We are pleased to announce that Postdoctoral Fellow Dr Lucas Peltonen has been awarded the PolyU PhD Thesis Award 2026 (Merit Award – Non-STEM Category) by the Graduate School.
Dr Peltonen was recognised for his doctoral thesis, titled "Cultivating linguacultural competence in business English communication: A mixed methods intervention study", conducted under the primary supervision of Chair Professor Hu Guangwei. The thesis examines a pioneering implementation of business English teaching and learning and provides a foundation for preparing learners for contemporary, global workplace communication.
Notably, Dr Peltonen is the sole recipient in the Non-STEM Category across the entire University this year—a proud testament to the research excellence, originality, and real-world impact generated within the Department and the Faculty of Humanities.
Reflection from the Awardee
"I am honored to have won the PolyU PhD Thesis Merit Award 2026. As the only non-STEM awardee this year, I am pleased to represent the Faculty of Humanities and the Department of English and Communication (ENGL). Hopefully, this award helps demonstrate the importance of business English, BELF, and business English pedagogy to the broader ELT field and academia, as well as individuals and organizations. Thank you to the multitude of folks who provided help and support along the way: a special thank you to my Chief Supervisor, Professor Guangwei Hu."
— Dr Lucas Peltonen
We extend our warmest congratulations to Dr Peltonen on this outstanding accomplishment and wish him continued success in his academic journey.
The PolyU PhD Thesis Award is established by the Graduate School to recognise, reward, and promote the distinguished research achievements by graduating PhD students. The award comprises two classes—Outstanding and Merit—to acknowledge varying levels of academic excellence.
