Media Releases

PolyU to launch Faculty Seminar Series featuring Deans and Heads, providing secondary school students with essential information on higher education to facilitate their life planning

In addition to focusing on their studies, students are encouraged to take ownership of their career planning. With this in mind, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is launching the first Faculty Seminar Series this year, targeting students in Secondary 3 to Secondary 6, as well as their parents and teachers. More than 30 distinguished academics from different disciplines, including faculty Deans, department Heads and other PolyU faculty members, will be invited to share important information about admission to PolyU, via seven online seminars commencing 11 May. The speakers will also share with participants the rationale behind PolyU’ s new departmental scheme-based admission, as well as the components of the various curriculums. Students will be able to gain a broader perspective and so be better prepared to set their academic goals early, and eventually better equipped for their studies and career development.

PolyU promotes English Across the Curriculum to support undergraduate students’ English language learning using interactive mobile apps

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is committed to enhancing the student learning experience through the adoption of innovative and interactive learning and teaching pedagogies. Addressing the issue that English teaching at Hong Kong tertiary institutions tends to be generic in nature, PolyU has led an English Across the Curriculum (EAC) initiative which integrates English language and subject content, to develop a mobile app that offers discipline-specific English support to undergraduate students from different disciplines in the writing of the capstone project that is part of their graduation requirements. Spearheaded by PolyU, the EAC project is a joint-university initiative funded by the University Grants Committee. The project team also includes experienced and enthusiastic educators from City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, The Chinese University of Hong Kong and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (in alphabetical order). Adopting an EAC approach to teaching and learning, the EAC team has brought together English language teachers and discipline academics in the development of an innovative and interactive mobile app called “Capstone Ninja”. The app delivers customised and discipline-focused English learning materials specific to the needs of students from different disciplines to help them solve the challenges often encountered in preparing a capstone project. “Capstone Ninja” also features functions enabling students to self-manage their project development status and a text-chat function to connect students with their supervisors. The app with its chat feature offers remote learning opportunities that have proved to be particularly important and effective during the COVID pandemic. The EAC team has created 76 English learning modules for the mobile app, which have been accessed over 6,000 times by students and teaching staff from 21 departments across five local universities. An international EAC conference has also been organised in 2021 to promote an EAC approach to teaching and learning, attracting over 1,000 registrations from 48 countries. The “Capstone Ninja” mobile app won a Community Award in the 2020 Learning Technologist of the Year Awards organised by the Association for Learning Technology (UK) and was selected as a Finalist in the 2021 EdTech Cool Tool Awards from EdTech Digest. PolyU recognises the far-reaching impact of EAC, and will continue to create valuable learning experiences and provide ongoing support to the enhancement of students’ language learning. To watch videos of the Capstone Ninja mobile app, please visit https://polyu.me/3vOdkwe To learn more about English Across the Curriculum, please contact Dr Julia Chen, Director of Educational Development, Educational Development Centre at (852) 3400 3173 / julia.chen@polyu.edu.hk or Dr Grace Lim, Teaching Fellow, English Language Centre at 2766 7499/ grace.lim@polyu.edu.hk .   ***END***

PolyU supports startups to translate industry-recognised research excellence into societal impact; Grand Rise Technology wins environmental impact award from JUMPSTARTER

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) puts a strong emphasis on the societal impact of its educational, research and knowledge transfer endeavours and encourages the PolyU community to translate research excellence into real-world applications for the benefit of society by establishing startups. Not only do PolyU startups excel in different disciplines, but they also gain industry recognition with outstanding performance in various competitions. Most recently, Grand Rise Technology Limited (Grand Rise Technology) entered the final round as one of the top 10 teams and won the Environmental Impact Award in the Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund/HSBC JUMPSTARTER 2022 Global Pitch Competition.

