Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Faculty of Humanities 2026

Congratulations to the following award recipients on receiving the Faculty’s Outstanding Alumni Award (in alphabetical order by the last name): Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Faculty of Humanities 2026 Dr Frederick CHEUNG Fu Wah Principal, Chinese Y.M.C.A. Secondary School Master of Arts in English Language Teaching (2005) Department of English and Communication Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Faculty of Humanities 2026 Prof. XING Jie Vice Dean, Professor and PhD Supervisor, School of Interpreting and Translation Studies, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies Doctor of Philosophy (2010) Department of Language Science and Technology Outstanding Young Alumni Award of PolyU Faculty of Humanities 2026 Ms Jody LAM Pui Yee Speech Therapist, Part-time Assistant Lecturer and Clinical Educator Master of Speech Therapy (2016) Department of Language Science and Technology Outstanding Young Alumni Award of PolyU Faculty of Humanities 2026 Prof. Esterina NERVINO Associate Professor, Department of English and Department of Marketing, City University of Hong Kong Doctor of Philosophy (2018) Department of English and Communication The Award (website) recognises alumni for their professional achievements and significant contributions to the community and their alma mater. Read more about the awardees: Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Faculty of Humanities 2026 Dr Frederick CHEUNG Fu Wah Dr Frederick Cheung has more than 20 years of experience in English teaching and has worked closely with the Education Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government to support local secondary schools in strengthening English education. As Principal of Chinese YMCA Secondary School, he is committed to improving students’ English proficiency and enriching students’ learning experience through innovation, collaboration, and purposeful educational development. He founded Hong Kong’s first Aviation Early Career Training and Experience Center (A.E.C.T.E.C.) in local secondary schools. By combining school-based aviation studies with STEM education, the programme provides students with practical and diverse opportunities connected to the aviation industry. These experiences help students develop curiosity and problem-solving skills, while also deepening their understanding of real-world applications. Dr Cheung also promotes the responsible use of artificial intelligence in English Language Learning. By integrating AI tools and strategies appropriately, he aims to deliver more personalised learning support, increase student engagement, and strengthen learners’ confidence in using English effectively. Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Faculty of Humanities 2026 Prof. XING Jie Prof. Xing Jie is a distinguished academic leader, currently serving as the Vice Dean, Professor, and Doctoral Supervisor at the School of Interpreting and Translation Studies, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies. His international leadership is reflected in his roles as a member of the Research Task Force of the International Federation of Translators (FIT), a Council Member of the Translators Association of China (TAC), and the Vice President of the Socio-Translation Studies Committee of the China Association for Comparative Studies of English and Chinese (CACSEC). Prof. Xing has published widely on translation sociology, theory, pedagogy, and interpreting studies, with work appearing in leading journals such as Babel and Chinese Translators Journal. His scholarly excellence has earned him prestigious honors, including the Award for Outstanding Achievements in Philosophy and Social Sciences of Guangdong Province (2024) and multiple research awards from the Guangdong Society of Postgraduate Education. Prof. Xing also remains deeply committed to PolyU, having served as an External Examiner in 2021 and spearheaded collaborative initiatives such as the “AI in Translation” workshop to foster cross-border academic exchange. Outstanding Young Alumni Award of PolyU Faculty of Humanities 2026 Ms Jody Pui Yee LAM Ms Jody Lam is a speech-language pathologist, part-time assistant lecturer, and clinical educator based in Hong Kong, with more than a decade of experience spanning clinical practice, academic teaching, and professional leadership. She has demonstrated sustained and distinguished leadership in the speech therapy profession through her service as President of The Hong Kong Association of Speech Therapists (HKAST). Under her leadership, HKAST successfully transitioned into a limited company in 2022 and expanded its public outreach through a broad spectrum of territory-wide campaigns and the upcoming HKAST Convention in November 2026. Regionally, Ms Lam secured HKAST’s affiliation with the Asia Pacific Society of Speech, Language and Hearing (APSSLH), currently serving as an Executive Board Member to foster cross-border cooperation. Her contributions also extend to scholarship and mentorship. She served as lead author of a Routledge book chapter on professional advocacy in 2025 and established a student outreach team to nurture future professionals. Deeply committed to community service, Ms Lam has volunteered locally and globally, including at Mother’s Choice Childcare Home in Hong Kong, and Casa Del Niño Association in Antigua, championing social responsibility and extending speech therapy support to underserved communities. Outstanding Young Alumni Award of PolyU Faculty of Humanities 2026 Prof. Esterina NERVINO Prof. Esterina NERVINO is currently serving as an Associate Professor at the City University of Hong Kong. She is also the Associate Director of the Institute of Global Governance and Innovation for a Shared Future and the Co-Director of the New Frontiers in Professional Communication Lab, in addition to several external affiliations. She actively develops industry partnerships that support research collaboration, student internships, and executive education. Her research integrates social semiotics, multimodality, business communication, luxury studies, sustainability, and city branding, with a particular focus on arts, culture, and social impact. Her research has examined digital transformation in the luxury sector, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach to language, business, and innovation. She is actively engaged in research funded by the Research Grants Council and in consultancy projects that contribute to responsible innovation and strategic communication within the luxury and cultural industries. She also organises cultural dialogues and serves on committees across Asia and Europe, promoting cross-cultural exchange and interdisciplinary collaboration.

