A UGC funded Teaching & Learning Project

 “Foster Innovation & Entrepreneurial Mind-sets in a MakerSpace Environment via Flipped Cornerstone Design Framework” The fundamental principle of engineering is to innovate, to find new ways of doing old things and new ways of doing new things. Hong Kong’s engineering education is at a very high standing worldwide. In general, students strengthen their science background, learn engineering principles and sharpen their analytical skills before conducting an integrated final year design project to graduate from the university. Research demonstrated that our students master analytical approach and deterministic process but find difficulties to perform well in the project and feel uncomfortable when dealing with ill-conditioned problems.

“Scientists investigate that which already is; Engineers create that which has never been.”

To foster engineering students’ design and innovation, also to echo the establishment of the Innovation and Technology Bureau which targets to develop Hong Kong into a knowledge-based economy and an innovation hub for technology, this project aims fundamentally on redefining traits of an innovation mind-set in the modern context, identify key development areas, technical skills sets and milestones to nurture innovative minds. There are four activities in the project:

  1. Researching “Innovativeness” in engineering education;
  2. Developing student-centered and student-operated MakerSpace to stimulate innovative ideas for entrepreneuriship;
  3. Developing “Flipped Laboratory (Flipped Lab)” with self-paced technical skills online training modules; and
  4. Implementing a cornerstone design course to first-year students to encourage innovative thinking.

Project Lead University:

  • The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Collaborating Universities:

  • The University of Hong Kong
  • The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
  • Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong”
  • The Open University of Hong Kong

“Get Your Hands Dirty” Flipped-Lab

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), as one of the collaborating universities, is going to adopt the flipped laboratory framework (flipped-lab) entitled “Get Your Hands Dirty” to develop the content and produce series of self-directed and self-paced online technical skills training modules to nurture innovative minds of the engineering students.

PolyU Project Team:


Latest News:

We are now inviting Engineering Departments to collaborate with our PolyU Project team to discuss essential technical skills engineering students should have while fostering their innovation and entrepreneurial mindsets. Also, we would like to work with educators closely in the design of the training modules and resources. Please contact our Project Associate Dr. Miki Lau at miki.lau@polyu.edu.hk for the arrangement of meeting time and venue.

More information >> Here