News

PolyU IHERD and COMP launch PolyInterview to support interview preparation

The PolyInterview, an AI-powered interview practice platform developed by IHERD and the Department of Computing, is now open for student trial use. Mastering job interviews requires rigorous practice for organising personal experiences into clear and coherent responses and communicating effectively, yet students often lack these opportunities. To bridge this gap, PolyInterview offers a realistic practice environment with AI digital humans. Driven by multiple AI agents, our system customizes questions based on target job descriptions and personal resumes. After the interview, students receive detailed feedback on their language, facial expressions, and body movements, evaluated through established frameworks like KSA and STAR.  With AI-powered features, PolyInterview allows the students to: Practise job interview questions tailored to your target job and your own background; Engage in a natural interview practice with a human-like AI interviewer; Receive structured and comprehensive feedback to improve your content, delivery, and overall interview presence; Review previous interview sessions, revisit detailed reports, and track your growth over time, and continuously improve your interview skills. Please note that, as the platform is currently in the trial stage, our system can only support a limited number of users to experience the full interview process at the same time. If the system reaches its limit, it will automatically ask you to book your interview sessions in advance. The platform can be accessed via PolyUWLAN at https://polyinterview.comp.polyu.edu.hk/. Students may make a booking through the built-in booking function on the platform. Each booking slot is 1 hour. Students without a booking may still be admitted if spare capacity is available, but priority will be given to students with confirmed bookings.   If you have any questions, suggestions, or technical issues, please feel free to contact us at zyuanwen@polyu.edu.hk.

ETI Salon #6: AI as a tool for learning data science and learning interview skills

The 6th Education Transformation and Innovation (ETI) Salon, held on 27 April 2026 (Monday), focused on the practical integration of AI to advance the PolyU Education 4.0 initiative. The session explored how AI acts as a catalyst for student-centered learning by shifting the focus from technical barriers to higher-order mastery.  Professor Jian HUANG, Chair Professor of Department of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and Department of Applied Mathematics presented a topic “AI as a Tool for Learning Data Science”, introduced the concept of AI-powered data science education, emphasising a move away from traditional curriculum-based inputs toward a competence-based model. By utilising the LAMBDA large model-based data agent, students can bypass the steep learning curves of coding and syntax to focus on the "4T" framework: Data, Statistical, Computational, and Ethical thinking. This approach seeks to democratise data education, making it accessible to beginners and ensuring that learners prioritise critical analysis and real-world application over routine programming tasks. Complementing this technical focus, Dr Zhiyuan WEN, Research Assistant Professor, Institute for Higher Education Research and Development (IHERD) and Department of Computing presented a topic “AI as a Tool for Learning Interview Skills” debuting a platform called PolyInterview, an AI-driven platform designed to prepare students for an increasingly competitive job market. Recognising the high anxiety and limited opportunities for realistic practice, the platform provides a scalable solution for developing essential interview skills. PolyInterview employs digital human interviewers with distinct personalities to simulate dynamic, multimodal conversations that assess both professional competency and communication style. Through the STAR framework and real-time feedback on verbal and non-verbal cues, the system provides students with personalized coaching that was previously difficult to scale. Collectively, these presentations demonstrated that AI is not merely a supplementary tool but a fundamental partner in fostering an interactive and personalized educational environment that equips students with both specialised knowledge and vital career competencies. PolyInterview is now available for a trial experience, and all PolyU staff and students are warmly welcomed to provide their feedback.

