Media Releases

PolyU to roll out International Summer School 2023, offering students in-person experience of inspiring courses and cultural exchange activities

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is rolling out its International Summer School 2023 from July to August this year. Participants will be able to experience face-to-face summer classes, local tours and enrichment activities. The five-week programme comprises credit-bearing courses from PolyU’s globally renowned disciplines including hotel and tourism management and, for the first time, optometry and rehabilitation sciences, enabling students to experience quality education at PolyU, which is ranked among the world's top 100 institutions. The credit-bearing courses offer an array of intellectually stimulating subjects in three thematic areas, namely “Chinese Language, Culture and Society”, “Design, Innovation and Technology”, and “Business, Entrepreneurship and Global Leadership”. PolyU’s School of Optometry and Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, both well-recognised in their respective industries, will offer courses providing elementary knowledge of the two disciplines and their related professions for the first time this year. Furthermore, the School of Hotel and Tourism Management, ranking first in Asia in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022, will also offer a course in the history and culture of the wine industry complete with a wine appreciation class. To provide a memorable experience of the vibrant and unqiue culture of Hong Kong, the programme features a series of local tours and enrichment activities. In parallel, a Buddy Programme to help overseas students blend into local life and culture will be in place matching incoming participants with their PolyU peers, thus encouraging intercultural communication between PolyU students and the global community. Since its launch in 2016, PolyU’s International Summer School has received positive feedback from participants. CHEN Meihui, an incoming student from Mainland China who joined the programme last year applauded the learning experience and said, “The teaching style at PolyU was very creative and encouraging. Overall my summer school experience has been awesome, both study and social life.” Meanwhile, FAISAL Rameen, an international student at PolyU also remarked, “The programme was an excellent opportunity to experience cultural exchange.” The International Summer School 2023 is now open for undergraduate student applications from overseas, Mainland China and Taiwan until 31 March 2023. For details and sharing from past participants on the programme, please visit: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/summerschool/.   ***** END *****

Two PolyU Projects on Innovative Simulation Platforms for Driving Safety supported by Smart Traffic Fund

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has received support for two innovative projects on improving driving safety by the Smart Traffic Fund. The two projects aim to improve driving performance and safety through the use of an intelligent simulation platform and extended reality to facilitate drivers’ training and skills enhancement. Details of the two awarded projects are below: Intelligent Driving Training and Evaluation System for Container Trucks Led by Prof. Xiaowen FU, Associate Dean (External Engagement) of the Faculty of Engineering and Professor of Engineering Management in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at PolyU, this project aims to develop a simulation system using extended reality technology. The proposed system is also designed to provide training to trainee drivers of container trucks, which is comparable to the actual driving environment, together with an evidence-based driver performance evaluation system to facilitate the design of individualised training. Driving Style-based Adaptive Virtual Training Platform: Build Safe Human Driving Habits in Autonomous Driving Led by Dr Fan LI of the Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering at PolyU, this project aims to develop a virtual reality-based training platform. It is designed to improve driving habits in level 2 and level 3 autonomous driving, i.e. human-machine co-driving, with customised training for drivers with different driving styles. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, said, “We are striving to accelerate research for building a sustainable living environment. PolyU’s innovative research in traffic and transportation, which integrates interdisciplinary knowledge and cutting-edge technology for impactful applications, promotes smart mobility in Hong Kong to improve the community’s quality of life.” PolyU has long been committed to the research and application of vehicle-related innovation and technology, with a total of 11 projects currently receiving grants from the Smart Traffic Fund. More information on other approved projects is available at https://stf.hkpc.org.   *****END*****

Five PolyU projects supported by phase 2 of Mental Health Initiatives Funding Scheme to enhance psychosocial well-being of different community groups

