Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Faculty of Construction and Environment 2026

The Faculty is delighted to announce the recipients of the Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU FCE 2026. Four distinguished awardees have been recognised for their remarkable professional and scholarly achievements, alongside their unwavering support for their alma mater and impactful contributions to society.

FCE takes immense pride in its decades-long legacy of nurturing exceptional graduates. Since 2022, the Faculty has conferred the Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU FCE to celebrate the achievements and ongoing contributions of its outstanding alumni.

These exemplary individuals showcase the high standard of education at FCE and will inspire the FCE community to pursue excellence in their respective fields while making a positive impact on the world.

Follow this link to learn more about the awardees’ accomplishments.

Outstanding Alumni Award
	Outstanding Alumni Award in Professional Achievement Sr Prof. SHIU Wai Yee Winnie Technician Certificate in Engineering Surveying Hong Kong Polytechnic		Outstanding Alumni Award in Professional Achievement Ir WONG Kwok Fai Alfred Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering Hong Kong Polytechnic		Outstanding Alumni Award in Professional Achievement Sr LAI Carmen Bachelor of Science in Building Surveying The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Outstanding Young Alumni Award
	Outstanding Young Alumni Award in Scholarly Achievement Prof. MA Tao Doctor of Philosophy The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

SHKP-Kwoks’ Foundation x PolyU Building Homes with Heart Scholarship Programme 2025/26

For the 2025/26 academic year, 11 outstanding FCE students received scholarships from the SHKP-Kwoks’ Foundation x PolyU Building Homes with Heart Scholarship Programme. The awardees received up to HK$40,000 each to support their academic journey.

At the presentation ceremony held on 4 August 2026, the awardees were presented with scholarships by Dr Jeff SZE, Under Secretary for Education of the Government of the HKSAR, Ms Amy KWOK, Executive Director of the SHKP-Kwoks' Foundation, and Mr Adam KWOK, Executive Director of SHKP. Also in attendance were Mr Robert CHAN, Executive Director of SHKP, and Mr Dominic KWOK, Senior Project Director of SHKP Construction Department, as well as PolyU representatives, including Prof. Ben YOUNG, Vice President (Student and Global Affairs), Prof. Horace MUI, Dean of Students, Prof. Linda XIAO, Associate Dean (Partnership) of Faculty, and Prof. Shengwei WANG, Director of the Research Institute for Smart Energy.

During the ceremony, Mr Adam KWOK highlighted the strong partnership between SHKP and PolyU in driving research-academic-industry collaborations and reviewed the accomplishments of the scholarship since its launch in 2022/23: approximately HK$1.5 million has been provided to support over 40 outstanding students, and two of the scholarship recipients joined SHKP after graduation to continue their development in the industry.

The scholarship programme is a joint initiative launched in the 2022/23 academic year by the SHKP-Kwoks’ Foundation and PolyU. It aims to support outstanding PolyU students—particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds—in their pursuit of studies in construction, real estate, or engineering-related disciplines.

Click here to view the awardee list.

FCE undergraduate students receive HSBC Scholarships 2025/26

The Faculty is delighted to share that three FCE students were awarded HSBC scholarships for the year 2025/26, joining a total of 21 recipients from PolyU. The scholarships were presented at the HSBC Scholars Day held on 15 July 2026 at the HSBC Main Building in Central.

Since launching its first scholarship scheme in 1965, HSBC has consistently supported high-achieving students in their professional growth while encouraging meaningful community engagement through various flagship scholarship initiatives.

The following FCE awardees have been recognised under the HSBC Hong Kong Scholarship scheme for their academic excellence and dedicated community service:

FCE Awards for Outstanding PhD Theses 2025/26

The FCE Awards for Outstanding PhD Theses were established to recognise exceptional research outputs by FCE PhD students. Three awardees were selected this year for their exemplary academic performance, impressive publication records, significance and innovation of their research, and outstanding presentation skills.

The recipients were chosen through a rigorous evaluation process. An “excellent” rating from the Board of Examiners served as a prerequisite, following which the respective Departmental Research Committees shortlisted the most distinguished candidates. These finalists then delivered oral presentations to the Working Group of the Faculty Research Committee, which selected the final awardees.

By celebrating these high-calibre theses, the Faculty reaffirms its commitment to nurturing emerging researchers and cultivating a vibrant research culture.

