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Graduate School Transferable Skills Workshop Series - Doing Scholarship that Endures by Staying F.O.C.U.S.E.D

Perspectives are often shaped by individual’s unique experiences, leading to variations and limitations in their interpretation of the world and their responses to problems, issues, and challenges. By recognising and acknowledging these limitations, the strategic thinking FOCUSED framework aids us to envision alternatives possibilities beyond our limited viewpoints in a complex and volatile world. The Graduate School Transferable Skills Workshop on 10 Apr, facilitated by Dr Robert Wright from the Department of Management and Marketing (MM), introduced the FOCUSED framework as a problem-setting and solving tool for research students to embrace otherness and structure their thinking, emotions and actions. During the workshop, participants engaged in activities within the framework, which, according to previous experiments, have shown to stimulate key brain regions and connectivity associated with higher-order thinking, creativity, complex problem solving, novelty, and more. This stimulation not only enhances learning but also promotes neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form and reorganise neural pathways. The workshop also featured online sessions led by a lineup of international renowned scholars from academic institutions such as the University of Cambridge and University of Oxford, where participants “unlearnt” and challenged their existing knowledge and perspectives. In challenging moments in the learning process, let us drop our tools, unlearn and re-construe!

Research Student Gathering: Exploring the Holy Month of Ramadan

The Holy Month of Ramadan, observed by Muslims worldwide, is a sacred time of spiritual reflection and devotion in the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. During this holiest of times, adherents engage in acts of worship, community charity, and bonding, while fasting from dawn to sunset. On 8 April, the Research Student Gathering brought together participants from diverse cultural backgrounds to explore the significance of this sacred religious month. Current students from Palestine, Ghana, and Kazakhstan shared respective practices, including Taraweeh (the special evening prayers in addition to the five daily prayers), spiritual festivals, charity acts, and important communal meals during Ramadan in their countries. The event promoted cultural appreciation through interactive games, authentic Ramadan refreshments, and social networking, providing students a platform to deepen their understanding and embrace diverse traditions.

Distinguished Speaker Series – Smart City 5.0

On 20 March, the Graduate School had the privilege of inviting Dr Winnie Tang, MH, JP, to deliver a seminar on the topic of “Smart City 5.0”. Dr Tang is a renowned IT entrepreneur, scholar, and expert in the field of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). She is the Founder of Esri China (Hong Kong), a leading company specialising in geographic information system (GIS) technology. Additionally, she is the Founder and Honorary President of the Smart City Consortium. Currently, Dr Tang holds the position of Adjunct Professor in multiple departments at the University of Hong Kong, including the Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, and Faculty of Architecture. Building upon the foundations of Smart City 3.0 and 4.0, Smart City 5.0 delves deeply into the challenges of implementing sustainable practices in urban development. During the seminar, Dr Tang discussed with participants the latest advancements in technology, urban planning, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations, citizen engagement, and the transformative possibilities for enhancing urban living. Dr Tang compared the smart city efforts of Hong Kong to various countries worldwide and specifically addressed how Hong Kong can seize the opportunity to achieve Smart City 5.0. She emphasised the importance of creating an ecosystem that enables talents to realise their full potential. Alongside Dr Tang’s sharing, her colleague demonstrated the practical application of technology in simulating various scenarios for building construction and optimizing city planning and development. The seminar left attendees inspired as they contemplated the future of their cities and the potential of digital transformation. The event concluded with a dynamic Q&A session, where participants enthusiastically engaged in dialogue with Dr Tang.

