Appointment of Prof. Anthony Mark McEnery as Chair Professor of Corpus Linguistics and AI for the Humanities

The Faculty is delighted to announce the appointment of Prof. Anthony Mark McEnery as Chair Professor of Corpus Linguistics and AI for the Humanities in the Department of English and Communication. Prof. McEnery brings a wealth of expertise and a distinguished record of scholarly excellence to ENGL and FH, and we warmly welcome him to the PolyU family. Prof. McEnery holds a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from Lancaster University (1986), a Master of Science in Information Technology from Leicester Polytechnic (1988), and a PhD in Computational Pragmatics from Lancaster University (1996). He was later awarded a Doctor of Letters (DLitt) in Linguistics by Lancaster University in 2012. His academic career began at Lancaster University, where he progressed from Lecturer in 1992 to Professor of English Language and Linguistics in 2001, and was appointed Distinguished Professor in 2013—a position he held until joining PolyU. During his tenure at LancasterU, he served in key leadership roles, including Head of the Department of Linguistics and English Language (2000–2005) and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (2008–2014). A leading authority in theoretical and applied corpus linguistics, Prof. McEnery’s research explores computational language analysis and the integration of AI techniques in linguistic studies. His work has advanced fields such as speech recognition, multilingual corpora, and ethical AI applications in the humanities, with extensive publications in top-tier journals. He has secured over £10 million in research funding and led ground-breaking projects, including the British National Corpus 2014 and EMILLE Corpora. Prof. McEnery’s contributions have earned him prestigious recognition, including Fellowships of the Academy of Social Sciences, the Global China Academy, Trinity College London, and the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce. In 2021, he was awarded the Changjiang Chair Professorship by the Chinese Ministry of Education. Notably, he has been consistently ranked among the world’s top 2% of scientists in Communication & Textual Studies (subfield: Languages & Linguistics) on Stanford University’s “World’s Top 2% Scientists” list, underscoring his profound global impact. We anticipate the innovative perspectives that Prof. McEnery will bring to ENGL and FH, enhancing our research in corpus linguistics, AI, and humanities.

PolyU’s Arts and Humanities Achieves Remarkable Rise in THE World University Rankings by Subject 2026

The Faculty has recorded a strong performance in the newly released Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject 2026, with Arts and Humanities ranked 77th globally, showing a noteworthy rise from last year. This advancement highlights the Faculty’s strengthening international standing and reflects the collective efforts of FH academics in delivering impactful research and high-quality teaching across language, communication, history, culture, and technology. THE World University Rankings by Subject evaluate the performance of universities worldwide across 11 subject areas using five core pillar criteria: Teaching, Research Environment, Research Quality, International Outlook and Industry. For more information of THE World University Rankings by Subject 2026, please visit: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/by-subject.

Call for Abstracts (deadline extended to 30 January 2026) - International Symposium on Language Science (ISLS) 2026: Interdisciplinary Research and the Legacy of Yuen Ren Chao

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, is pleased to announce the International Symposium on Language Science (ISLS) 2026: Interdisciplinary Research and the Legacy of Yuen Ren Chao (語言科學國際研討會：趙元任學術思想與跨學科研究). The Symposium will take place on 8-9 May 2026 (Friday and Saturday) at PolyU in Hong Kong. The ISLS aims to provide a platform for interdisciplinary dialogues and the exchange of ideas among leading scholars, researchers, students, and professionals in the fields of linguistics and language science. The Symposium will foster the exploration of novel concepts, the sharing of research findings, and the establishment of professional connections. Additionally, it seeks to inspire future generations of linguists and language science researchers to continue advancing these fields. The Symposium also intends to pay tribute to the remarkable contributions of Professor Yuen Ren Chao in language science. Keynote Speakers   Prof. Nai Ding                            Research Professor                                                      College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Sciences                      Zhejiang University   Prof. Roberto Filippi                 Professor of Cognitive Psychology and Multilingualism                       UCL Institute of Education   Dr Tomoyasu Horikawa            Distinguished Researcher                                                       NTT Communication Science Laboratories   Prof. Judith F. Kroll                   Distinguished Professor                                                       School of Education                                                       University of California, Irvine Themes of the Symposium   Prof. Yuen Ren Chao's Contributions to Linguistics and Language Science Bridging AI, Language, and the Humanities: Generative Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies for the Future of Language Education Corpus Linguistics and Discourse Studies Professional Communication including Health communication, Aviation Communication, etc. Methodological innovations for Probing the Developing Language Brain Neuroscience and Language Development Advances in Language research and practice Technological-enhanced translation and bilingual communication Musical, Cognitive and Social Factors in Language Processing and Learning Technology-enhanced language teaching and learning   Call for Abstracts (Submission deadline extended: 30 January 2026) - Click HERE for paper submission Please refer to the official website for more details: https://events.polyu.edu.hk/isls2026/main

Leading the Way in AI and Humanities Research

As AI brings new possibilities to all corners of society, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University is at the forefront of digital advances in disciplines such as the humanities, languages, health, neuroscience and history. Click HERE to learn more about the AI and humanities research at the Faculty.

