The Department of English and Communication (ENGL) at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) successfully hosted the PolyU Undergraduate Conference on Applied Linguistics and Language Studies (PolyU-CALLS) on 29 March 2025. PolyU-CALLS 2025 was an astounding success, bringing together around 120 students and professors from Hong Kong, Macau, mainland China, and overseas.
The Conference featured a total of 81 undergraduate presenters, alongside plenary talks by the Department’s Professor Shaofeng Li and ENGL alumnus Mr Paul Lee, Senior Manager of Kum Shing Group. Professor Eric Friginal, Head of ENGL, expressed his gratitude to all presenters for sharing their already impressive research projects. He emphasized that participating in an academic conference of this caliber is a significant milestone and a testament to the hard work and dedication of the students and their mentors.
Professor Friginal further noted that this experience not only marks a major academic accomplishment for the participants but also positions them as key contributors to the future of applied linguistics and language studies. He highlighted the growing importance of their work in light of the transformative role of advanced technologies and generative AI, which are becoming critical drivers of innovation and research in the field.
The Department would like to recognize the outstanding work and presentations by all student presenters at PolyU-CALLS 2025. Covering an impressive range of topics—from linguistic landscapes to critical discourse analysis, language policy, and beyond—each presenter demonstrated remarkable passion and expertise.
While every presentation was commendable, the PolyU-CALLS Organising Committee annually acknowledges a select few who go above and beyond in showcasing their work. This year’s PolyU-CALLS Award Winners are:
- Best PolyU-CALLS Presentation Award: Xiaohuan CHEN (Southwest University, Chongqing, CHINA)
- Best ENGL Presentation Award: Yanning WANG (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
- Best Non-ENGL Presentation Award: Wing Yan TSE (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
- Best International Presentation Award: Alyssa Mari R. RIBO (Ateneo de Manila University, PHILIPPINES)
ENGL extends its heartfelt thanks to all presenters, attendees, and contributors for making PolyU-CALLS 2025 a remarkable event. We look forward to welcoming even more participants at PolyU-CALLS 2026. Together, we will continue to push the boundaries of applied linguistics and language studies, championing the next generation of scholars and innovators.