AIH PhD Student Recognised in Greater Bay Area Young Leaders Selection 2026

Mr Wong Chung Ho, a PhD student in the Division of Artificial Intelligence and the Humanities (AIH), has been recognised in the 20th Greater Bay Area Young Leaders Selection. Organised by the Junior Chamber International Hong Kong Harbour (JCI Hong Kong Harbour), the Greater Bay Area Young Leaders Selection recognises outstanding young leaders who have demonstrated excellence in leadership, professional achievement, and community service. The programme aims to foster cross-sector collaboration and exchange among emerging leaders across the Greater Bay Area. Mr Wong's achievement reflects his commitment to education, youth development, and community engagement. AIH extends its heartfelt congratulations to Mr Wong on this outstanding achievement and wishes him continued success in his academic and professional endeavours. Mr Wong's Remarks “It is my great pleasure to be awarded the 20th Greater Bay Area Youth Leader Award by the JCI. This recognition is a tremendous milestone for me, not only an affirmation on my career aspiration, but also a conjoint effort by everyone who has supported my vision for youth development and community services along my career path. I would like to thank Hon Wah College where I have been serving for 11 years . I would like to appreciate the AIH at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University where I am currently studying my PhD degree. In particular, I would like to express my gratitude to Prof. Pei Qing, my PhD supervisor and my referee, Mr Zhao Yang, for their tremendous support to me. Throughout my career as a secondary school teacher, I have always believed in empowering the younger generation not only strive for excellent academic results, but also embrace innovation, cross-cultural collaboration, and social responsibility. This esteemed accolade inspires me to continue fostering regional connectivity and driving positive changes across the Greater Bay Area. I look forward to this new chapter and stay firm to make every endeavour to promote youth development.”

Prof. Huang Chu-Ren Honoured as Emeritus Professor

Prof. Huang Chu-Ren, Chair Professor of Applied Chinese Language Studies, has been conferred the title of Emeritus Professor (Applied Chinese Language Studies), with effect from 1 July 2026, upon his retirement from the University.

LST Student Triumphs in the 4th FH Three Minute Thesis Competition

The Faculty hosted its 4th Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition on 16 June 2026, showcasing the research prowess of our PhD students. The event challenged participants to present their complex research projects in just three minutes, emphasising clarity, conciseness, and effective communication. The winners are as follows: Champion: SHEK Tsz Ching Phoebe (LST) First Runner-up: TAN Kexin (ENGL) Second Runner-up: WANG Yijun (ENGL) The 3MT Competition, developed by the University of Queensland, is an academic competition that challenges postgraduate students to present their research in just three minutes, using one slide. The competition aims to develop students’ communication and presentation skills, particularly in the area of research communication. The Faculty Champion will advance to represent the Faculty at the University’s 3MT Competition to be held on 6 July. We wish her every success in the upcoming event.

PolyU Arts and Humanities Ranks 23rd in Best Global Universities by Subject 2026-2027, Placing 3rd in Asia

The Faculty of Humanities has attained notable results in the US News and World Report’s 2026-2027 Best Global Universities for Arts and Humanities. Arts and Humanities at PolyU is now ranked 23rd globally and 3rd in Asia. This remarkable achievement places the Faculty among the world’s elite institutions, recognised for its excellence in education, high-impact research, and meaningful contributions to society. The 12th annual US News & World Report Best Global Universities rankings evaluate institutions worldwide based on academic research performance and international reputation. The Rankings are calculated based on 13 indicators, including global and regional research reputation, total citations, and international collaboration.