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has received support for five projects under Phase 2 of the Mental Health Initiatives Funding Scheme (the Funding Scheme) coordinated by the Advisory Committee on Mental Health, developing innovative social services programmes to benefit the mental well-being of people in the community. The five awarded projects devise sustainable solutions to address the mental health issues of different people, with the application of new technology such as virtual reality and electronic platforms, covering the needs of various stakeholders including caregivers, secondary school students, adolescents with special educational needs (SEN), carers of AD/HD children, and persons with disabilities. The Funding Scheme is being implemented in two phases (i.e. Phase 1 and Phase 2). Phase 1 was launched in 2021. The purpose of the Funding Scheme is to fund projects that could help provide better support to those in need in the community and to raise public awareness on mental health. PolyU researchers are devoted to creating solutions for the betterment of society with the integration of academic, scientific and pragmatic expertise. The five awarded projects are being conducted by the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, with a project duration of 15 to 24 months. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, said, “PolyU has been working closely with the community to provide impactful and innovative solutions to societal challenges. The funding support received from the Funding Scheme demonstrates the strengths of PolyU’s scholars in transforming research and innovation into social applications for the benefit of society. The awarded projects deliver mental health, social and community support programmes for different communities.” Prof. David SHUM, Dean of the Faulty of Health and Social Sciences, said, “Mental health is an imperative issue that we cannot ignore. Under the impact of the pandemic in recent years, different groups in the community are faced with urgent needs for mental health support. The Faculty of Health and Social Sciences has been committed to mental health research over the years. The funding support combined with our strengths in scientific research and practice will bring impactful solutions for the benefit of various community groups.”   PolyU-led projects awarded under Phase 2 of the Mental Health Initiatives Funding Scheme Project Title Project Summary Principal Investigator Reducing Social Avoidance and Enhancing Prosocial Behaviour among Adolescents with Special Educational Needs The project aims to foster prosocial behaviour of adolescents with SEN in transition with the use of virtual reality technology. It will implement social anxiety intervention based on a cognitive-behavioural approach with a virtual coach acting as the therapist and develop a gamified prosocial VR intervention for adolescents with SEN. This VR-assisted social avoidance and prosocial behaviour intervention would benefit individuals and society by cultivating psychological and socially healthy young people. Prof. Sylvia CHEN Professor of Department of Applied Social Sciences, Associate Dean in the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences Healing Together – Building Positive School Mental Health in Post-COVID Hong Kong The project aims to promote mental health and its awareness for stakeholders of secondary schools including students, teachers, administrative staff and management. Healing spaces will be constructed in the partnering schools. The programme will adopt a train-the-trainer approach to train students to become mental health ambassadors for programme sustainability and student empowerment. Baptist Oi Kwan Social Services is the collaborative partner of this project. Dr Angel LAI Assistant Professor of Department of Applied Social Sciences Enhancing the Mental Health of Carers of Persons with Disabilities with Support Services Delivered by Trained Carer Support Ambassadors The project aims to support carers of persons with disabilities. It will implement a short-term certificate programme for frontline workers such as occupational therapy assistants, rehabilitation assistants, patient care assistants and welfare workers to become Carer Support Ambassadors who will deliver mental health support to carers. This innovative approach is designed to address the shortage of manpower in mental health services and the growing support needs for carers. Prof. Hector TSANG Professor and Head of Department of Rehabilitation Sciences Increasing Mental Health Literacy and Peer Support among Caregivers: An Electronic Painting and Peer Supportive (EPPS) Platform The project will develop an Electronic Painting and Peer Supportive (EPPS) Platform to provide mental health support for caregivers. It aims to enhance mental health literacy and peer support among caregivers. This electronic interactive platform motivates caregivers to share their paintings with others and seek help from families and professionals when they are stressful. Prof. Angela LEUNG Professor and Associate Head (Research) of School of Nursing Peer Support Virtual Reality-based Intervention for AD/HD Carers - Stress Relieving and Empathy Improving Programme A novel peer support virtual reality-based therapy will be developed for AD/HD carers to reduce their stress and improve empathy in getting along with their AD/HD children. The project aims to provide stress management for the carers to sustain healthy living conditions and relationships with AD/HD children. Dr Harry QIN Associate Professor of School of Nursing   *****END*****

PolyU and Jinjiang city to drive the development of joint research institute and commence research projects on industrial modernisation

