Awards and Achievements (Teaching)

BRE Scholar and Students Receiving the ‘Built Environment Project and Asset Management Highly Commended Paper Award’ in the 9th World Construction Symposium 2021

Please join us in congratulating Ms Anushika Ekanayake (PhD student of BRE), Prof. Geoffrey Shen (Chair Professor of BRE), Prof. Mohan Kumaraswamy (Honorary Professor of the University of Hong Kong) and Dr Jin Xue (Post-Doctoral Fellow of BRE) on receiving the ‘Built Environment Project and Asset Management Highly Commended Paper Award’ in the 9th World Construction Symposium 2021! Entitled ‘Dynamic Supply Chain Capability Analysis of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Construction: A Topic Modeling Approach’, the heart of the winning paper is to employ the topic over time modeling as a novel text mining method to dynamically analyze the supply chain capabilities associated with the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Construction by unveiling academia, an effective and novel mechanism to extract dynamic empirical clues from a large unstructured set of documents in construction supply chain capability analysis research. A big clap for the team’s endeavour!

Surveying Students got the Merit Prize in the 7th Hong Kong University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition

Well done to Anson Ho Ho Nam and Peter Wong Kwong Sau, our Surveying students!  Anson and Peter got the merit prize in the Innovation Category (Research Thesis & Invention) of the 7th Hong Kong University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition. With their passion for minimizing accidents and uplifting construction workers’ safety in the construction industry, Anson and Peter explored and proposed the combination of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) for construction workers’ training in their winning project.  This innovative change will bring construction workers a wholly immersive experience during their training.  The ultimate goal is to ensure that construction workers can easily pick up the necessary techniques and fully comprehend the importance of safety before their work in an actual construction site.    Anson says, “I would like to express my sincere gratitude for Dr Patrick Fong’s support, guidance and advice on our project. Without his endorsement and guidance, it would not have been possible for me and Peter to enter the final stage of the competition and have a merit award. Also, I would like to thank the BRE department and the Institute for Entrepreneurship, PolyU, for providing us with this precious opportunity.” Peter also shares, “I am extremely honoured to receive the merit award of the competition.  I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the BRE Department which provided a lot of supports for our team. Also, I would like to make a special mention, Dr Patrick Fong, our supervisor in the competition. He gave us lots of encouragement. I am lucky to have Dr. Patrick Fong in my university life.” Keep up the good work!

Awardees of HKIS Sponsorship Scheme for Textbook Writing (2020)

Proposed Book Title: Sustainability Practices and BIM in the Built Environment – Trends, Adoption and Green Building Assessment To promote academic advancement, the Board of Education of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS) will allocate funding via their Sponsoring Scheme for Textbook Writing every year to scholars for producing reference textbooks more relevant to the local practice for the surveying industry and students. Dr Daniel Chan, together with his recent PhD graduate student (Dr Timothy Olawumi from Nigeria), submitted a book writing proposal to HKIS on 26 June 2020 which was successfully funded with HKD 60,000 to produce a scholarly textbook for publication in two years’ time between February 2021 and January 2023. The book will present the underlying principles of building sustainability assessment, discuss the various existing green building rating systems, and highlight some available tools which can assist in assessing the ‘greenness’ of building projects. More so, some real-life case studies of green building projects across regions will be illustrated and examined. Since the book will draw on a combination of research outcomes from academia and practical case studies from the construction industry, a wide spectrum of readers will find it useful and informative, from government authorities, through industrial practitioners to undergraduate students. Dr Daniel W.M. Chan, BEng(Hons), PhD, MAPM, MHKICM, MASCE, MHKIPM, MAIPM, MCABE, MAIB, is an Associate Professor in Construction Project Management, the Chairman of Departmental Undergraduate Programme / Scheme Committee and the Deputy Programme Director for the professional Doctor of International Real Estate and Construction (DIREC) at BRE of PolyU. He is a Project Manager, Chartered Building Engineer and Registered Construction Manager by profession. He has co-authored 2 scholarly textbooks, 3 book chapters, 128 top-tiered journal articles, 126 refereed conference papers, together with another 10 journal articles accepted for publication up to April 2021. Dr Timothy O. Olawumi, BTech(Hons), PhD, MRICS, MHKGBC, AHKIPM, is a Postdoctoral Fellow in Construction Project Management at the Chinese National Engineering Research Centre for Steel Construction (Hong Kong Branch) based in BRE of PolyU. He completed his full-time PhD research study in the interdisciplinary areas of BIM, Sustainability and Construction Management in August 2020. He has published 28 research papers in top-tiered journals, 1 book chapter and 3 refereed conference papers so far. He was a Gold Award recipient of the Chartered Institute of Building (Hong Kong) Outstanding Paper Awards 2018 and a Merit Award recipient of the Australian Institute of Building (Hong Kong Chapter) Professional Excellence in Building Awards (AIB(HK)-PEA) 2019, among several other research awards and recognitions.