CEE research postgraduate student wins PolyU 3MT® Champion

At the PolyU Three-minute Thesis Competition (3MT®) held on 6 July 2026, Ms Shihui YANG, a research postgraduate student from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), was crowned the Champion. Having previously won the faculty-level competition in June, she represented the Faculty and stood out among 10 finalists from various faculties and schools across the University.

Developed by The University of Queensland, Australia, the annual 3MT® competition challenges research students to consolidate their discoveries and communicate their research significance to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes, using only a single static presentation slide. As the Champion, Ms Yang will represent PolyU at the Asia-Pacific 3MT® Competition, showcasing the Faculty’s rising research talent on a regional stage.

(Click on the 3MT® title to watch the video recording)

FCE offers secondary students early taste of university learning at PolyU Summer Institute 2026

FCE participated in the PolyU Summer Institute 2026 from 27 July to 7 August, hosting dedicated sessions to offer secondary school students a glimpse into university life.

During the faculty attachment sessions on Days 2 and 4 of the residential camp, around 20 participants each day took part in hands-on workshops and facility showcases organised by the FCE departments, deepening their understanding of the built environment disciplines. On Day 3, FCE also arranged a tour of the HVACR Laboratory and the Fire Engineering Laboratory, followed by a company visit to The Henderson, providing valuable insights into real-world industry applications and potential career opportunities.

As a new addition this year, FCE offered a non-credit-bearing subject, Sustainable Urban Development, from 3 to 7 August, engaging more than 20 local and overseas students. Adapted from the Faculty’s first-year core course CE1001, the subject introduced key concepts such as smart cities, digital twins, and carbon neutrality.

Throughout the event, FCE showcased its interactive and innovative teaching methods. By providing professional insights and exposure to real-world practices, the Faculty highlighted the diverse career pathways available within the fields and inspired the next generation of visionaries.

FCE Smart and Resilient Visionaries Network renamed FCE Urban Intelligence and Resilience Network

Established in 2025 to foster collaboration among students, alumni, industrial partners, and academic partners, the FCE Smart and Resilient Visionaries Network will be officially renamed the FCE Urban Intelligence and Resilience Network, effective 1 September 2026.

The renaming reflects the Faculty's evolving core business following key structural developments, including the establishment of the Department of Architecture (ARCH) and the renaming of the Department of Construction and Management Intelligence (CMI) and the Department of Land Surveying and Geospatial Science (LSGS).

The updated title aligns directly with the Faculty’s expanded scope and strategic aspirations. The term "Urban" emphasises a dedicated focus on cities, built environments, and interdisciplinary collaboration, while "Intelligence" highlights the integration of smart technologies, data-driven solutions, and innovative practices. Together with "Resilience," the new name better reflects the Faculty’s evolved identity and future direction.

FCE scholars and departments honoured at PolyU Patents Achievement Award

With results announced on 5 August 2026, FCE departments and researchers achieved outstanding recognition at the PolyU Patents Achievement Award 2025, reflecting the Faculty's robust culture of innovation and research translation. Securing intellectual property (IP) rights plays a critical role in safeguarding groundbreaking research outcomes, ensuring they are protected as they progress towards commercialisation. Through active patent filing and IP transfer, FCE academics continue to bridge the gap between academic discovery and practical industry applications to deliver real-world impact.

FCE partners with Oxford’s Environmental Change Institute to drive interdisciplinary urban and environmental research

On 23 July 2026, Prof. Xiang-dong LI, Dean of Faculty, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Prof. Michael OBERSTEINER, Director of the Environmental Change Institute (ECI) at the University of Oxford, establishing a strategic academic partnership between the two institutions.

The MoU sets out a collaborative framework to address critical global challenges across several key domains, including Urban Systems, Energy and Environment, Public Health, Climate Resilience, Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, as well as Policy and Governance.

By leveraging the complementary strengths of both institutions across multiple critical fields, this strategic collaboration aims to foster cross-disciplinary synergies, advance practical, high-impact solutions for global sustainable development.

FCE Annual Forum 2026 enhances research proposal writing

Aimed at enhancing researchers' ability to develop competitive research proposals, the Faculty hosted the FCE Annual Forum on 27 July 2026, drawing around 90 participants. Academics from the FCE departments, the Department of Computing (COMP), and the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) shared valuable insights and proven strategies for obtaining Research Grants Council (RGC) funding. The forum cultivated an environment that supported research excellence.

The topics covered at the forum are shown below. The forum recording and presentations can be downloaded from the Staff Intranet for the reference of FCE academic staff.

Long-serving staff