PolyU not only emphasises research and innovation but is also committed to promoting societal progress, including the advancement of developing countries. Recently, Professor Sylvia Chen Xiaohua, Chair Professor of Social and Cultural Psychology and Associate Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences (FHSS), has been elected as a Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences for her contributions to advancing science in developing countries. Among the 74 new Fellows from 28 countries and regions elected for 2025, Professor Chen stands out as the only Fellow from Hong Kong and the only Chinese scholar elected in the field of Social and Economic Sciences.

A Chartered Psychologist of the British Psychological Society, Professor Chen’s research focuses on personality and social psychology, cross-cultural psychology, and the psychosocial and cultural aspects of mental health. She investigates the social psychology of bilingualism and biculturalism, globalisation and multiculturalism, personality and social behaviour in cultural contexts, as well as cultural diversity and mental health.

Professor Chen is currently the Interim Director of the Mental Health Research Centre and Director of the Yan Oi Tong Au Suet Ming Child Development Centre at PolyU. She is also a Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of the Humanities, the Association for Psychological Science, the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, and the Hong Kong Psychological Society. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (now Advance HE) in the United Kingdom and has received various academic awards, including the Outstanding International Psychologist Award conferred by the American Psychological Association, and the Humanities and Social Sciences Prestigious Fellowship Scheme awarded by the Research Grants Council.

The World Academy of Sciences is a global science academy based in Italy, dedicated to promoting scientific capacity and excellence for sustainable development in developing countries. Elected Fellows represent the world’s distinguished scientists in various disciplines, including some Nobel laureates.

The international recognition received by PolyU’s scholars underscores the University’s commitment to research excellence. The University remains steadfast in its mission to excel in education, research and knowledge transfer, for the benefit of Hong Kong, the Nation, and the world.