and around the world. In bestowing the award, the SHTM seeks to recognise true leaders who help define the global hospitality landscape and advance the industry. Expressing his heartfelt congratulations to Mr Burns on receiving the SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award, Professor Kaye Chon, SHTM Dean, Chair Professor and Walter and Wendy Kwok Family Foundation Professor in International Hospitality Management, said, “Mr Burns is a longstanding partner of the SHTM and a truly deserving recipient of this award. With steadfast support from industry partners such as Mr Burns, our School is committed to nurturing all the bright minds who will become future leaders of this very exciting global industry.” “I am honoured to receive this year’s SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Mr Burns. “It has been a pleasure to be a part of this incredible global industry. Much of the industry has evolved greatly just in the past few decades, and I feel fortunate to have contributed in some small way. It is an exceptional honour to receive this award from PolyU where the School is known worldwide for its excellence in hospitality and tourism management education. Congratulations to the faculty and staff at the SHTM!” Founder of Regent International Hotels and developer of Grand Hotel a Villa Feltrinelli, Gargnano, Italy, Mr Robert Burns is a legendary figure of the hotel industry famed worldwide for setting new benchmarks in luxury hospitality. Mr Burns has spent six decades in the hotel industry, beginning at the Waldorf Astoria in the late 1940s, while attending New York University. Following his time in New York and after four years in the U.S. Army, he completed his undergraduate degree at Michigan State University’s School of Hotel Management with an MBA from the University of Michigan. He then joined Sheraton Hotels’ management training programme, working in hotels in Detroit, Pittsburgh, Dallas and Nebraska. In 1960, he joined Sheraton hotels in Hawaii. Three years later he became General Manager of the Kahala Hilton in Hawaii, where he was also a faculty member of the University of Hawaii. In 1970, Mr Burns founded Regent International Hotels in Hong Kong, building one of the industry’s most renowned 5-star brands. The opening of The Regent Hong Kong in 1980 drew international recognition, which brought a new dimension in amenities and services to hotels in the city and attracted worldwide attention. An icon of the industry, combining Asian service excellence with western efficiency and luxury, it was voted the “best hotel in the world” among several international awards. Under Mr Burns’ leadership, the group opened 18 luxury hotels worldwide in 22 years. In 1992, Regent was acquired by Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts. In 2001, after a five-year restoration, he opened the much-admired Grand Hotel a Villa Feltrinelli in Italy. Mr Burns has long been a leader in the industry through education and advocacy groups. He was Chairman and Co-founder of the World Travel and Tourism Council, a forum of more than 200 members of international chief executives in leading travel and tourism companies worldwide. Its unique mandate encourages industry growth and protects cultural and natural heritage sites. He was a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and the University of Hawaii’s School of Travel Industry Management. For 20 years, he lectured on Stanford University’s MBA programme. He served as Director of The Asia Pacific Fund and Chairman of The Chrysalis Emerging Markets Fund, ING Barings and a Director of Wharf (Holdings) Limited in Hong Kong. Mr Burns also lectured extensively through the Asia-Pacific for the U.S. State Department and Pacific Asia Travel Association. In New York City, he serves on the board of Jazz at Lincoln Center.   *** End***

Researchers from PolyU and M.U.S.T. Collaborate in the Development of a Recombinant RBD Vaccine Against SARS-CoV-2

Coronavirus (the virus that causes COVID-19) has continued to spread across the world. Here in Hong Kong, people are confronting a third wave of outbreaks, with the number of confirmed infections surging to over 3,000 in just a few weeks. Since the early days of the outbreak, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has been working with various research partners in the fight against COVID-19 through the development of different diagnostic and preventive measures. PolyU and the Macau University of Science and Technology (M.U.S.T), in collaboration with other Chinese institutions, announced today a significant breakthrough in the development of a COVID-19 vaccine. Their study is the focus of a research paper recently published in the prestigious science journal Nature, entitled “A Vaccine Targeting the RBD of the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 Induces Protective Immunity”. (link)

PolyU contributes to the Nation’s first Mars mission with the Mars Camera

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has successfully developed and manufactured the “Mars Landing Surveillance Camera” (“Mars Camera”), one of the key instruments onboard the Mars spacecraft, to participate in the Nation’s first Mars mission Tianwen-1, which was launched today. The spacecraft for the Mars probe comprises an orbiter, a lander and a rover, aiming to complete orbiting, landing and roving in one single mission, an unprecedented attempt globally, as well as to obtain scientific exploration data on the Red Planet. Located on the outside top surface of the Mars lander platform, the Mars Camera will monitor the landing status, the surrounding environment and movements of the rover with respect to the unfolding and status of the solar panels and antennae. The information is critical for the successful movement of the Mars Rover onto the Mars surface.

