News

e-Bulletin Issue 183

Chinese New Year Greetings from the Dean of Faculty

Dear Colleagues, Students, and Friends of FCE As we gallop into 2026, I extend my heartfelt wishes for a joyful, healthy, and prosperous Chinese New Year to you and your families! May this year bring you the energy, courage, and determination of the horse, inspiring you to seize new growth opportunities and embrace changes with confidence and optimism. The past year has seen our Faculty continue to strengthen our education and research capabilities. We launched the new Bachelor’s Degree Scheme in Construction and Environment, offering more flexible educational pathways, and introduced the new Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Architectural Studies, advancing architectural education and innovation. We also spearheaded the establishment of new research platforms, harnessing cross-disciplinary expertise to address climate resilience. To further unite the FCE community, we rolled out a new Tiered Recognition Programme for contributions to the FCE Fund and established the FCE Smart and Resilient Visionaries Network. The Year of the Horse is a time for bold actions and forward momentum. I am confident that we will continue to thrive by embracing new opportunities. I wish you a dynamic and successful Year of the Horse! Prof. Xiang-dong LI Dean, Faculty of Construction and Environment

FCE Magazine - Issue 25

International Symposium cum Inauguration of State Key Laboratory of Climate Resilience for Coastal Cities marks major step for resilient city development

Recognising the critical importance of climate resilience, FCE was pleased to serve as one of the supporting units of the inauguration of the State Key Laboratory of Climate Resilience for Coastal Cities (SKL-CRCC), jointly established by PolyU and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). The inauguration took place on 4 December 2025 at Hotel ICON. Accredited by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) in August 2025, SKL-CRCC represents a major recognition of PolyU’s leadership in climate resilience research and leverages the combined strengths of both universities. The event was officiated by Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President; Prof. Nancy IP, HKUST President; Prof. Wing-tak WONG, PolyU Deputy President and Provost; Prof. Qingrui YUE, Chairman of the Academic Committee of SKL-CRCC; and SKL-CRCC Directors, Prof. Xiang-dong LI (PolyU) and Prof. Charles NG (HKUST). A two-day international symposium was held concurrently to commemorate this milestone. Around 30 keynote speakers from leading universities across the globe shared insights on topics ranging from marine heatwaves and earthquakes to urban water management and artificial intelligence applications. The vibrant academic exchange underscored the laboratory’s commitment to fostering international cross-disciplinary innovation, positioning Hong Kong as a global hub for climate resilience research.

31st Congregation of FCE

Congratulations to the over 1,500 FCE graduates of 2025! This year, four separate FCE sessions of the 31st Congregation were held on 19 and 20 November 2025 at the Jockey Club Auditorium on the PolyU campus. Presiding over the ceremonies, Prof. Xiang-dong LI, Dean of Faculty, urged graduates to embrace vision, innovation, and resilience as they chart new horizons in this transformative era. He inspired the class of 2025 to embody the PolyU motto and lead lives of purpose and fulfilment, while nurturing a sense of responsibility towards Hong Kong, the Nation, and the world. Each of the four departments invited a guest of honour to share insights from the respective professional fields, express confidence in the capabilities of the FCE graduates, and convey positive expectations for their future contributions. These respected leaders offered words of encouragement, guidance, and wisdom, motivating graduates to strive for excellence and to make meaningful contributions after graduation.   Departmental session Guest of Honour Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering Mr Terence LAM, JP Principal Assistant Secretary (Works) 5 Development Bureau, the Government of the HKSAR Department of Building and Real Estate Ar. Prof. Donald CHOI, BBS, JP Managing Director Urban Renewal Authority Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Ir Ricky LAU, JP Permanent Secretary for Development (Works) Development Bureau, the Government of the HKSAR Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics Mr Yue Chun CHAN Head of Spatial Data Office Development Bureau, the Government of the HKSAR

FCE academics among world’s most influential in Building & Construction and Civil Engineering

