Faculty Dean Prof. Li Ping Conferred at 5th Inauguration of Endowed Professorships cum 2nd Inauguration of Endowed Young Scholars

The Fifth Inauguration of Endowed Professorships cum The Second Inauguration of Endowed Young Scholars was held yesterday (12 September). The event marked the inauguration of five new Endowed Professorships, four successive Endowed Professorships, five new Endowed Young Scholar positions and one successive Endowed Young Scholar position. Our Faculty Dean, Prof. Li Ping, was conferred as the Sin Wai Kin Foundation Professor in Humanities and Technology. Prof. Li’s research sheds light on how the human brain functions when learning a new language. His findings could revolutionise the future of language acquisition and education. Click HERE to watch his Endowed Professor video. PolyU established the Endowed Professorship Scheme in 2012 to honour distinguished scholars for their outstanding academic and research achievements. With extra resources from the Scheme, Endowed Professors will be able to step up their excellent work in research and education.

DALS Student Publishes Article with Dr Nate Ming Curran in TESOL Quarterly

Our Doctor of Applied Language Sciences (DALS) student, Jinyan (Stephy) Wang, has co-authored an article with Dr Nate Ming Curran from the Department of English and Communication appearing in the top journal TESOL Quarterly. The article, titled “Competing for Views and Students: The Implications of Platformization for Online Language Teaching”, examines the accounts of two popular English teachers on the social media platform Douyin. It argues that platformization significantly impacts TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), influencing not only how language teachers construct their identities but also how the role of language teachers is perceived in the age of ubiquitous social media. Click HERE to read the full article.

In Memory of Dr Doreen Dongying WU

The Faculty of Humanities extends its heartfelt condolences on the passing of Dr Doreen Wu on 27 August 2024. Dr Wu served our Faculty with great distinction for 27 years, from 1994 until her retirement in 2021, as an Associate Professor in the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies. Dr Wu made remarkable contributions to the fields of linguistics and communication studies throughout her career. She also served as the Founding Programme Leader of the Doctor of Applied Language Sciences programme from 2012 to 2015, significantly contributing to its design and successful implementation. Her intellect and dedication will continue to impact our students and colleagues. We extend our deepest condolences to Dr Wu’s family, friends, and all those whose lives she touched. May her dedication to education and her enduring spirit continue to inspire us all. .page-title-blk__title{ color:#000000 !important; }

FH Students Participated in the 12th University Scholars Leadership Symposium

Three undergraduate students from our Faculty attended the 12th University Scholars Leadership Symposium from 6 to 9 August 2024, at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok. Organised by Humanitarian Affairs Asia, this prestigious event, held under the theme “Empowering Global Leaders for Social Change”, brought together over 500 delegates from more than 40 countries, fostering global leadership and social change. Our FH students attended the four-day event designed to inspire and equip participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to drive positive change in their communities. They shared their experience: Hamson Kwan (BAEAL) “I was given the opportunity to get in touch with the refugees at the border of Thailand and Myanmar on “Kindness Day”. I visited a refugee camp and school, and it was a priceless experience I can never forget. I was responsible for teaching a group of adorable kids how to dance. Although there were communication barriers, the smiles on our faces said everything. When you start doing something good, others will follow. Be kind.”  Rachel Chiang (BACHC) “One of the most impressive speeches was by the founder of the Hong Kong Crossroads Foundation. He shared how he fundraised for 500 computers in the early days, providing many children with access to electronics. During the Q&A session, a student revealed that he had been helped by one of these computers and now wants to help others. The thunderous applause, which even surprised the speaker, vividly illustrated the power of help and change.” Ivy Wang (BAEAL) “I gained lots of ideas from the global thought leaders, experts, and peers, significantly broadening my understanding of humanitarian topics. Additionally, it also provides a valuable opportunity for me to talk to and learn from professionals and like-minded scholars all over the world, opening doors for collaboration on projects, internships, and future employment.” Click HERE to read the full story from our students.

Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Faculty of Humanities 2024

Congratulations to the following award recipient on receiving the Faculty’s Outstanding Alumni Award: Outstanding Alumni Award in Entrepreneurial Achievement of PolyU Faculty of Humanities 2024 Mr Phil WOO Pak Fai Co-founder, allcareAI BA (Hons) in English for Business and Professional Communication (2008) Department of English and Communication Master of Design (Design Strategies) (2013) School of Design Mr Woo is a serial founder turned social entrepreneur, with diverse portfolio in digital, AI, and robotics throughout Asia. He is also a consultant and mentor for InnoHK teams at HKSTP to promote the development of I&T in Hong Kong. Starting from 2010, he co-founded Pred to deliver digital solutions to renowned corporations and consultancies. Followed by the startup and venture boom in 2014, he co-founded Catalyst Ventures and Opium Ventures, co-incubated award-winning influencer data platform Advwhere (now Cloudbreakr), which expanded across Southeast Asia and received investment from Alibaba etc. In 2018, he spun off Pren to develop unmanned robotic beverage bars for WeDrink Robotics, which became a subsidiary unmanned store of Coca-cola China. During the pandemic in 2021, he led the company to invent allcareAI, innovated the toilet seat-wrapping and bowl-sealing automation technology, which greatly saves carers’ daily procedures for taking care of the toileting needs of the seniors and people with disabilities. It is supported by PolyU and Cyberport as a featured GeronTech and SocTech startup. The Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Faculty of Humanities aims to recognise the graduates of the Faculty for their contribution to the University and Faculty, and their diverse accomplishments in various areas, including professional achievement, scholarly achievement, and community service achievement.

CBS PhD Student Achieves Top Honours in the 49th Hong Kong Youth Translation Competition

Our PhD student, Ms Hui Ka-yee Ruby, from the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies has achieved remarkable success in the 49th Hong Kong Youth Translation Competition (第49屆全港青年翻譯比賽). Ruby was awarded the champion titles for both English-Chinese and Chinese-English translation in the Open Category. In addition to our student’s individual achievements, PolyU received the Best Performance School Award. This competition, co-organised by the Hong Kong Youth Cultural and Arts Competitions, the Society of Chinese Accountants and Auditors, and the Hong Kong Translation Society, is sponsored by the HKSAR Home Affairs Department and is regarded as the most prestigious translation competition in Hong Kong. It includes sections for Open, Senior Secondary, and Junior Secondary categories.

FH Sets New Record with 18 GRF Projects Funded and Secures Over 11M in Funding

The Faculty has achieved a remarkable milestone this year, with 18 projects successfully receiving the General Research Fund (GRF), breaking the Faculty’s previous record. The funded projects span across our Departments, with nine from CBS, five from CHC, and four from ENGL. The total funding amount awarded exceeds HK$11 million, highlighting our commitment to advancing research and academic excellence. Additionally, the Early Career Scheme (ECS) have funded two projects from CBS and CHC of the FH Departments. Under the Research Grants Council, GRF aims to supplement universities’ research support to researchers who have achieved or have the potential to achieve excellence. The ECS, introduced in 2012/13, is intended to nurture junior academics. The assessment criteria include the scientific and scholarly merit of the proposal, originality, potential for social, cultural or economic application, and more. 

PolyU Students Win Awards in the Mainland-Hong Kong-Macau University Students’ Chinese Classics Recital Show 2024

The Mainland-Hong Kong-Macau University Students’ Chinese Classics Recital Show 2024 (2024年港澳及內地大專院校大學生中華經典誦讀交流展演), co-organised by Jiangsu Normal University, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the University of Macau, was successfully held on 14 June 2024. Over 350 entries were received and 30 of them from 19 institutes were shortlisted for the Recital Show. Five PolyU students participated in the event and one of them was awarded the Best Recitation Award (最佳朗讀作品獎) while the others received the Classic Splendour Award (古韻華彩獎), the Young Brilliance Award (青年風彩獎) and the New Fashion Award (時代新風獎).

Faculty Dean Prof. Li Ping Joins the Hangzhou-Hong Kong Collaborative Innovation Conference, Sharing Insights on PolyU Research in Hangzhou

Our Faculty Dean and Sin Wai Kin Foundation Professor in Humanities and Technology Prof. Li Ping participated in the Hangzhou-Hong Kong Collaborative Innovation Conference on 21 June, sharing insights about the model set by PolyU for such between-city collaborations. At the conference Prof. Li provided details on the establishment and operation of the PolyU-Hangzhou Technology and Innovation Research Institute. The conference was organised by the Hang Shi Cooperation and joined by a delegation of global representatives led by Executive Director Margaret Fong of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The University and the Hangzhou Gongshu District People’s Government signed an agreement to promote collaboration through the PolyU-Hangzhou Technology and Innovation Research Institute in 2023.

ENGL Students Triumph in 2nd FH Three Minute Thesis Competition

The Faculty hosted its 2nd Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition on 12 June, 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: CHEN Zhuoan (ENGL) First runner-up: GANAAH John (ENGL) Second runner-up: GU Chanyuan (CBS) 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 static slide. The competition aims to develop students’ communication and presentation skills, particularly in research communication. These winners will now represent the Faculty in the University-wide 3MT competition (semifinal) scheduled for 24 June. Stay tuned for more updates as our champions prepare to compete at the next level!