FCE Build a Smart City Competition 2026 concludes on high note

The FCE Build a Smart City Competition 2026 concluded with an Award Presentation Ceremony on 10 October 2026, celebrating months of dedication, creativity, and teamwork of the participating secondary school students. Awards were presented to the Merit, Second Runner-up, First Runner-up, and Champion teams, with the Champion teams taking to the stage to share their experiences.

In his welcome remarks, Prof. Xiaoli DING, Interim Dean of Faculty, expressed his hope that the competition would inspire a lifelong passion for innovation and sustainability in all participants. Prof. Charles WONG, Associate Dean (Teaching and Global Engagement) of Faculty, then revisited the highlights of the competition, reflecting on the participants’ remarkable journey and impressive accomplishments.

Since registering for the competition in March 2026, more than 160 students from over 30 secondary schools have taken part in an enriching learning journey. They attended two-day workshops tailored by individual FCE departments to their specific project themes. The workshops offered contestants a glimpse into FCE’s pedagogy, which brings complex concepts and technologies to life by combining academic theory with practical application. Through talks, hands-on activities, laboratory sessions, group discussions, and visits to relevant government units, public organisations, and commercial institutions, the contestants explored concepts and technologies related to their assigned projects.

On 14 August 2026, the teams presented their innovative solutions to the judging panels. Each team showcased its project in a distinctive and innovative format, demonstrating not only a strong understanding of Smart City concepts but also creativity, teamwork, presentation skills, and a shared vision for a more sustainable Hong Kong. Comprising FCE academics, distinguished alumni, and industry partners, the judging panels assessed the projects based on innovation, feasibility, relevance, potential impact, and overall presentation.

As the competition drew to a successful close, FCE looks forward to witnessing the continued impact of these young innovators on Hong Kong’s future.

Click here to view the list of awardees.

FCE attracts strong interest at PolyU Info Day 2026

FCE received an enthusiastic response at PolyU Info Day 2026, held on 10 October. The FCE booth alone recorded more than 3,000 visits from prospective students, parents, and members of the public keen to learn about FCE’s academic programmes.

Throughout the day, visitors engaged with academic staff and student ambassadors at the Faculty and departmental booths, inquiring about programme curricula, admissions requirements, professional accreditation, and career prospects. To showcase their distinctive areas of expertise and high-quality academic offerings, the Faculty and its five departments organised a diverse range of activities, including programme seminars, guided tours, laboratory visits, and workshops.

The impressive turnout at the booths and activities reflected strong public interest in FCE’s academic programmes and affirmed the Faculty’s reputation for educational excellence.

FCE achieves outstanding global prominence in ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2026

FCE is proud to share its exceptional performance in the Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS) 2026, released by ShanghaiRanking.

Reflecting its world-leading research capabilities and academic strength, the Faculty secured top-tier positions across multiple disciplines. In Civil Engineering, one of the Faculty’s signature flagship disciplines, FCE reaffirmed its international prominence by ranking 3rd globally and 1st in Hong Kong. In addition, the Faculty achieved remarkable global standings in Energy Science and Engineering (4th globally and 1st in Hong Kong) and Environmental Science and Engineering (23rd globally and 3rd in Hong Kong). Remote Sensing made an impressive leap from 31st last year to 24th globally this year, while ranking 2nd in Hong Kong.

FCE’s continued presence at the forefront of global rankings highlights its enduring commitment to pioneering research, sustainable urban innovations, and academic excellence at both local and international levels.

FCE academics among world’s most influential in Building & Construction and Civil Engineering

According to Stanford University’s latest "Updated science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators," PolyU leads globally with the highest number of Top 2% Most-cited Scientists in the sub-field of Building and Construction, cementing FCE’s global leadership in the discipline. PolyU also stands as the top-ranked institution in Hong Kong with the largest presence of highly cited scholars in FCE-related fields, including Building and Construction, Civil Engineering, and Energy.

Notably, three FCE scholars rank in the world's top ten in their respective disciplines—representing half of PolyU's six top-ten entries: Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President and Chair Professor of Structural Engineering of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE); Prof. C.S. POON, Distinguished Research Professor of CEE; and Prof. Qihao WENG, Chair Professor of Geomatics and Artificial Intelligence of the Department of Land Surveying and Geospatial Science (LSGS). Across the Faculty, seven academics placed within the global top 20 and 11 in the top 50, underscoring FCE’s high concentration of world-class scholars.

FCE expands global footprint with student recruitment in Central Asia

From 27 September to 2 October 2026, Prof. Tris KEE, Associate Professor of the Department of Architecture (ARCH), represented FCE on a recruitment trip across Central Asia, supported by the Student Admissions and Scholarships Office (SASO). Engaging with prospective students and families at international education fairs in Baku (Azerbaijan), Tashkent (Uzbekistan), and Almaty and Astana (Kazakhstan), Prof. Kee highlighted FCE's diverse academic offerings, addressed student enquiries, and enhanced the Faculty's visibility across prospective student communities in the region. As a fruitful outcome of the trip, the Faculty strengthened its partnership with Haileybury Almaty School in Kazakhstan through a student visit to PolyU this autumn, paving the way for future collaboration and engagement opportunities.