URIS Information Session 2024/25

Hosted by the College of Undergraduate Researchers and Innovators (CURI), an information session was held on 1 March 2024 to introduce the prestigious Undergraduate Research and Innovation Scheme (URIS). The event had a significant turnout, with over 80 enthusiastic undergraduate students in attendance. URIS offers participants the opportunity to engage in well-rounded research training early in their second year of study, under the supervision of an experienced academic staff, for a duration of two years. During the session, the Head of CURI, Professor Cao Jiannong and Associate Head, Professor Horace Mui, presented attractive features and privileges of URIS. The session also included a Q&A section, providing participants with admissions tips,  updates on the selection criteria for the 2024/25 cohort, and exclusive funding opportunities under CURI. Mr Ivan Lin, a current PhD student from the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology (ABCT), shared his firsthand experience after graduating from URIS. Towards the end of the event, the hosts also shared insights on CURI’s future roadmap for undergraduate research. The application deadline for URIS 2024/25 is 30 April 2024. Seize the opportunity to unleash your intellectual potential and join the vibrant undergraduate research community.   Learn about URIS: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/gs/ug-research/uris/application-for-uris/

Graduate School Transferable Skills Workshop Series - Publication Skills

On 1 February, the Graduate School (GS) organised a workshop in the transferable skills series with the Educational Development Centre (EDC) to enhance research students’ academic publishing skills. To gain visibility and credibility as a researcher, participants learnt about the key processes, considerations and common pitfalls of publishing peer-reviewed academic articles. To supplement, instructors introduced the use of AI tools to students to improve research efficiency and quality. Further, opportunities and challenges faced by early career researchers were also explored as preparatory insights. This workshop is the third in the series, following teaching skills and effective citations. By acquiring these skills, research students are equipped with value-adding skill sets to contribute research impacts in chosen fields and develop professional capabilities.

CURI Research Support Taster Programme

The College of Undergraduate Researchers and Innovators (CURI) collaborated with the Industrial Centre (IC) to organise a CURI Research Support Taster Programme on 4 - 23 January. The programme featured five workshops that engaged a total of 150 undergraduate researchers. These workshops provided an immersive and interactive learning experience, showcasing cutting-edge technologies and innovative concepts. Students had the opportunity to gain practical skills and hands-on experiences at PolyU’s state-of-the-art facilities. Step in the World of xR Workshop The workshop introduced students to the world of extended reality (xR), a rapidly emerging field. Held at the HiVE (Hybrid Immersive Virtual Environment), the workshop utilized CAVE (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment) technology, offering a unique platform for practical and collaborative learning. Participants immersed themselves in 2D and 3D environments, enhancing their understanding of abstract concepts. Through virtual training, they acquired valuable skills applicable to real-life scenarios.   AIoT at Your Fingertips Workshop It focused on the convergence of Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things (AIoT). Divided into two parts, the workshop began with an introduction to AI using Microsoft Azure's OpenAI service. Students explored various AI applications, such as image recognition and custom chatbot development. The second part provided an overview of IoT, guiding participants in building an IoT sensor node using a System-On-Chip (SoC). They learned to measure environmental variables, connect to the internet, and visualize data on a PC dashboard.   IE Maker Lab Fun Tour They offered the students a captivating tour of the IE Maker Lab. Through engaging activities, such as 3D scanning, 3D printing, laser cutting, and UV printing, participants experienced the creative and innovative aspects of the maker culture. The tour served as an inspiration, encouraging students to explore their own ideas and nurturing their curiosity.   Print out our Ideas Workshop The spotlight was the revolutionary technology of 3D printing. Students discovered the accessibility of 3D printers, enabling them to bring their ideas to life. They gained insights into the process of creating physical objects, expanding their knowledge of this transformative technology.   RoboFun Workshop This workshop culminated in a lively Robot Party on campus. Students had the opportunity to engage with humanoid and collaborative robots, participating in interactive conversations and playful activities, and exploring their remarkable capabilities. The workshop emphasized that no prior technical background was required—only curiosity and a willingness to connect with these fascinating machines.

Research Student Gathering - Feedback Exchange and Christmas Celebration

The Research Student Gathering held on 21 December 2023 was a delightful blend of Christmas festivities and meaningful exchanges on research study experiences. The event received an overwhelming number of registrations. Professor Louise Cummings, Associate Dean of the Graduate School, commenced the gathering by welcoming everyone and acknowledging students’ dedicated efforts throughout the past year. Students were also encouraged to be more proactive in their communication with their supervisors, academic departments, fellow students and the Graduate School. The gathering highlight was captured at the interactive game time when groups of students demonstrated their creativity, imagination and collaboration skills. Winning teams were presented with tokens of appreciation in the form of small gifts. Towards the end, there was a feedback exchange session where students shared their challenges and experiences, contributing to the ongoing enhancement of student support and development. Looking ahead, the Graduate School will continue to organise similar gatherings to strengthen mutual bonds. Research students are welcome to share perspectives and feedback with the Graduate School.