Maggie Ng, Surveying Student Receiving the Awards in PolyU Outstanding Student Awards Presentation Ceremony

Well done to Maggie Ng Tsin Tung, our Surveying student who received the ‘Outstanding Student Award of the Faculty of Construction and Environment’ and the ‘Outstanding Student Award of the Department of Building and Real Estate’! Following the welcoming remarks, Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, our President, presented the Awards to Maggie and the other top students in the Outstanding Student Awards Presentation Ceremony on 12 March 2021. Maggie, Keep up the good work! The objective of PolyU Outstanding Student Awards is to recognise full-time final-year students who excel in both academic and non-academic pursuits during their studies.   More about Maggie Click here for video

Outstanding Student of The Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE) and The Department of Building and Real Estate (BRE) - Maggie Ng, Surveying Student

We shine because of our students’ best endeavours and achievements!  Join us in congratulating Surveying student, Maggie Ng Tsin Tung on receiving the ‘Outstanding Student Award of the Faculty of Construction and Environment’ and the ‘Outstanding Student Award of the Department of Building and Real Estate’!   Maggie is very honoured to be awarded the outstanding student of the Faculty and the Department. The Awards are not only in recognition of her efforts in study, community services and global engagement, but as encouragement also for her future development.   Maggie states, “The Awards strengthen my aspiration in becoming a professional and dedicating myself to society in the future.  I sincerely thank the Department for all the opportunities it provided, inspiring and shaping me to become a shining student.”  Maggie’s success in obtaining the Awards is attributable to her active participation in a series of extra-curricular activities, e.g. YMCA Volunteer Service, Global Youth Leadership Summit, PolyU Student Ambassador Scheme and her many other well-deserved recognitions, including the Reaching Out Award, Dean’s Honours and GSAP Outreaching Award, during her studies.    The objective of the PolyU Outstanding Student Awards is to recognise full-time final-year students who excel in both academic and non-academic pursuits during their studies. This year’s Outstanding Student Awards Presentation Ceremony is tentatively scheduled for March 2021.

Surveying Student’s Passion : Key To Success in the HKIS Competition

Building Surveying Matters!  The Championship goes to our year-two surveying student, Ada Lo Wing Yan in the ‘Maintenance and Appreciation of Historical Buildings Creativity Competition – Tiny Model (Public Category)’, organized by the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors.  Ada’s passion for building surveying is the key to her success in this Competition. Ada’s winning model ‘Rejuvenation’ is a miniature of the Grade 1 historical building ‘Lui Seng Chun 雷生春’ built on a 1:200 scale. It successfully shows the unique architectural features along with internal and external structures of this historical building before and after its revitalisation. “Thanks to the Department of Building and Real Estate for inspiring and building me up to participate in this Competition. Joining this Competition has definitely enhanced my awareness of heritage conservation and deepened my understanding of the role of surveyors. Through conservation and timely maintenance, historical buildings are given a new lease of life to demonstrate their aesthetic and historical values for the public to explore. Hong Kong’s heritage is undoubtedly a valuable asset that bears witness to the development of Hong Kong,” says Ada. Keep up the good work, Ada. Special thanks to HKIS for sharing the Award Ceremony’s picture.   More about our Surveying Programme    