Call for Nominations: Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Faculty of Humanities 2026

We are pleased to announce that the Faculty of Humanities(FH) is now calling for nominations for the Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Faculty of Humanities 2026. The award aims to give public recognition to FH graduates for their diverse accomplishments and contributions. Three specific areas of achievement would be given recognition, including: Professional Achievement Entrepreneurial Achievement Scholarly Achievement Outstanding Young Alumni Award Alumni who are aged at/under 40 in the award selection year would be eligible for the Outstanding Young Alumni Award. Eligibility The nominated candidate must be a graduate of the Faculty of Humanities* who has successfully completed a full-time or part-time programme offered by PolyU (or its forerunners: Hong Kong Government Trade School, Hong Kong Technical College, and Hong Kong Polytechnic) which led to academic award accredited by the respective Institution. The Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award has three levels, namely Department, Faculty and University levels. The nominees for the Faculty Award should be recipients of the Departmental Alumni Award or graduates of the Faculty level programmes, such as Doctor of Applied Language Sciences and BA(Hons) in Language Studies for the Professions. The proposer can be PolyU graduates, Honorary Graduates, University Fellows, PolyU staff, current PolyU Council and Court members and current Advisory Committee members. There is no limit to the number of nominations to be submitted by each proposer. However, the proposer cannot be the candidate himself/ herself. Faculty awardees of the current year may be nominated for the Outstanding Alumni Award at the University level. FH reserves the right to make a final decision on any individual's eligibility for the Award. In case of any dispute/disagreement, the decision of FH shall be final. *including graduates from the former Faculty of Communication Nomination Deadline 26 June 2026 Award Details and Nomination Form Completed forms shall be sent to fh.events@polyu.edu.hk by the nomination deadline. Contact Us Email: fh.events@polyu.edu.hk Tel.: +852 3400 8212

Prof. Li Shaofeng Receives IAPLL Distinguished Scholar Award

Prof. Li Shaofeng, Professor in the Department of English and Communication and Programme Leader of the Faculty’s Doctor of Applied Language Sciences programme, received the Distinguished Scholar Award from the International Association for the Psychology of Language Learning (IAPLL) at its biennial conference held at Shantou University in the Chinese Mainland. This award honors scholars who have made outstanding contributions to the field of the psychology of language learning and teaching. Prof. Li was also invited to deliver a plenary speech on individual differences in second language acquisition and task-based language teaching and a workshop on meta-analysis and speak at the editors’ forum representing the journal Research Methods in Applied Linguistics.

International Symposium on Language Science (ISLS) 2026 Concludes with Success

The Faculty of Humanities at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), in collaboration with the Department of English and Communication and the Department of Language Science and Technology, successfully organised the International Symposium on Language Science (ISLS) 2026: Interdisciplinary Research and the Legacy of Yuen Ren Chao on 8 and 9 May 2026. The Symposium attracted over 140 participants from 11 countries and regions, including Australia, Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Nigeria, Singapore, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This remarkable international turnout is a testament to the Symposium's global significance and the universal appeal of language science. The event brought together an international community of scholars and researchers, featuring four distinguished keynote speakers (in alphabetical order of surname): Prof. Nai Ding (Zhejiang University), Prof. Roberto Filippi (UCL Institute of Education), Dr Tomoyasu Horikawa (NTT Communication Science Laboratories) and Prof. Judith F. Kroll (University of California, Irvine). The programme also included 14 parallel oral presentation sessions and a poster session, covering a wide range of topics in language science. In tribute to the legacy of Prof. Yuen Ren Chao, the Symposium presented two Chao Prize Lectures by the 2026 Laureates: Prof. Brian MacWhinney (Lifetime Achievement Award) and Prof. Charles B. Chang (Early Career Contribution Award). Learn more about Chao Prize. To further commemorate Prof. Yuen Ren Chao’s contributions and to continue the scholarly exchange initiated at the 2024 Symposium, the newly published volume Interdisciplinary Research in Language Science: Yuen Ren Chao’s Legacy was also officially launched at the Symposium. The Symposium successfully fostered interdisciplinary dialogue and advanced research in language science, while continuing to inspire future generations of linguists and language science researchers, carrying forward the enduring legacy of Prof. Yuen Ren Chao.

