Global Minds Converge: Third PolyU-CALLS Draws 120 Participants from Asia and Beyond

ENGL successfully hosted the third PolyU Undergraduate Conference on Applied Linguistics and Language Studies (PolyU-CALLS) on 29 March 2025. The event gathered approximately 120 students and professors from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and overseas.

The Conference showcased over 50 student presentations, covering diverse topics, including linguistic landscapes, critical discourse analysis, and language policy. The Department’s Professor Shaofeng Li and ENGL alumnus Mr Paul Lee, Senior Manager of Kum Shing Group, gave plenary talks.

Prof. Eric Friginal, Head of ENGL, commended the 81 undergraduate presenters for their impressive research, noting that this experience marks a significant milestone in their academic journey. The event highlighted the growing importance of applied linguistics research in the era of advanced technologies and generative AI.

While every presentation was commendable, the PolyU-CALLS Organising Committee annually acknowledges a select few who go above and beyond in showcasing their work. This year’s PolyU-CALLS Award Winners are:

• Best PolyU-CALLS Presentation Award: Xiaohuan Chen (Southwest University, Chongqing, China)
• Best ENGL Presentation Award: Yanning Wang (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
• Best Non-ENGL Presentation Award: Wing Yan Tse (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
• Best International Presentation Award: Alyssa Mari R. Ribo (Ateneo de Manila University, the Philippines)

Two of the award recipients, Yanning Wang (first row left) and Xianhuan Chen (first row right), share their happiness with ENGL faculty staff members.