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the city government of Jinjiang signed a framework agreement to drive the establishment of the PolyU-Jinjiang Research Institute with the aim to strengthen research collaboration among industry, academia and research organisations and foster development along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. PolyU’s Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT) will collaborate with the Jinjiang Science and Technology Bureau to carry out research projects on leveraging Hong Kong’s resources and advantages in innovation and technology in response to Jinjiang’s industrial modernisation needs. The Jinjiang Science and Technology Bureau will provide funding support for the research. It is expected that the research findings will promote research collaboration between Hong Kong and Jinjiang and facilitate Jinjiang’s industrial modernisation. The signing ceremony of the agreement was held today at the PolyU campus. Witnessed by Dr LAM Tai-fai, Council Chairman of PolyU and Mr WANG Mingyuan, Mayor of Jinjiang, the five-year cooperation agreement was signed by Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU and Mr HUANG Tiankai, Member of the Standing Committee of Jinjiang Communist Party Committee and Head of Jinjiang United Front Work Department. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Director of PReCIT, and Mr CAI Wensi, Director of the Jinjiang Municipal People’s Government General Office, signed an agreement on research projects. Dr Lam Tai-fai delivered a speech at the ceremony, saying, “The Central Government strongly emphasises and offers staunch support to the development of innovation and technology in Hong Kong, providing tremendous opportunities for collaboration among the government, industry, academia and research organisations. I am confident that PolyU and Jinjiang will leverage their complementary strengths and forge an effective collaborative platform for the government, industry, academia and researchers, promoting technology and knowledge exchange, especially in the areas of textiles, smart manufacturing, integrated circuits, and green technology. The partnership will also foster Jinjiang’s industrial modernisation by utilising Hong Kong and PolyU’s I&T resources.” Mayor Wang said, “Jinjiang is in the midst of industrial transformation and modernisation. PolyU's strengths in talent development and research can be deeply integrated with Jinjiang's industry power and market advantages. We hope to leverage PolyU's research capability and educational excellence to cultivate Jinjiang’s talents in business management, manufacturing and administration. We will also draw upon PolyU’s support in innovation and technology to aid traditional industries such as shoe production, clothing, textiles, and equipment manufacturing. Lastly, PolyU's expertise in innovation and new technologies will support Jinjiang to develop high-tech sectors such as the integrated circuit industry.” The two parties will explore the establishment of the PolyU-Jinjiang Research Institute, which will be planned and managed by PolyU, and Jinjiang city will provide venues, funding, subsidies on research projects and industry-research collaboration, as well as support for talent attraction measures. In addition, PolyU scholars and experts will visit Jinjiang for academic exchange, participate in expert panels for entrepreneurial teams, and attend major planning meetings. Jinjiang city will actively promote the establishment of laboratories for joint projects between enterprises and PolyU, and deepen cooperation in talent nurturing, innovation and entrepreneurship, technological innovation, knowledge transfer, and more. Mayor Wang was accompanied by representatives from the Jinjiang government and executives from companies specialising in textiles and clothing, sports shoes and apparel, food, new materials and household products. They visited PolyU’s Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems, Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing, and Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things to learn about the University’s achievements and developments in interdisciplinary research and industry-academia-research collaboration.   *****END*****

PolyU and EdUHK collaborate to establish Hong Kong’s first Research Centre for Immersive Learning and Metaverse in Education

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Centre for Immersive Learning and Metaverse in Education (CILME). This collaboration between PolyU and EdUHK aims to develop a collaborative infrastructure for conducting interdisciplinary research to impact education. CILME will also serve as a powerhouse in the study of technology-enhanced learning and teaching. The Centre will specifically focus on how immersive experiences, including those from virtual reality and the metaverse in general, can enhance students’ cognitive processing, attention, memory, brain function and ultimately learning outcomes. Combining the strengths and expertise of PolyU and EdUHK in cross-disciplinary research, learning sciences and pedagogical innovation, CILME will nurture researchers, incubate technology-based innovations in education, and facilitate knowledge transfer in teaching and curriculum design at both institutions and for the benefit of the community at large. Prof. Ping LI, CILME Co-Director, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Sin Wai Kin Professor in Humanities and Technology at PolyU said, “In recent years, the education sector has actively used digital technologies including virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and metaverse technologies to bring real-world experiences to learners and improve learning effectiveness. With CILME, researchers and educators will work closely together to develop technological applications and solutions for immersive and active learning. At PolyU, we have sophisticated interdisciplinary research capabilities, a centralised teaching facility in VR/AR, and an extensive connection with industry. Capitalising on our strengths and the collaboration with EdUHK, we are looking to push new frontiers in education and technology to benefit learners, educators and society.” Prof. Chetwyn CHAN Che-hin, CILME Co-Director, Vice President (Research and Development) and Peter T. C. Lee Professor in Psychology at EdUHK said, “Educational technology has been the University’s strategic area of development. At EdUHK we have a strong body of researchers and educators who specialise in learning sciences and pedagogical innovation in the school sector. They are at the forefront of the development of learning theories and the application of innovative technology-based pedagogies in kindergartens, primary schools and secondary schools. This collaboration synergises EdUHK’s educational technology expertise with PolyU’s strengths in interdisciplinary research. Together, our areas of expertise can make this technology instructive, relevant and interactive for learners, while being adaptable, effective and user-friendly for teachers.” Under this agreement, the two universities will conduct both basic and applied research in metaverse and immersive technologies, develop practical guidelines to shape the educational values of these technologies for students, and promote immersive learning among teachers and educators through regular workshops, seminars and conferences.   *****END*****

PolyU excels in the Times Higher Education World’s Most International Universities 2023, placing sixth globally