PolyU Tripartite Hospitality Programme Wins McCool Breakthrough Award

The Master of Science in Global Hospitality Business (MGH) programme was selected as the McCool Breakthrough Award recipient for 2020 by the International Council of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (I-CHRIE), the world’s largest organisation of hospitality and tourism educators, for its innovative approach of this graduate degree programme. The tripartite programme is jointly offered by the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, École hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) in Switzerland and the Conrad N. Hilton College at the University of Houston (UH) in the USA. In granting the Award, the Award Committee acknowledged that “the cross-cultural, three-continent approach that includes immersion in business projects, certification, and field trips to global business hubs is certainly distinctive and noteworthy. It is unquestionably a unique approach to hospitality graduate education”. The one-of-a-kind MGH programme has successfully run for five years since inception. Launched in 2015, it was the first time that the three world-leading institutions, representing the best of the East and the best of the West, have joined hands to help define the future of global hospitality development. This innovative educational strategy allows students to spend one semester in each of the three continents – Europe, Asia and North America – capitalising on three outstanding faculties and campuses. It provides students with exposure to three distinct markets and three diverse cultures to develop their hospitable attitude and construct their management toolbox. With an unparalleled global educational experience, the MGH is able to facilitate students to truly “think global, act local”. “We are deeply grateful to I-CHRIE for having recognised us with this prestigious award,” Professor Kaye Chon, SHTM Dean, Chair Professor and Walter and Wendy Kwok Family Foundation Professor in International Hospitality Management, said. “In a world that has become very connected, it is vital for future hospitality leaders to have strong international perspectives to excel in the dynamic global environment. The SHTM is privileged to join hands with the EHL and UH to nurture talents to define the future development of the global hospitality landscape.” The SHTM has made a lasting mark in hospitality and tourism education by being a three-time recipient of the McCool Breakthrough Award. The School previously received the award in 2012 for its groundbreaking approach to hospitality education with the opening of Hotel ICON. In 2017, Dean Kaye Chon received the award for founding the annual Graduate Education and Graduate Students’ Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism. The McCool Breakthrough Award is given to an individual, group, programme, school, college, association or corporation that has made a significant breakthrough or introduced a unique approach in the spirit of I-CHRIE’s mission. The Award recognises an event, activity, or programme in memory of Willie McCool, a dedicated and successful astronaut and son of Audrey and Barry McCool, faculty members at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.   *****END****   About PolyU’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management For over 40 years, PolyU’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management has refined a distinctive vision of hospitality and tourism education and become a world-leading hotel and tourism school. Rated No. 1 in the world in the “Hospitality and Tourism Management” category according to ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2020, placed No. 1 globally in the “Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services” category in the University Ranking by Academic Performance in 2019/2020 and ranked No. 1 in the world in the “Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism” subject area by the CWUR Rankings by Subject 2017, the SHTM is a symbol of excellence in the field, exemplifying its motto of Leading Hospitality and Tourism. The School is driven by the need to serve its industry and academic communities through the advancement of education and dissemination of knowledge. With more than 70 academic staff drawing from 21 countries and regions, the SHTM offers programmes at levels ranging from undergraduate degrees to doctoral degrees. Through Hotel ICON, the School’s groundbreaking teaching and research hotel and a vital aspect of its paradigm-shifting approach to hospitality and tourism education, the SHTM is advancing teaching, learning and research, inspiring a new generation of passionate, pioneering professionals to take their positions as leaders in the hospitality and tourism industry.

PolyU Intimate Fashion Show 2020 Balancing beauty and functionality, showcasing the creativity of the new generation

