The Department of English and Communication (ENGL) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) successfully hosted the fourth PolyU Undergraduate Conference on Applied Linguistics and Language Studies (PolyU-CALLS 2026) on 28 March 2026. PolyU-CALLS 2026 was an outstanding success, welcoming approximately 120 attendees, including students and professors from PolyU, local institutions, and international peers from Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, and Russia.
The Conference featured more than 70 undergraduate presenters, alongside plenary talks by our Department’s Professor Michał Krzyżanowski and our alumnus, Mr Phil Woo, co-founder of allcareAI. The Department expressed its gratitude to all presenters for sharing their already impressive research projects, emphasising 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.
It was 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. The conference highlighted the growing importance of undergraduate research in light of the transformative role of AI and modern language technologies, which are rapidly becoming critical drivers of innovation in the field.
The Department would like to recognise the outstanding work and presentations by all student presenters at PolyU-CALLS 2026. Covering an impressive range of topics—from AI and language technologies to applied language studies, language in pop culture, and beyond—each presenter demonstrated remarkable passion and expertise.
While every presentation was commendable, the PolyU-CALLS 2026 Organising Committee annually acknowledges a select few who go above and beyond in showcasing their work. This year’s PolyU-CALLS 2026 Award Winners are:
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Best PolyU-CALLS Presentation Award: Ka Nam CHAU (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
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Best ENGL Presentation Award: Chunyu DAI (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
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Best Non-ENGL Presentation Award: Ho Lam KWAN (Hong Kong Baptist University)
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Best Non-Local Presentation Award: Xinran SHI (City University of Macau)
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Best International Presentation Award: Isack Josua SASMITA SIAHAAN (Universitas Diponegoro, Indonesia)
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all presenters, attendees, and contributors for making PolyU-CALLS 2026 a rewarding and memorable event. We look forward to welcoming even more participants next year. Together, we will continue to push the boundaries of applied linguistics and language studies, championing the next generation of scholars and innovators.