According to the latest “Updated science-wide author databases of standardised citation indicators” compiled by Stanford University, PolyU leads the world in the number of Top 2% Most-cited Scientists in the sub-fields of Building and Construction, making FCE the institution with the largest representation of top scholars in the field. FCE also boasts the highest number of Top 2% Civil Engineering scholars in Hong Kong. Notably, three FCE academics rank among the global top ten in their respective fields: Prof. C.S. POON, Distinguished Research Professor of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE); Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President and Chair Professor of Structural Engineering of CEE; and Prof. Qihao WENG, Chair Professor of Geomatics and Artificial Intelligence of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI), while eight academics are ranked within the global top 50. The remarkable concentration of world-class scholars reflects FCE’s significant research impact and influence in teaching. 

State Key Laboratory of Climate Resilience for Coastal Cities to enhance resilience construction and disaster mitigation for coastal cities

The State Key Laboratory of Climate Resilience for Coastal Cities (SKL-CRCC), jointly established by PolyU as the leading party and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) as the collaborative party, was formally presented with its plaque by Mr Hejun YIN, Minister of Science and Technology, at the plaque presentation ceremony held on 25 August 2025. Co-directed by Prof. Xiang-dong LI, Dean of Faculty, and Prof. Charles NG, Vice-President for Institutional Advancement of HKUST, the SKL-CRCC aims to address the urgent need for foundational, strategic, and forward-looking research on climate change and urban resilience. Its mission is to support the effective implementation of national strategies and regional policies in response to the compound challenges posed by climate change. The SKL-CRCC will serve as a vital platform for collaboration with leading universities and research institutions both in Mainland China and internationally. It will bring together top-notch research talents from around the world, foster cross-regional and cross-disciplinary scientific and technological innovation, and contribute to positioning Hong Kong as a hub for global expertise. Through these efforts, the laboratory seeks to advance the sustainable development of Hong Kong, the Nation, and the world. Being accredited with the status of SKL by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) represents a major recognition of FCE’s research strengths and impact. The other PolyU SKL being accredited at the ceremony was the SKL of Ultra-precision Machining Technology. The plaque presentation ceremony was also attended by Mr Ji ZHOU, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr John LEE, Chief Executive of HKSAR, Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President, and members of the PolyU senior management team.

Bachelor’s Degree Scheme in Construction and Environment welcomes first cohort

The Bachelor’s Degree Scheme in Construction and Environment (BDSCE), newly launched in the 2025/26 academic year, is set to welcome its first cohort in September 2025. This innovative scheme is designed to provide students with a flexible educational pathway, empowering them to align their academic pursuits with their personal interests and career aspirations. To support students in making a smooth transition to university life, an engaging orientation session was held on 25 August 2025. This comprehensive session offered students an overview of the Common Year One curriculum, which lays a solid foundation across multiple disciplines in construction and environmental studies. The session also introduced students to the nine specialised Majors available for selection at the end of their first year, helping them make informed decisions about their academic paths. These Majors include: BEng (Hons) in Building Sciences and Engineering BSc (Hons) in Architectural Studies BSc (Hons) in Building Engineering and Management BSc (Hons) in Surveying BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering (Smart Mobility) with a Secondary Major in AIDA BEng (Hons) in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Development BSc (Hons) in Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics BSc (Hons) in Urban Informatics and Smart Cities During the orientation, students had the opportunity to connect with their peers and meet the BDSCE Team, including the Scheme Leader and their Academic Advisors, who are committed to supporting students throughout their academic journey. This interaction fostered a sense of community among the inaugural cohort and prepared them for an exciting and rewarding university experience.