Graduate School Transferable Skills Workshop Series - Using EndNote for Citations in LaTeX/ Overleaf

Effective management of citations and references is vital for success in academic publishing. On 29 November, the Graduate School and the University Library co-organised a workshop focusing on citation and reference management using the industry-standard tool, EndNote. In the well-equipped learning lab at PolyU Library, participants gained valuable insights into harnessing the power of EndNote to efficiently prepare and export organised references to LaTeX (a document preparation system) or Overleaf (an online collaborative editor). The workshop also covered selecting citation styles, formatting references, and citing sources on both platforms. As a token of appreciation for the participants' dedication, light refreshments were provided towards the end of the workshop.

Application of PolyU’s Collaborative PhD Programmes 2024/25 Now Opens

PolyU Graduate School is committed to expanding students’ research and learning opportunities. In partnership with esteemed institutions, the collaborative PhD programmes aim to develop talents through collaborative research, innovation, and cultural exchanges. Full-time PhD students are offered a unique opportunity to access research and teaching expertise, resources and training at PolyU and one of our partner institutions through joint supervision. On 9 and 10 November 2023, two admission talks were organised exclusively for students from our partner institutions. Over 870 participants attended to explore research postgraduate studies of PolyU.Dual PhD Degree Programmes The Dual PhD Degree Programmes offer a holistic research postgraduate education in partnership with nearly 20 prestigious universities, including Queensland University of Technology, University of Technology Sydney, Zhejiang University, Nanjing University, Tongji University, Harbin Institute of Technology, and other academic institutions. Successful graduates will receive two award parchments each to be issued by PolyU and the partner institution.Collaborative PhD Training Programmes The Programmes cover partnerships with key research laboratories and emerging universities, including Eastern Institute for Technology, Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory. Successful graduates will receive a PhD degree from PolyU and a completion certificate from the partner institution.We encourage interested applicants to explore PolyU's collaborative PhD programmes with attractive admission scholarships and utilise this unique research and educational experience. Application Procedures and Videos: https://polyu.hk/VweIa

PolyU Graduate School Outstanding Research Postgraduate Alumni Award Presentation Ceremony

The PolyU Graduate School Outstanding Research Postgraduate Alumni Award Presentation Ceremony took place on 21 November, honouring three exceptional research postgraduate (RPg) alumni for their significant accomplishments. The ceremony recognised Professor Lu Weisheng Wilson and Dr Poon Chi-kin Lawrence with the Outstanding Research Postgraduate Alumni Award, while Dr Wang Lei Leo received the Outstanding Early Career Research Postgraduate Alumni Award. The PolyU Central Management Team, together with PolyU staff, students, alumni, and esteemed guests, gathered to witness this momentous presentation ceremony. The event also provided a platform for thought-provoking exchanges and valuable networking opportunities. Hailing from diverse backgrounds in academia, research, and innovation, the awardees showcased remarkable achievements in their career trajectories. The ceremony commenced with Professor Jiannong Cao, Dean of Graduate School, who emphasised the importance of fostering a strong RPg alumni community. Professor Jin-Guang Teng, President of PolyU, underscored the university's commitment to RPg education and its significant research performance and societal contributions. The award presentation was a highlight of the event, as each awardee shared invaluable insights gained from their research studies. Expressing profound gratitude to their alma mater, supervisors, family members, and supporters, they were each presented with a trophy by President Teng. In closing remarks, Professor Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation), extended heartfelt congratulations to all the awardees for their well-deserved recognition and inspiring contributions. He stressed that they serve as shining examples of the university motto, "To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind." Learn about the outstanding RPg alumni: https://polyu.hk/dsZVT