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has attained an encouraging result in the newly released Times Higher Education (THE) World’s Most International Universities 2023, ranking sixth globally. It is the first time for PolyU to be ranked and ranked among the global top 10. PolyU achieved strong results in various assessment areas in the rankings of THE World’s Most International Universities 2023. The performance indicators are based on a university’s proportion of international students, international staff and journal publications involving international co-author as well as its international reputation. Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU, said, “We are pleased with the University’s impressive performance in the rankings of THE World’s Most International Universities 2023, which recognises the University’s internationalization endeavours in nurturing talents and conducting cutting-edge research. PolyU aspires to be an innovative world-class university with a strong sense of social responsibility and will continue to strengthen ties and cooperation with partners around the world, with the goal of playing a more important role in the global higher education landscape.” With a multicultural learning, teaching and research environment, PolyU has over 280 overseas partner institutions spanning 40 countries and regions. There are over 445 academic collaboration agreements with overseas institutions, including student exchange initiatives and research collaboration. Furthermore, to cultivate responsible global citizens, PolyU has incorporated Service-Learning into its undergraduate mandatory curriculum to enrich students’ learning experience. Students have contributed community service to countries like Cambodia, Rwanda and beyond. For more information on the rankings of THE World’s Most International Universities 2023, please visit https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/best-universities/most-international-universities-world.   *****END*****

PolyU partners with Cybaverse to set up Hong Kong’s first research laboratory on law and Web3

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the Cybaverse Academy Limited (Cybaverse Academy) signed a Memorandum of Establishment to jointly set up the “PolyU and Cybaverse Academy Joint Lab on Law and Web3” (Joint Lab). With the vibrant development of Web3 and blockchain technologies, governments around the world are now acting to provide a facilitating regulatory environment. This Joint Lab will be the first research lab in Hong Kong to focus on the intersection of law and Web3, encompassing the research and development of technological solutions and the exploration of relevant legal and industry standards. PolyU and Cybaverse Academy will collaborate to promote the safety, security and protection of privacy in the areas of Web3 and blockchain. The Joint Lab aims to provide regulators and other stakeholders with essential tools to enhance protection for the investment community and the general public. PolyU is well-recognised for its expertise in blockchain technology by CoinDesk, ranking in the top position in the “Best Universities for Blockchain 2022” list. Leveraging the University’s excellence in blockchain technology education and research, the Research Centre for Blockchain Technology of PolyU, which is the first research centre in Hong Kong to cover research in full-stack blockchain technology, will provide a training programme related to Web3. The Centre also draws expertise from various fields including computer science, finance, logistics and maritime studies, and industrial and systems engineering to carry out interdisciplinary research in blockchain. Witnessed by Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU; Prof. Wing-tak WONG, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU; Mr Johnny MOK SC, Co-founder of Cybaverse Academy; and Dr Winnie TANG, Co-Founder of Cybaverse Academy, the Memorandum of Establishment was signed on 17 January by Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, and Mr Paul LI, Managing Director of Cybaverse Academy. Prof. Allen AU Man-ho, Professor of PolyU’s Department of Computing, will be the Director of the Joint Lab. Dr Daniel LUO Xiapu, Associate Professor of PolyU’s Department of Computing, and Mr Li from Cybaverse will be the Co-Directors of the Joint Lab. Prof. Jin-Guang Teng said, “PolyU is pleased to collaborate with Cybaverse Academy in the Web3 industry. Combining PolyU’s strength in blockchain technology education and research and Cybaverse Academy’s experience in R&D and Web3 development, I believe this synergy of academia and industry will generate a big positive impact in the near future. PolyU’s leading blockchain research is going to be translated into practical use to deliver innovative solutions for the Web3 industry and will benefit the development of Hong Kong into a virtual asset hub.” Mr Paul Li said, “We are excited to partner with PolyU to explore the frontiers of law and Web3. By combining world-class research capabilities and industrial experience, the Joint Lab will provide a solid foundation for a better Web3 ecosystem.”   *****END*****

PolyU research discovers nanoscale ferroelectric new materials exhibiting potential for making computer memory with low cost and low energy consumption