PolyU and Fudan University strengthen ties to drive AI-powered education transformation and innovation

PolyU warmly welcomed a delegation from Fudan University (FDU) on 23 April 2026 (Thur), marking a significant reciprocal visit following the delegation led by Prof. CAO Jiannong, Vice President (Education) and Director of the Institute for Higher Education Research and Development (IHERD) to FDU in October 2025. This reciprocal visit provided a vital platform for both institutions to engage in in-depth discussions regarding the evolution of higher education and to explore strategic opportunities for deepening cooperation in AI-driven research and cross-regional educational initiatives.   Prof. Cao, Dr Kelly CHAN, Associate Director of IHERD and Head of Digital Transformation Division, Prof. Daniel SHEK, Associate Vice President (Undergraduate Programme), Prof. XIAO Bin of the Department of Computing, and Prof. CHENG Ran of the Department of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence received the delegation led by Prof. XU Lei, former Vice President and Director of the Teaching Guidance Committee of FDU.   Centered on the theme of "Future Learning Modes and Pedagogical Paradigm Shifts in the AI Era," the exchange focused on how AI can support data and equipment sharing within cross-regional laboratories. Both parties discussed synergies between PolyU’s industry-driven curriculum and Fudan’s undergraduate education reforms, specifically examining the "1+1+1" collaborative cultivation model as a blueprint for AI-age talent development. The session concluded with a shared commitment to building a robust academic ecosystem that addresses the technological challenges of the future. 

PolyU and Beijing Institute of Technology strengthen strategic partnership to advance AI-driven education and research innovation

PolyU welcomed a delegation from Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT) on 16 April 2026 (Thur). Both parties engaged in in-depth discussions on the latest education research advancements and discuss deepening strategic collaboration opportunities in AI and cross-border educational programmes. Prof. Cao Jiannong, Vice President (Education) and Director of Institute for Higher Education Research and Development (IHERD), Dr Kelly CHAN, Associate Director of IHERD and Head of Digital Transformation Division, Prof. HU Xiangen, Director of Educational Research Centre, Prof. Yang CHAI, Director of Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT), Associate Dean of Faculty of Science (Research) and Chair Professor of Semiconductor Physics, Prof. Haibo HU, Associate Head and Professor of Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Ms Iris TANG, Senior Partnership Development Manager, Mainland Development Office warmly received the delegation led by Prof. WANG Bo, Vice President of BIT. PolyU has launched the PolyU Education 4.0 (E4.0) initiative respond to rapid AI advancements and a changing educational landscape. Through E4.0, PolyU is transforming learning and teaching by integrating AI and smart technologies into a student-centred approach that fosters innovation, expands the use of educational technologies, and prepares students for the future. The delegation discussed synergies between the two institutions’ digital transformation initiatives, recent education research accomplishments and discuss the future of AI-empowered education. Both parties shared insights on integrating AI into teaching and learning, specifically focusing on E4.0 framework and BIT’s future university paradigm. The session included a formal exchange of agreements between Prof. Cao and Prof. Wang. This visit underscores the commitment of both PolyU and BIT to fostering a academic ecosystem that addresses technological challenges through shared expertise and institutional innovation. We look forward to transforming these shared visions into concrete, long-term collaborations that will help shape the future of teaching and learning.

Briefing Session for Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) Transition

The Briefing Session for Canvas LMS Transition, co-organised by IHERD and ITS, was held successfully online on 15 April 2026, with nearly 400 staff members in attendance. This strong turnout reflects the University’s commitment to a smooth and well-supported transition to Canvas LMS. The session commenced with opening remarks by Professor CAO Jiannong, Vice President (Education) and Director of IHERD, who underscored the importance of the Canvas transition in enhancing teaching and learning experiences, and encouraged colleagues to take advantage of the training and support available in the coming months. To help staff prepare for adopting Canvas—especially colleagues transitioning in the upcoming Summer Term—ITS will offer hands-on training courses designed to build confidence and practical skills in Canvas LMS. Staff are strongly encouraged to participate in one or more of the following course types: Canvas Basic for Instructors Prepare Course Content for Canvas Canvas Assessment for Instructors Additional workshops will be organised before the start of the coming semesters to ensure all staff receive the necessary support.  Our transition to Canvas is driven by the University’s Strategic Plan to foster a dynamic and engaging teaching and learning environment under the PolyU Education 4.0 initiative. The selection of Canvas LMS is grounded in rigorous analysis, benchmarking against pedagogic and technical criteria, and comprehensive teacher and student feedback, which validated Canvas’s capacity to provide the agility required for dynamic and interactive student learning experiences.

