FCE academics secure research funding for environmental initiatives

FCE is committed to environmental stewardship and advancing solutions that protect Hong Kong’s natural and built environments. The Faculty is proud to report that five FCE academics received funding support from the first-round funding exercise of the 2025/26 Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF), totalling over HK$3.2 million.

The projects cover research on diverse issues, including greenhouse gas monitoring, low-carbon construction materials, wastewater treatment, electric vehicle infrastructure, and air quality assessment. This accomplishment underscores the Faculty's dedication to academic development and practical contribution to environmental protection and nature conservation in Hong Kong.

PolyU President’s Awards and Faculty Awards for Outstanding Achievement 2025

The President’s Awards and the Faculty Awards for Outstanding Achievement highlight the dedication and excellence of our staff community. Recognising both individuals and teams, these honours celebrate outstanding achievements in Teaching, Research and Scholarly Activities, Research Student Supervision, Knowledge Transfer, and Services.

Congratulations to all awardees of 2025 for their excellence and dedication.

*Team leader for the group

FCE Outstanding Alumni Award Presentation 2025 & Alumni Spring Gathering celebrates excellence and connection

On 11 February 2026, FCE hosted the Outstanding Alumni Award Presentation 2025 and Alumni Spring Gathering at Ju Yin House on the PolyU campus, bringing together over 60 participants.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU FCE 2025 to Ir Brian CHENG and Dr Siu Lung TSUI. Although the two Outstanding Young Alumni Award recipients, Prof. Yifei CUI and Prof. Yuanhao WANG, were unable to attend the occasion, their remarkable achievements were warmly acknowledged and celebrated in spirit.

The presence of alumni from various generations, current students, academic staff members, and representatives from industry partners and professional bodies created a vibrant atmosphere of connection and collaboration. As Prof. Xiang-dong LI, Dean of Faculty, remarked in his welcome speech, the strength of FCE lies in these very connections, which foster an environment conducive to innovation, mentorship, and partnership.

The gathering provided an opportunity to reflect on the FCE community’s shared achievements, honour those who have made significant contributions, and inspire one another as we look to the coming Year of the Horse.

Inaugural Architectural Studies students start academic journey with diversified out-of-classroom learning experiences

The inaugural cohort of the newly launched Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Architectural Studies embarked on their pioneering academic journey in September 2025 and are already experiencing a rich, diversified, and all-round education.

In December 2025, the students showcased their creative talents at the 2025 Hong Kong & Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture (Hong Kong): Techformance. The exhibition explored the evolving roles of architects, designers, and urban planners in an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven era, highlighting the convergence of technology and performance. The students had the opportunity to present their innovative projects, engage with a vibrant community of artists and thinkers, and cultivate creativity and collaboration.

In early January 2026, the students joined an inspiring study trip to Guangzhou, where they explored cutting-edge hotel design, explored the artistry behind traditional Chinese woodwork, and engaged in hands-on model-making of green pavilions at a local architecture studio. The study trip culminated in a student-led exhibition at the end of their study trip, demonstrating their craftsmanship and design thinking.

These enriching out-of-classroom learning experiences exemplify the high-quality and holistic education provided by the programme—integrating advanced technology, practical learning, and creative exploration to nurture the next generation of visionary architects.

Welcome new staff to FCE

The Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI) welcomed Prof. Diansheng GUO to the position of Professor in January 2026. Prof. Guo obtained his Bachelor’s degree from Peking University, Master’s degree from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and PhD from The Pennsylvania State University.

Prof. Guo is an internationally recognised scholar and research leader in Spatial Data Science, GeoAI, Big Data Analytics, and Urban Informatics. He was a Professor at the University of South Carolina, where he founded the Spatial Data Mining and Visualization Laboratory, leading pioneering research in geographic information science and large-scale location-based analytics. Before joining PolyU, he was Chief Scientist and Director of the Spatial Big Data Lab at Tencent, where he led multidisciplinary teams to develop large-scale spatial data platforms, GeoAI models, and intelligent location-based services used by hundreds of millions.

His research excellence has been recognised with numerous prestigious grants, including the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) and the U.S. National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Digging into Data Program. Ranked among the World’s Top 2% Most-Cited Scientists by Stanford University and top 500 scholars in Geological & Geomatics Engineering by Elsevier, Prof. Guo served as Chair of the Geographic Information Science Group of the American Association of Geographers (AAG) and President of the International Association of Chinese Professionals in Geographic Information Sciences (CPGIS), demonstrating his academic leadership internationally.

Long Service Award 2025

The Faculty extends its congratulations to the 48 FCE staff who were honoured with the Long Service Award 2025 and expresses sincere gratitude for their loyal and dedicated service.

The PolyU Long Service Award is presented to staff members upon completion of each five-year milestone. Among the 2025 FCE award recipients, seven have devoted an impressive 30 years or more to the University. Their extensive knowledge of PolyU and the Faculty’s operations, culture, and history is invaluable in supporting new initiatives and mentoring younger colleagues. To celebrate their remarkable loyalty and commitment, a tea gathering was held on 4 February 2026 at Hotel ICON.

Established in 1990, the PolyU Long Service Award scheme aims to recognise long-serving staff for their unwavering commitment and to foster a sense of belonging within the University.