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) held the PolyU Intimate Fashion Show 2020 on 9 July at the Hotel ICON, showcasing the creativity and design talents of 12 graduating students. The 12 collections of six outfits each that were on show were designed and produced by students majoring in Intimate Apparel and Activewear in the University’s Institute of Textiles and Clothing (ITC), with raw materials sponsored by intimate apparel manufacturers and suppliers. The chief sponsor this year is Nobeemas, a well-known high-end lingerie brand of Melaydoti. Three renowned figures in the design and fashion industry, Ms Beverly Black, Mr Dorian Ho and Mr Walter Ma, were invited as judges to select the Show’s Grand Prize. ITC alumna and TVB artist, Ms Chan Yan Yan, was also invited as MC for the Show. The Grand Prize was won by Au Cho-Ying, Sally with her “Mountainous” sportingcollection. Sally derived inspiration from huge mountains. She then made use of her Chinese brush painting skills to illustrate mountain scenes, and combined them with smocking patterns. Sally said sportswear is as skintight as intimate wear, and she took the functional features into consideration while doing tailoring: "I hope my designs can strike a balance between beauty and functionality – for example, the neckline should not be too high or too low. One can feel the comfort of wearing an item when doing sports while keeping a sleek look”. Another student, Chow Ching-lam, Ariel's work - "Infinity O" - was chosen by the audience as the "Audience Favorite". Ariel's design incorporates silver chains. She explained that there are many limitations in real life, but we should not limit our capacity to imagine. Through this collection, she hopes to express her endless imagination and her courage to breakthrough. Prof. Wing-tak Wong, Dean of Faculty of Applied Science and Textiles, PolyU, expressed his gratitude to the textile industry for its generous support to the Show, which enhanced the diversity of students’ learning experience. Prof. Jintu Fan, Chair Professor and Head of ITC, remarked that the students have overcome enormous challenges in completing their collections as the University was closed for a few months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He believes that our students have fully demonstrated their innovation, talent and passion for intimate apparel and activewear design in the Show. Ms Angie Lau, Chairman of Hong Kong Intimate Apparel Industries’ Association and the CEO of Clover Group International Limited, stressed that HKIAIA would continue to support and nurture the younger generation for the continuous development of the industry.   *****END****

PolyU discovers the effect of chemical compound PTU on autophagy in zebrafish embryos, sheds light on cancer medication research

The zebrafish has been utilised as a model organism for biomedical research globally for half a century, mainly due to the high genetic similarity (over 70%) between zebrafish and human genes, with over 80% of human morbid genes related to at least one zebrafish orthologue. As test subjects, zebrafish are suitable for high throughput applications (to screen a large amount of genetic data simultaneously) and are widely used as a model organism for studying vertebrate development and for characterising diseases such as cancer, to help in identifying and testing new drugs. Fast development, cost-effective and easy to breed are also primary drivers for using the zebrafish research model. However, a recent research project led by Dr Alvin MA Chun-hang, Assistant Professor of the Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), has revealed that the conventional application of 1-phenyl 2-thiourea (PTU), a pigment suppresser used in the zebrafish research model, may affect the results of autophagy-related studies. This ground-breaking finding subsequently sheds light on the respective research guidelines and the research protocol in on-going studies on autophagy and haematology, warranting researchers to re-examine research that is linked to existing cancer therapy options. The research titled “1-phenyl 2-thiourea (PTU) Activates Autophagy in Zebrafish Embryos” (link) was published in Autophagy, a peer-reviewed science journal in April 2020. In most research using the zebrafish model, a chemical compound called 1-phenyl-2-thiourea (PTU) is commonly used to suppress pigment formation in zebrafish embryos, maintaining optical transparency to facilitate microscopic imaging. Over the past three years, the PolyU research team led by Dr MA has been using the zebrafish model to investigate the causes of leukaemia and its relationship with autophagy (self-eating) – a mechanism of metabolism that involves the degradation of cells by lysosomes and the process of cell renewal and regeneration. It is a cellular reaction to various physiological and pathological conditions regulating important processes, including intracellular material turnover, cell death, proliferation, development, ageing and tumourigenesis. According to Dr Ma, “Upon 0.003% PTU treatment, aberrant autophagosome and autolysosome formation, accumulation of lysosomes and elevated autophagic flux were observed in various tissues and organs of the zebrafish,” He pointed out that “Autophagy is crucial in the process of drug resistance of various cells and over-activation of autophagy may potentially interfere with the efficacy of drugs. The research finding means that when we are using this prominent model to study any autophagy-related processes like cancer, the results may not be truly reflected. These studies could have produced skewed results. Researchers should avoid using PTU in autophagy-related research in the future.” Dr MA added that the team has already suspended the use of PTU in zebrafish research. Light-sheet microscopy, which offers greater imaging depth, will be employed as an alternative, for image autophagy in the zebrafish embryo with pigment for their study on leukaemia. Furthermore, the new research findings also provide a direct mechanistic link between autophagy and melanoma, suggesting autophagy probably regulates melanoma development and drug resistance through interaction with tyrosinase, a key rate-limited regulator of melanin synthesis. Investigation into details of the molecular mechanism between autophagy and melanoma is expected in the future. Professor YIP Shea-ping, Head of Department of Health Technology and Informatics, said, “We are pleased to see our research team’s recent discovery published in Autophagy, the highest impact journal in the field. Dr MA has also been invited as co-author for new guidelines on autophagy research using zebrafish embryos, a revision that takes place every four years. With the new guidelines in place, we will be able to modify the way we conduct autophagy-related studies with the zebrafish model and, hopefully, to open the door to new treatments for various deadly diseases.”   ***** END *****