PolyU study finds south China has become more vulnerable to flash droughts that develop in a shorter time amid climate change

Hong Kong and other southern parts of China are known to be vulnerable to typhoons, rainstorms and floods. But a new study by researchers at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has shown a growing risk of flash droughts that has been overlooked; these droughts are also developing at a faster rate in the region and the rest of the world amid climate change. The PolyU study, published in Nature Communications, found that southeast China – the region spanning from the Yangtze River Delta to Hainan province – is at a higher risk of experiencing more rapid drying, with an increase in the proportion of flash droughts developed within five days by as much as 18.67 per cent during 2000 - 2020. Ordinary droughts usually take five to six months or an even longer time to develop to full strength. Dr WANG Shuo, Assistant Professor of PolyU’s Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, who led the research, said the nature of flash droughts, characterised by rapid onset in less than a month and a fast depletion of water availability, means there are less early warning indicators for impact preparation, potentially causing more severe impacts on agriculture and society than slowly evolving droughts. “Flash drought occurrence is often accompanied by above-average temperatures and a precipitation deficit, which may trigger compound extreme events such as the concurrence of flash drought and heat wave. Thus, flash droughts can pose even more serious threats to urbanised areas like Hong Kong due to the urban heat island effect,” he said. The in-depth analysis was devised to address the following scientific questions: how fast flash droughts evolve and why. In the study, the research team mapped the onset timescales of flash droughts globally and the causes of the rapid onset speed, providing valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders on the potential risks of flash droughts, and an impetus for innovators to advance flash drought forecasts and early warning systems. Based on different data sets that use satellite soil moisture measurements, the study found that although flash droughts are not becoming more frequent in most parts of the world, they are developing at a faster rate (i.e. in a shorter period of time). Out of all flash droughts that occurred in the past two decades, these data sets showed that there was about 33.64 - 46.18 per cent of flash droughts that developed within five days, representing an increase of 3.23 - 19.03 per cent during the period. Such adverse climate events tend to occur in humid and semi-humid regions, including Southeast Asia, East Asia, the Amazon Basin, eastern North America and southern South America. Atmospheric aridity – caused by high temperature, low precipitation and a high vapour pressure deficit (VPD) – is likely to trigger flash droughts, the study indicates. Dr Wang explained that “atmospheric aridity creates a perfect condition for the occurrence of flash droughts, and the joint influence of soil moisture depletion and atmospheric aridity further reinforces the rapid onset of flash droughts. In other words, low soil moisture combined with a high vapour pressure deficit accelerates the decline in soil moisture through land–atmosphere feedback loops. Thus, southeast China with strong land–atmosphere coupling is more vulnerable to flash droughts.” Compared with traditional, slowly developing droughts, flash droughts evolve with a relatively fast depletion of soil moisture that may cause an imbalance of ecosystems and agricultural systems. The flash drought in the summer of 2012 led to an estimated US$35.7 billion in losses of corn crops in the central United States. “Governments and the public should realise the increasing flash drought risk in addition to commonly known extreme weather events, and adapt to such emerging climate-induced natural disasters. It is crucial to improve traditional drought monitoring systems and indicators for capturing rapidly evolving flash droughts,” Dr Wang said. ***END***

PolyU admits 13 sports talents through SALSA and directly recruits students with special talents, with a new Residential College planned for their holistic development

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has admitted 13 elite student-athletes under the Student-Athlete Learning Support and Admission Scheme (SALSA) this year, and is excited to witness the students extend their spirit of giving their all in competition to their academic pursuits as they embark on their undergraduate studies in the 2022/23 academic year.

PolyU research finds stressful events impose negative effects on family members’ mental health; Enhancing family resilience can help improve the wellbeing of families