Materials with switchable electrical properties are in demand for memory applications – like thumb drives. New research from a team led by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) achieves a sought-after type of electrical behaviour in nano-sized materials. Electronics manufacturers are expected to show a keen interest, as the valuable ferroelectric characteristics can be reproduced at large scales with unprecedented ease. A one-atom-thick layer of any substance – most famously graphene, made of atomically thin carbon – can have dramatically different properties from the bulk material. Stacking such layers on top of each other may give rise to new properties which do not exist in their individual layer. The PolyU research team, led by Prof. Daniel LAU, Chair Professor of Nanomaterials and Head of Department of Applied Physics of PolyU, studied two-layer stacks of molybdenum disulphide and tungsten disulphide (MoS2 and WS2). Excitingly, these materials showed not just piezoelectric but also ferroelectric effects. Ferroelectric materials have an intrinsic electrical polarisation that can be switched by simply applying a current. The ability to “toggle” between two states gives them wide-ranging applications in sensors, capacitors and data storage. The electronics industry is particularly interested in developing ultra-thin devices, based on ferroelectrics that retain their properties even when produced at the nanometre scale. This has proven a major hurdle until now. In contrast to single-molecule layers of pure MoS2 or WS2, the nano-scale stacking of both compounds gave rise to a strong ferroelectric response. The team produced different versions of the bilayers by tuning the stacking angle – similar to how one clockface might be overlain on another, with the two 12-o’-clocks either aligned or displaced. Both types of stacked bilayers displayed remarkably strong piezoelectricity as well as ferroelectricity. To verify the switchable polarisation of MoS2/WS2, the researchers pulled off an impressive feat of “domain writing”. Within a triangular slice of the thin material, they established a square-in-a-square pattern that could be seen under an atomic microscope. The smaller inner square, approximately one micron across, was clearly distinct from the larger outer square due to the opposite voltages of the two poled areas. This is not the first report of exotic electrical behaviour in hetero-structured bilayers, in which the two layers are made of different chemicals. Usually, though, piezo- and ferroelectricity depend on subtle geometric details of such materials. This can make them difficult to manufacture consistently and at industrial scale. In particular, conventional hetero-bilayers tend to have moiré patterns (named after a type of fine fabric), due to the stacking of two layers with similar but not quite identical crystal structures. The moiré effect is fascinating, but the researchers ruled it out as an explanation of the piezo- and ferroelectricity of MoS2/WS2. Despite the slight difference between the inter-atom distances in the two layers, they accommodated one another to produce perfectly aligned stacking, without the tiny twists or discrepancies required for moiré interference. The PolyU team’s process involved simply “baking” MoS2 and WS2 together and letting the layers stack spontaneously. Indeed, the perfect stacking of two layers with identical crystal structures but different atom types is key to the electrical properties. According to physics, ferroelectricity can only arise in such materials if they have a certain symmetry, or rather lack of it. Compared with two identical layers, a stack of MoS2 on WS2 has no centre of symmetry (formally, inversion centre) and also lacks several other symmetric transformations. This symmetry-breaking allows the material to show ferro- and piezoelectricity when one layer slides slightly relative to the other. Prof. Daniel Lau said, “High-tech industries, such as the computer memory sector, will benefit from this new class of nano-scale ferroelectrics. When manufacture is scaled up, the low cost, low energy demand and faithful reproducibility of these atomically thin bilayers promises to advance the frontier of modern electronics.” The PolyU research was in collaboration with researchers from the Renmin University of China, University of Cambridge, and Nanjing University. The study was published on Science.   *****END*****

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University establishes the Research Centre for Chinese History and Culture and signs MoU with the Institute of Humanities, Tsinghua University

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) held the Opening Ceremony of the Research Centre for Chinese History and Culture (the Research Centre) today and signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Institute of Humanities of Tsinghua University.

Five PolyU projects awarded Research Impact Fund to deliver innovations for a sustainable community

Five research projects led by scholars at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have been awarded the Research Impact Fund (RIF) 2022/23 by the Research Grants Council, with a total grant value of HK$27.55 million. PolyU also topped local universities in terms of the number of funded projects. The RIF encourages academics to harness the potential of their research to deliver benefits to the wider community, spurring impactful and translational research projects. It also promotes collaboration between academia and government departments, the business sector, industry and research institutes. The RIF grants successful projects with funding of up to HK$10 million per project for a three to five-year period. In total, 13 projects were supported by the RIF in the 2022/23 exercise. Sustainability is an essential focus for translational research. The five PolyU awarded projects deliver impactful solutions to address the needs for a sustainable community. They cover research areas spanning from medical innovation, smart buildings and construction, green technology, and materials science to advanced manufacturing. In particular, the PolyU study on deconstruction and reuse technologies for steel and composite structures has been awarded HK$9.75 million for a five-year duration, which is the highest funded amount under the RIF 2022/23. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, said, “These funding achievements are highly encouraging, affirming PolyU’s research excellence in a wide range of scientific, engineering and human health areas, in which the University delivers impactful solutions for sustainable development. The awarded research teams demonstrate PolyU’s strengths in converting academic research into real-world applications, which is crucial for supporting the innovation and technology ecosystem in Hong Kong.” Appendix: PolyU-led projects awarded Research Impact Fund 2022/23 *****END*****