PolyU Junior Researcher Mentoring Programme 2026 concludes, nurturing future research talent through innovative thinking
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is committed to fostering the holistic development of young people, and nurturing socially responsible professionals and leaders with a strong sense of national pride and a global perspective. This year, PolyU held the sixth “Junior Researcher Mentoring Programme” (JRMP), attracting 210 high school students from 79 local and international schools. Under the expert guidance of PolyU scholars, students undertook a series of impactful research projects, deepening their research interests and spirit of exploration. The Programme closing ceremony was held today (20 August), with over 200 school principals, teachers, students and guests from various sectors attending to witness the students’ remarkable research achievements and learning journey.
This year’s programme featured 35 research projects spanning diverse disciplines, including industrial and systems engineering, health technology and informatics, social sciences, biomedicine, design, as well as fashion and textiles. Over the programme period, students conducted individual or group research, engaging in research design, data collection, literature review and results reporting, thereby acquiring essential specialist knowledge and research skills. Beyond gaining invaluable practical research experience, participants visited PolyU laboratories and teaching and research facilities. This gave them first-hand experience of the University’s vibrant research atmosphere and a deeper understanding of PolyU’s diverse undergraduate programmes, laying a solid foundation for their future academic pursuits.
Prof. Wing-tak WONG, PolyU Deputy President and Provost, said, “The JRMP is designed to empower outstanding secondary school students by pairing them with world-class PolyU scholars for hands-on, university-level research. I hope this journey has helped students develop a strong understanding of research methodologies, thereby enhancing their analytical skills, leadership potential and confidence to pursue excellence on their future academic and professional pathways. I look forward to welcoming them back to PolyU, either as our students or as researchers, and witnessing them drive impactful innovation for our future.”
Under the guidance of Prof. Carmen LEE, Associate Professor of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, and her team, four students from Yew Chung International School of Hong Kong, ESF Island School, ESF West Island School and Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong conducted research titled “Application of Mobile Robotics with Artificial Intelligence Image Processing”. They successfully developed a functional handwriting robot that integrates artificial intelligence (AI) vision, real-time image processing and high-precision mechanical motion control. The students shared that, “This invaluable experience has benefited us greatly. With the meticulous guidance of our mentors, we have mastered image processing and AI model training, successfully integrating software and hardware to achieve robotic control. This project has not only enhanced our research capabilities and logical thinking, but also deepened our passion for AI and engineering, reinforcing our determination to pursue relevant disciplines at university.”
Meanwhile, two students from Harrow International School Hong Kong and The Independent Schools Foundation Academy completed a research project titled “A ‘One Health’ Approach to Investigating Drug-Resistant Yeast on Fruit Epicarps Across Hong Kong’s Wet Markets and Supermarkets”, under the guidance of Dr Franklin CHOW, Research Assistant Professor of the Department of Health Technology and Informatics, and his team. They systematically collected and tested samples of various fruits available in Hong Kong, providing crucial baseline data regarding fruit as an environmental host for drug-resistant pathogenic yeasts. The students said, “The Programme provided us with access to a university laboratory and allowed us to experience the complete research workflow from sample collection to fungal identification. We gained a profound understanding of the challenges inherent in scientific research and the importance of teamwork. This practical experience provided a valuable foundation for our future academic and career development, and we hope to pursue further studies at university to continue exploring the world of research.”
PolyU launched the JRMP in 2021 to encourage high school students to explore broader research fields and disciplinary knowledge, igniting their passion for research and nurturing a new generation of innovation and technology talent for Hong Kong. Since its inception, the Programme has attracted nearly 900 secondary school students from local and international schools, who have successfully completed 213 research projects. Looking ahead, PolyU will continue to deepen its collaboration with the secondary education sector and invite more schools and students to participate in the Programme. Applications for the next cohort are expected to open early next year, with the Programme running from April to August.
For further details about the Programme, please visit the PolyU Junior Researcher Mentoring Programme website.
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