The Faculty of Health and Social Sciences of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has conducted a research to examine family relationships, family resilience and individual family members’ mental health under the effects of recent stressful events (e.g. the COVID-19 pandemic, financial hardship and changes in daily life). Research findings show that core family members (father, mother and a child) exhibited negative symptoms of mental wellbeing, including stress, anxiety, depression, hopelessness and lowered satisfaction with life. Worryingly, family relationships appear to have deteriorated and conflicts within the family intensified as a result. The research was a major initiative under the three-year project titled “Jockey Club Promoting Family Resilience Project”. Funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, PolyU led the project in collaboration with four community partners: Hong Kong Children and Youth Services, Hong Kong Family Welfare Society, The Salvation Army and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (in alphabetical order). The Chief Principal Investigators were Dr Janet LEUNG, Associate Professor of Applied Social Sciences, PolyU and Professor Daniel SHEK, Associate Vice President (Undergraduate Programme), Chair Professor of Applied Social Sciences, and Li and Fung Professor in Service Leadership Education, PolyU. The study examined the impact of recent stressful events on family relationship and individual mental health in Hong Kong, with the aim of enhancing public awareness of family resilience. The study surveyed 1,020 Hong Kong families from July to December 2021, including 818 (80.2%) intact families and 202 (19.8%) non-intact families. Fathers (with a mean age of 51.2), mothers (with a mean age of 46.6), and one of their children (with a mean age of 16.4 and studying in primary five to tertiary education) were interviewed. Key findings of the study are as follows: 11%-18% of the fathers, mothers and children developed psychological trauma symptoms due to the COVID-19 pandemic 13%-16% of the parents and 20%-25% of the children developed psychological trauma symptoms due to social events occurring in 2019 and 2020 About 40% of the parents faced severe financial pressure About 51% of the fathers, 40% of the mothers and 37% of the children did not receive emotional support from others when facing adversities About 57%-60% of the parents and children used self-criticism as a stress coping strategy About 25% of the fathers, 30% of the mothers and 30% of the children exhibited moderate to severe levels of negative emotions About 25% of the fathers, 28% of the mothers and 30% of the children indicated that there were more family conflicts Financial stress was generally higher among mothers than fathers Children were more traumatised by social events and the pandemic situation than their parents Children reported more negative emotions and sense of hopelessness than their parents The greater the psychological trauma that parents faced due to stressful events, changes in daily life and financial concerns, the worse the family resilience, marital satisfaction, parent-child relationship, life satisfaction and self-efficacy; while they expressed greater parental psychological control and parent-child conflict, more negative emotions and higher sense of hopelessness The greater the psychological trauma due to stressful events that the children faced, the worse the family resilience, life satisfaction and individual resilience; while they expressed more negative emotions and higher sense of hopelessness Recent stressful events contributed to anxiety, depression and sense of hopelessness among parents Psychological trauma caused by recent stressful events, contributed to greater anxiety and depression, and higher sense of hopelessness among children Psychological trauma in parents and children induced by stressful events would affect the negative emotions and mental health of other family members Family resilience could reduce the negative impacts of stressful events on mental health problems among family members. Dr Leung pointed out that family relationships and individual mental wellbeing among respondent families were generally affected by recent stressful events and the pandemic, but family resilience served as a buffer against these impacts. As such, it is important to promote family resilience in order for family members to be better able to support each other during adversities. Professor Shek suggested that families should cultivate an environment of mutual support, sharing and collaborative problem-solving. In addition, couples and family members should be open and frank with each other to strengthen communication. Under the “Jockey Club Promoting Family Resilience Project”, PolyU helps families build positive family beliefs, promote mutual support and enhance collaborative problem-solving skills to enhance family resilience. The project also assesses the effectiveness of the activities using evidence-based methods. PolyU will also launch the “Jockey Club Promoting Family Resilience Project” e-learning certificate course specially designed to promote family resilience. The target audiences are parents, social workers, teachers and members of the general public. The course is free of charge. For details, please call 3400 8513.   ***END***

PolyU develops portable nucleic acid testing device for COVID-19 to enable fast and accurate results on-site

Over the past two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has imposed a tremendous impact on society as well as on the daily lives of individuals. In the “post-pandemic” era, it is important to strengthen efforts in research and development of drug and vaccine, while also continuing to uphold high standards of personal and environmental hygiene management. Therefore, an accurate and convenient COVID-19 testing method could certainly help ease the stress of post-pandemic life.