Surveying Students Receiving HKIS Quantity Surveying Division Scholarship

In recognition of outstanding student performances, the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS) annually awards its QS scholarships to quantity surveying students graduating from bachelor, associate degree and higher diploma programmes. This year, the scholarships were bestowed upon four of our BRE surveying students. Congratulations!   On 28 October, the 2020 HKIS Quantity Surveying Division Scholarship Presentation Ceremony was held. With great applause and delight, the Presentation Ceremony was a success. There was a big turnout: including Sr Winnie Shiu (HKIS President), Sr Paul Wong (Vice-President and Past QSD Chairman), Sr Thomas Ho (Past President and Past QSD Chairman), sponsors and winning students. On behalf of BRE, Dr Patrick Fong, Programme Leader of the BSc (Hons) Surveying Programme and Mr. Kong Wai Kei, Programme Leader of the Higher Diploma in Building Technology and Management (Surveying) Programme extended warmest congratulations to our four winning students during the Ceremony. Their achievements have surely spurred the students to aim high and even further realise their potential in the future.    

Martin Yiu, Fresh BEM GraduateReceiving CIOB (HK) Outstanding Student Awards 2019/2020

Please join us in congratulating Martin Yiu Man Kit, our Building Engineering and Management (BEM) graduate,on receiving the CIOB (HK) Outstanding Student Awards 2019/2020! With a very long history, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) (HK) advocatesthe application of good project management practice as an inspiring management strategy which offers challenging opportunities to ambitious construction management professionals. In addition, since the CIOB (HK) launched itsOutstanding Student Awardsyears ago,ithas been holding the Awardsannually with the aim ofpromoting excellence in construction project management.Nominationsfrom relevant universities and institutesare welcome. In July 2020, following the nomination from Prof. Albert Chan, Head of BRE, the CIOB (HK) underwent anexamination of Martin’s final dissertationunder a range of strictcriteria. Martin’s outstanding workpertinent to construction project management is an indispensable attributefor thesuccess in the Awards. Martin, this year’s fresh graduate,says, “I am veryhappy and honored to obtain the Outstanding Student Awards from the CIOB(HK). This accoladeis not only recognition for my endeavor in study, but also an encouragement for me to keep working hard. I will seek self-improvement and be a better self in future. Thanks again for the affirmation and selecting me as one of the Awardees!”Martin, Keep up the good work!

Maxwell Unfolding a New Adventure at Aston University

Congratulations to our PhD graduate, Maxwell on his new appointment as lecturer at Aston University in UK in July 2020!   “I am extremely grateful to announce that I have officially accepted a full-time tenure-track faculty position as a Lecturer in Construction and QS in the School of Engineering and Applied Science at Aston University, Birmingham, UK. I’m thankful to everyone who made this journey a success and excited for the next phase of mycareer.”says Maxwell.   Dr. Maxwell F. Antwi-Afari attained both his BSc in Construction Technology and Management (First Class Honours) and MPhil in Building Technology from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi-Ghanain 2012and 2015, respectively.Through a Postgraduate Studentship Scholarship, Maxwell obtained his PhDin Construction Information Technology at ourDepartment (BRE) in 2019.   After his PhD, Maxwell worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at BRE. He has published more than 10 SCI journal papers already and participated in the writing of competitive research grants. His stunning efforts have contributed to well-deserved accolades, including the Outstanding Student Project Award for the 2018/2019 academic year by the Hong Kong Ergonomics Society (HKES) in May 2019, the Grand Winner of the Occupational Safety and Health Best Project Scholarship for the 2017/2018 academic year organized by the statutory Occupational Safety and Health Council, Hong Kong in January 2019, the Commendation Award by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) (Hong Kong) for the Outstanding Paper Award in September 2018, amongst others.

BRE Ph.D. Graduate, Shell Receiving RGC Postdoctoral Fellowship

PeopleIt is great that Dr Xiao Li, our Ph.D. graduate of 2019, was appointed as a RGC Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) in April 2020. The scheme aims to incentivise young researchers to build up a career in research and development (R&D) in Hong Kong, providing support for 50 awardees this year. HKU will also consider an additional top-up that brings it to a similar level of the HKU Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship (HKU-PPF), which aims at hosting the world’s most exceptional post-doctoral talents to undertake frontier research at HKU. Dr Li would like to give sincere thanks to his supervisor, Prof. Geoffrey Shen of BRE, for his continued guidance and support, in particular, the recommendation for this remarkable achievement.