Prof. Barbara OAKLEY shares how to build minds in the age of AI and reveals why smarter technology is making us "dumber"

On 13 April 2026 (Monday), The Institute for Higher Education Research and Development (IHERD) was honored to host Prof. Barbara OAKLEY for a featured session of the IHERD Distinguished Speaker Series. A world-renowned expert in the sciences of learning, Prof. Oakley delivered a provocative and timely seminar titled, "Building Minds in the Age of AI: Why Smarter Technology Is Making Us Dumber." Prof. Oakley is a Distinguished Professor of Engineering at Oakland University, a 2023 Harold McGraw Prize winner, and the creator of Learning How to Learn, one of the world’s most popular Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). Her best-selling books, including A Mind for Numbers and Learn Like a Pro, are celebrated for translating complex neuroscience into practical, life-changing study habits. Navigating the Intersection of Neuroscience and AI During the seminar, Prof. Oakley explored the critical intersection of human neuroscience and generative AI, providing a roadmap for maintaining cognitive depth in an automated world. She highlighted the distinction between two essential learning systems: The Declarative System: Step-by-step and flexible, yet demanding of conscious effort. The Procedural (Automatic) System: Fast, intuitive, and habitual—the bedrock of true expertise. Prof. Oakley cautioned that over-reliance on AI for instant answers risks bypassing the procedural system. "If we offload all our thinking to technology, we bypass the unconscious habit-formation part of the brain where intuition resides," she noted. In the age of AI, the internalisation of knowledge is more critical than ever. From "Grokking" to Mastery A key highlight of the lecture was Prof. Oakley’s comparison between modern AI development and human neural pathways. Referencing the seminal 2017 paper "Attention is All You Need," she explained how transformer-based models mirror human information flow. She introduced the concept of "Grokking"—a phase where over-trained AI models transition from mere memorisation to simplified, intuitive patterns. Prof. Oakley argued that human learners must reach a similar state of "automaticity" to truly master a subject. This is achieved through techniques like interleaving (mixing different topics) and memorising foundational information to free up working memory for higher-level problem-solving. The Future of Pedagogy The event concluded with a discussion on the balance between lecture-based and active learning. Prof. Oakley emphasised that while active learning is vital for deep understanding, structured lectures remain an efficient way to transmit foundational knowledge. This balanced perspective aligns with the PolyU Education 4.0 (E4.0) initiative, which champions a student-centred approach to teaching. During an engaging Q&A session, Prof. Oakley addressed the practical benefits of AI in language learning, as it provides students with immediate feedback and encourages constant interaction. In addition to the IHERD Distinguished Speaker Series, Prof. Oakley delivered a dedicated seminar for students entitled “How Your Brain Really Learns: Practical Strategies for Students,” sparking vibrant discussion and providing actionable tools for academic success.

Fifth ETI Salon invites HUST and WUT to share insights from AI curricula to data architecture