CLOSED Call for Nominations: Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Faculty of Construction and Environment 2025

The Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award aims to give recognition to distinguished graduates of PolyU for great distinction in their respective areas, dedicated support to their alma mater, as well as impactful contributions to the wider community. Recognition is also given to outstanding young alumni. Nomination and Selection The Award is organised at three levels, i.e. Department level, Faculty/School level, and University level. Department Award The nomination and selection of the Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Department will be organised by the respective departments. Nominations have been open since June 2025. Please refer to the department webpages for details: Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering Department of Building and Real Estate Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics   Faculty Award Recipients of Department Awards and graduates who have completed programmes offered at the Faculty level are eligible for nomination to the Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Faculty of Construction and Environment. FCE is now calling for nominations for the Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Faculty of Construction and Environment 2025. The nomination period is from now to 23 September 2025 (Deadline: 23 September 2025 11:59PM HKT). Please submit the nomination* with all required supplementary documents to angela.hm.lee@polyu.edu.hk. Nominate a PolyU FCE Alumnus  *FCE only accepts direct nomination for graduates who have completed programmes offered at Faculty level.    Eligibility The nominated candidate must be a graduate who has successfully completed full-time or part-time programme offered by PolyU (or its forerunners: Hong Kong Government Trade School, Hong Kong Technical College, and Hong Kong Polytechnic) that led to an academic award accredited by the respective Institution. The proposer can be a PolyU graduate, Honorary Graduate, University Fellow, PolyU staff, PolyU Council and Court member and Advisory Committee member. There is no limit to the number of nominations to be submitted by each proposer. However, the proposer cannot be the candidate himself/herself.    Selection Criteria and Achievement Areas The selection for the Award considers two major criteria: (1) Support and Contribution to PolyU and (2) Achievement in respective area. Three specific achievement areas would be assessed, they include Professional Achievement, Entrepreneurial Achievement and Scholarly Achievement. Alumni who are aged at/under 40 in the award selection year would be eligible for the Outstanding Young Alumni Award. Achievement Areas Description Professional Achievement This category recognises alumni who have attained distinguished achievements, demonstrated exemplary leadership, and made a strong impact on their profession/industry/society. Entrepreneurial Achievement This category recognises alumni who have demonstrated outstanding innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as founded or advanced business or technology ventures with impact. Scholarly Achievement This category recognises alumni scholars who have made notable scholarly or research contributions in their disciplines, with proven track record and excellent reputation in the field. Selection Committee A Selection Committee, comprising both internal and external members, will be formed at respective levels to examine the nominations and assess candidates' qualifications and performance for the awards. Enquiry Ms Angela Lee Faculty of Construction and Environment Email: angela.hm.lee@polyu.edu.hk Tel: 3400 3406

FCE Build a Smart City Competition 2025 inspires next generation of innovators

The FCE Build a Smart City Competition 2025 is the flagship event organised by the Faculty to engage secondary students in Smart City concepts and encourage innovative solutions for transforming Hong Kong into a smarter, more sustainable city. Since registration opened in March 2025, the competition has attracted an enthusiastic response, with 175 students from 45 local secondary schools participating. The competition began with a two-day workshop held on 28 June and 5 July 2025. It opened with a ceremony, where Prof. Linda XIAO, Associate Dean (Partnership) of Faculty, welcomed participants and outlined the competition details. Prof. Charles WONG, Associate Dean (Teaching & Global Engagement) of Faculty, introduced FCE and its academic programmes, sparking contestants’ interest in pursuing their studies at FCE. The contestants were divided into four groups according to their assigned projects and delved into tailored activities designed by the respective FCE departments. Over the course of the two-day workshop, they explored the project concepts through lectures, laboratory sessions, site visits to relevant infrastructures and a government department, and guided discussions. This combination of theoretical knowledge and practical applications deepened their understanding of Smart City concepts and their real-world implications. The four projects, each reflecting the distinctive focus and strengths of the respective FCE departments, are as follows.  Project Name Department Recycling for a Sustainable North Dept of Building Environment and Energy Engineering A Smart Approach to Urban Renewal in To Kwa Wan: Old Communities in Transformation Dept of Building and Real Estate Shaping a Smart Environment through Carbon-Neutral Vision:Starting from Your Campus Dept of Civil and Environmental Engineering Spatial Data Challenge in Smart City Dept of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics After the workshop, the competition groups would have about seven weeks to develop their projects, applying the knowledge and skills acquired. All groups will present their projects to an adjudicating panel on 22 August 2025, in their preferred presentation format. Stay tuned for the creative ideas these talented young minds will showcase on the presentation day!