Prof. Zhu Xinhua Advances Multimodal Reading through Research and Knowledge Transfer

Prof. Zhu Xinhua, Professor in the Department of Language Science and Technology, was invited as an expert advisor for the multimodal reading activities in the 2026 National Reading Week – “Reading Across Horizons Shared Reading Session cum Joint Primary and Secondary School 30-minute Read” event organised by the Education Bureau (EDB) on 23 April 2026. The event engaged over 1,100 students and teachers onsite and 30,000 participants online across Hong Kong, and set a new world record related to Multimodal Reading Activity. Drawing on over six years of sustained research in online and multimodal reading, Prof. Zhu provided professional guidance on lesson design, pedagogical principles, and assessment considerations. His work bridges curriculum policy, classroom practice, and academic research, aligning closely with EDB’s renewed focus on multimodal reading and literacy. The initiative also exemplifies effective knowledge transfer, translating internationally recognised research (including multiple SSCI Q1 publications) into large scale educational practice. Prof. Zhu and his team have developed multimodal reading frameworks, assessment tools, and instructional strategies which have been piloted in many Hong Kong schools and disseminated through teacher professional development and public platforms. Click HERE for more information.

PolyU Presents Lifetime Achievement and Early Career Contribution Awards to Two Distinguished Scholars at 2026 Yuen Ren Chao Prize in Language Science

(11 May 2026) The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) proudly presented the 2026 Yuen Ren Chao Prize in Language Science at a presentation ceremony held on 8 May. Prof. Brian MACWHINNEY, Theresa Heinz Professor of Cognitive Psychology at Carnegie Mellon University and Prof. Charles B. CHANG, Fellow of the Psychonomic Society were bestowed with the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Early Career Contribution Award respectively for their remarkable achievements in and outstanding contributions to the field of language science. Initiated and hosted by the PolyU Faculty of Humanities (FH), the Yuen Ren Chao Prize in Language Science (the Chao Prize) is awarded on a biennial basis. Named in honour of the late Prof. Yuen Ren Chao, widely regarded as the father of modern Chinese language studies, the Chao Prize commemorates Prof. Chao’s interdisciplinary legacy and recognises scholarly excellence that advances language research and education. Addressing the ceremony, Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President, noted, “The Chao Prize is perfectly aligned with PolyU’s motto, ‘To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind.’ It reflects the University’s pursuit of excellence in education and research, as well as its commitment to making positive impacts on Hong Kong, the nation and the world. At a time when artificial intelligence is transforming how people communicate, learn and create knowledge, language science plays a foundational role in helping us understand how people acquire and use language. The University recently established the Division of Artificial Intelligence and the Humanities under FH, reflecting our strong commitment to harnessing technology to enrich its humanity disciplines.” This year, the Chao Prize is generously sponsored by PolyU Technology and Consultancy Company Limited (PTeC). Representing the patron, Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation), stated, “The Prize reflects PolyU’s strong commitment to research that is both scientifically rigorous and socially relevant. By translating academic excellence into practice, PTeC aims to create value beyond the University and make a lasting difference to industry and society.” Prof. HU Guangwei, Interim Dean of FH, highlighted the broader academic vision underpinning the Chao Prize and said, “This occasion is not only a celebration of the work of two outstanding scholars, but also a reflection of PolyU’s shared belief that humanistic knowledge is essential to innovation in an age increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.” The two 2026 Yuen Ren Chao Prize in Language Science laureates are both internationally renowned scholars who have made significant contributions with far-reaching impact on language science research worldwide. Prof. Brian MacWhinney has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for this year’s Chao Prize. Prof. Brian MacWhinney has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for his lifetime of distinguished contributions to language science, encompassing integrative theoretical innovation, research infrastructure development and lasting international impact on the study of human language. At the forefront of language science research for over five decades, he pushes forward research addressing the complexity of human language by integrating experimental methods, large-scale data resources and theoretically motivated computational approaches. He is also the founding Director of the Child Language Data Exchange System and TalkBank, the world’s largest open-access integrated repository for spoken-language data. Prof. Charles B. Chang has been awarded the Early Career Contribution Award for this year’s Chao Prize. Prof. Charles B. Chang has been awarded the Early Career Contribution Award in recognition of his outstanding early career contributions to the study of bilingual speech and language development, as well as his demonstrated leadership and international impact in advancing language science. Through meticulous experimental phonetic analyses, he has demonstrated that a speaker’s first language can change under the influence of a second language within a relatively short period of time, leading a breakthrough in language science at the international level. His research continues to investigate factors that drive language change when multiple languages interact in the bilingual and multilingual mind, advancing understanding of cross‑linguistic influence, heritage language speech and the dynamic nature of multilingual sound systems. For biographies of the two laureates, please visit the website of the Yuen Ren Chao Prize in Language Science.