PolyU Presidential Student Leadership Award 2025/26

A year-3 BACHC student, Xu Chang, has been awarded the Presidential Student Leadership Award of the Faculty of Humanities 2025/26. The Presidential Student Leadership Award, launched by the University in 2022/23, aims to acknowledge the leadership skills and contributions of students to their local and global communities. Xu Chang is also the recipient of the Presidential Student Leadership Award of the Department of Chinese History and Culture. The other two Departmental awardees from the Faculty are Cheng Yaxuan from the Department of English and Communication and Chen Tsz Wan Lavender from the Department of Language Science and Technology. The presentation ceremony will be held on 19 March 2026.

Associate Dean Prof. Hang Xing on Fostering Interdisciplinary Collaboration in the Humanities

Prof. Hang Xing, Associate Dean (Global Engagement), has authored an article for THE Campus on how humanities departments can build flexible structures to foster interdisciplinarity and collaboration. Click HERE to read the article.

Prof. Elaine Kwong on AI-Powered Ultrasound for Swallowing Assessment

Prof. Elaine Kwong, Associate Professor in the Department of Language Science and Technology and Associate Director of Research Institute for Smart Ageing, was featured in Ming Pao Daily to elaborate an innovative technology that combines ultrasound imaging with AI algorithms to measure oropharyngeal swallowing events. This non-invasive approach enables accurate preliminary diagnosis for elderly patients without causing harm. Click HERE to read more.

Postdoctoral Fellow Dr Sopuruchi Aboh Receives RGC Junior Research Fellow Award 2025/26

Dr Sopuruchi Aboh, Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of English and Communication, has been awarded the RGC Junior Research Fellow Scheme (JRFS) 2025/26. Dr Aboh is one of the 11 recipients from PolyU, joining a distinguished cohort of 60 awardees across Hong Kong. The RGC JRFS aims at providing promising local and non-local postdoctoral researchers at UGC-funded universities with support to advance their research career at a pivotal time, as well as to support their transition, as applicable, in taking up Assistant Professor or Research Assistant Professor positions at UGC-funded universities during the fellowship period, so as to nurture and expand a pool of research talents with a view to propelling research and development in Hong Kong and fostering a research culture.

Presentation of PolyU Faculty of Humanities Outstanding Alumni Awards

The Faculty of Humanities presented the Outstanding Alumni Awards at the 31st Congregation (FH) held on 8 November 2025. The Awards recognise alumni for their professional achievements and significant contributions to the community and their alma mater. Congratulations to the following award recipients (in alphabetical order of the last name): Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Faculty of Humanities 2025 Dr LEE Yiu-fai (Yee Kok), MH Abbot of Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple Master of Arts in Chinese Culture (2012) Department of Chinese History and Culture Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Faculty of Humanities 2025 Dr Christina LEUNG Wai Ying Vice-Principal, Salvation Army Tin Ka Ping School Doctor of Applied Language Sciences (2025) Faculty of Humanities Master of Arts in English for the Professions (2008) Department of English and Communication Outstanding Young Alumni Award of PolyU Faculty of Humanities 2025 Prof. Jack PUN Associate Professor, Department of English, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Master of Arts in English Language Studies (2011) Department of English and Communication Outstanding Young Alumni Award of PolyU Faculty of Humanities 2025 Ms WONG Kit-ying, Zelia Trilingual Emcee and Trainer, ALOFT Culture BA (Hons) in Language Studies for the Professions Department of Language Science and Technology The Faculty extends its heartfelt congratulations to all awardees for their remarkable accomplishments and dedication. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to Mr Benedict Sin Nga-yan, Director and General Manager, Myer Jewelry Manufacturer Limited; Mr Leung Lee Chung, Director, Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple; and Mr Eliot Li, Executive Director, First Shanghai Securities Limited and First Shanghai Futures Limited, for their generous support to the Faculty and for gracing the Congregation with their presence.

31st Congregation of Faculty of Humanities

Congratulations to the Class of 2025! The 31st Congregation (FH) successfully concluded on 8 November 2025. The ceremony was kicked off with opening remarks from the Faculty Dean Prof. Li Ping. This year, we were honoured to have three Guests of Honour deliver the congratulatory address: Mr Cam MacMurchy, Head of Global Media Relations and Content, Tencent, in the first session; Mr Fletch Chan, JP, Deputy Secretary for Labour and Welfare (Welfare)1, Labour and Welfare Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, in the second session; and Ms Bobo Wong, Head of Communications, Microsoft Hong Kong, in the third session. A total of 881 students graduated this year, including 693 postgraduates and 188 bachelor’s degree recipients. Awards and certificates were presented to students and Faculty members for their outstanding achievements and services. Once again, we wish all graduates a bright future and every success in their future endeavours!