Pursuing my PhD at the School of Accounting and Finance (AF) at PolyU was a transformative experience that reshaped both my research and my life. What I valued most was its open and inclusive academic culture, where faculty treated PhD students as fellow researchers and encouraged us to challenge ideas and think independently from day one. Our supervisors were genuinely devoted to PhD training, offering patient guidance to improve both our research skills and our tacit knowledge. The programme provided rigorous, comprehensive training that developed a complete set of academic skills. These elements came together to shape my work on disclosure technology, vocal analysis, and the emerging area of AI in accounting. I am now an Assistant Professor at the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, where I continue to benefit every day from the academic training and scholarly mindset I developed at PolyU AF.

Starting my PhD studies at the PolyU Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies (LMS) in 2025 has been a rewarding beginning to my development as a researcher. LMS draws on Hong Kong’s strengths as an international shipping centre. It brings together a global faculty and maintains partnerships with overseas academic institutions and maritime industry practitioners, opening up opportunities for interdisciplinary exchange. This environment allows me to engage with emerging areas of maritime research, supported by a postgraduate training programme that builds essential research skills, and prepares students to tackle complex, real-world maritime challenges.

My supervisor’s steady guidance and solid support have laid a strong foundation for my research progress. He has encouraged me to explore the frontiers of contemporary maritime research, introduced me to new research directions, shared valuable proprietary data resources, and provided continuous feedback that has helped me refine my academic interests. With the support of our research group, I have completed multiple research projects in my first year and published related papers in leading journals.

Immersed in such a supportive scholarly community, my passion for maritime research continues to deepen.

Looking back on my PhD journey at the Department of Management and Marketing, I can honestly say it transformed me both as a researcher and as a person. The department provided incredible support at every stage, from generous research funding to opportunities for global conferences and academic exchanges. The exceptional coursework—including access to cross-institutional courses and seminars led by world-renowned scholars—also opened doors to exciting collaborations.

What made this experience truly special, though, were the people. My supervisors were simply the best, patiently guiding me from a complete novice to an independent researcher. Every faculty member was immensely encouraging, consistently offering valuable feedback, while our amazing admin team kept everything running smoothly behind the scenes. My fellow PhD students became some of my closest friends; we challenged each other intellectually while also supporting one another personally.

These five years were not always easy, but every challenge was worth it. Wherever my career takes me, I will always be proud to say, ‘I’m a PolyU graduate’.