PolyU's Department of Applied Social Sciences launches an online platform to encourage continuous learning in the midst of the pandemic

To encourage continuous learning during the fight against COVID-19, the Department of Applied Social Sciences of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has set up the One Stop Shop (OSS), an online platform for information sharing in the era of pandemic. OSS is a co-created and co-owned information platform that marks the latest joint endeavour of departmental staff, students and alumni, in collaboration with various social welfare organisations and professional associations. A series of professional talks, workshops and patient sharing sessions have been arranged via the platform since the end of March. Other services offered by OSS are: online workshops by professional facilitators (with topics including play therapy, expressive arts therapy, healing for wellness and community arts); and a "Learn from Home" video series leveraging multimedia to navigate topics related to the pandemic, which comprises short films produced by the faculty of the Department that focus on areas that include Sociology, Social Work, Social Policy, Psychology and Ageing Studies. Staff, students and alumni who have recovered from COVID-19 are also invited to share their experiences of recovery and emotional transformation. The Department has furthermore joined hands with three internationally renowned universities: the University of Amsterdam (Netherlands), Durham University (UK) and The University of Toronto (Canada) to organise an online professional seminar series titled "Riding Out the Pandemic" to help people cope with anxiety that arise from the pandemic. Prof. Eric Chui Wing-hong, Professor and Head of Department of Applied Social Sciences, stated, “despite the impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic may have on us (for instance, being stuck at home), so long as one recognizes the communities of support that exists, and discovers your own hidden potential, we will weather the storm and look forward to brighter days with hope and confidence. With an atmosphere of co-creation, co-production and co-learning, I am sure we will be able to get through the pandemic together. “ To learn more about the One Stop Shop (OSS) platform, please visit the website: https://oss.apss.polyu.edu.hk

PolyU and ASTRI join hands to foster research collaboration and nurture R&D talent

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration on research and technology transfer as well as to nurture future R&D talent, leveraging the research expertise of both parties. PolyU and ASTRI will kick-start research projects, capitalising on their respective research experience and strengths to develop impactful innovations. The relevant intellectual properties will then be translated into viable solutions for meeting industrial and societal needs. The two parties are committed to encouraging more interdisciplinary research discussions and strengthening cross-sector technology transfer. With cultivating young talent as a core mission of the collaboration, PolyU and ASTRI are dedicated to building a strong talent base for the long-term and sustainable development of R&D in Hong Kong. The ASTRI Day @ PolyU scheduled on 13 April will foster exchange and cooperation between academia and industry. Experts from ASTRI will share insights on various hot technology topics such as Trust and AI Technologies, Communications Technologies, IoT Sensing and AI Technologies, Integrated Circuits and Systems, etc. PolyU students will gain a comprehensive understanding of technology trends as well as career prospects in different research fields. Professor Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, said, “We are thrilled to partner with ASTRI to cultivate research talent in Hong Kong by leveraging our unique strengths to empower our students and graduates with forward-looking technologies through various exchange activities. We will also provide career opportunities for those who are enthusiastic about technology advancement. This MoU will deepen PolyU’s ongoing collaboration with industry and our commitment to transforming research excellence into societal impact for the long-term sustainable development of the city.” Ir Sunny LEE, JP, Chairman of ASTRI, said, “We are eagerly looking forward to the strengthening of collaboration with PolyU in the areas of research and talent nurturing. This will further promote cross-disciplinary research and the integration of basic and applied research, while expanding Hong Kong’s I&T talent pool. I assure you that ASTRI’s researchers, who are experts in cutting-edge technologies, will do their utmost to impart their knowledge and experience to PolyU’s students. I am also sure that these students will in turn inject new impetus into ASTRI.” Under this MoU, PolyU’s Department of Applied Physics and ASTRI will jointly design a brand-new Master’s programme focusing on microelectronics technologies. Professor Wing-tak WONG, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU, remarked that this new MSc programme in Microeleclectronics Technology and Materials, to be launched in the 2023/24 academic year, will enable students to cope with emerging technology and industry needs. ASTRI’s experts will co-teach three highly industry-relevant subjects, namely Integrated Circuits Design, Microelectronics Packaging and Reliability, and Machine Vision for Semiconductor Manufacturing and Inspections. Committed to driving translational research and technology innovation as well as talent cultivation, PolyU and ASTRI will continue to collaborate closely on a wide range of initiatives to address real-world challenges for the benefit of Hong Kong, the Nation and the world.   ***END***

PolyU takes leading position in six disciplines and one broad subject area in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject 2022; Four disciplines ranked No. 1 in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has attained remarkable results in the latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject 2022, with four disciplines ranked first in Hong Kong, and six disciplines and one broad subject area ranked among the top 50 in the world. Various Engineering-related disciplines also demonstrated a significant leap from last year.