On 25 March 2026 (Wednesday), the Fifth Education Transformation and Innovation (ETI) Salon was held at the PolyU campus. The event brought together experts from Huazhong University of Science & Technology (HUST) and Wuhan University of Technology (WUT) to share the digital transformation journeys of their respective universities. Professor CAO Jiannong, Vice President (Education) and Director of IHERD, opened the session by expressing his deep appreciation for the advanced digital strategies implemented at these institutions. He noted that the progress made by both universities provides a compelling roadmap for the future of student-centred learning. Professor Wang Linling, Professor in the School of Environmental Science and Engineering and Associate Dean of Qiming College (HUST), shared a comprehensive look at the "Qiming College" initiatives. She detailed how HUST is moving beyond traditional models to create an AI-empowered ecosystem. Central to this vision is a curriculum redesign that includes compulsory AI literacy for all students and the development of 15 "AI+ Micro-Majors" that bridge technical expertise with fields such as medicine and the humanities. Professor Wang emphasised the use of "Huaxiaozhi", an intelligent tutor, alongside a dual-teacher model to provide adaptive, personalised academic guidance. This shift focuses on mapping student competencies through "digital twins", ensuring that education is tailored to individual capacity-building rather than mere knowledge acquisition. Professor Ma Bin, Director of the Information Office at Wuhan University of Technology (WUT), transitioned the discussion towards the underlying digital architecture required to sustain such innovation. He introduced WUT’s "13410" framework, which prioritises a data-driven approach to university governance. A key highlight was the "One Data Item, One Source" principle, supported by a massive exchange network of over 8,000 interfaces to ensure data integrity across the campus. Professor Ma demonstrated the university’s data visualisation tools, specifically the "Traffic Light" plan. This system uses a dashboard linkage for senior management to monitor institutional performance in real-time, using colour-coded alerts to manage everything from research output to facilities usage. By centralising these insights into an Intelligent Operation Centre (IOC), the university has created a "digital brain" capable of scientific decision-making and efficient task scheduling. The session concluded with an interactive dialogue regarding the practical impact of these initiatives on the university community. The insights shared by Professor Wang and Professor Ma underscored a shared commitment to seizing the "new track" of digital transformation, ensuring that AI and digital technologies serves as a bridge to more effective and inclusive higher education.

Strategic Adoption of Canvas Learning Management System (LMS)

To advance PolyU Education 4.0 initiative, the University has officially selected Canvas as our new Learning Management System (LMS). Our transition to Canvas is driven by the University’s Strategic Plan to foster a dynamic and engaging teaching and learning environment. The selection of Canvas LMS is grounded in rigorous analysis, benchmarking against pedagogic and technical criteria, and comprehensive teacher and student feedback, which validated Canvas’s capacity to provide the agility required for dynamic and interactive student learning experiences.   Enhanced Pedagogical Capabilities Key benefits of Canvas include: Intuitive Course Management: A modern and user-friendly interface Advanced Learning Analytics: Various data dashboards on student engagement Superior Mobile App: Accessing courses and staying connected anywhere Phased Change Approach Summer Term 2025/26 – Each School/Department will be required to nominate at least 30% subjects to transition to Canvas. Semester One 2026/27 – With the official launch of Canvas, at least 50% of the subjects in your School/Department must transition to Canvas. Semester Two 2026/27 – At least 80% of the subjects in your School/Department must transition to Canvas. Blackboard Original Course View will reach its end-of-service on 31 December 2026, after which all subjects will become read-only. Summer Term 2026/27 – All subjects must be transitioned to Canvas for Summer Term 2026/27 and beyond. Key Milestone Comprehensive Support and Training To ensure a seamless migration, multi-tiered supports and training will be provided, such as training workshops in hybrid mode, self-service resources, and online/telephone support services. ITS will keep all the teaching staff informed about the training schedule and support resources available for the new LMS.  For details, please refer to the Ready for Canvas webpage. 

Fourth ETI Salon features Zhejiang University and PolyU experts charting the roadmap for AI-driven digital transformation

On 27 February 2026, the Fourth Education Transformation and Innovation (ETI) Salon was successfully held, shifting the dialogue from pedagogical concepts to the structural and technical foundations required to realise the PolyU Education 4.0 (E4.0) vision. Hosted by Professor CAO Jiannong, Vice President (Education), who serves as the Chairman of the Digital Transformation Committee (DTC), the event focused on the dual necessity of AI transformation and digital transformation, emphasising that AI applications risk "building on sand" without a robust, unified data foundation. Professor Xuesong ZHAI, Chair of Science and Technology Education at Zhejiang University, shared the "Zhejiang University Experience" in integrating AI across a top-tier institution. He introduced their "Red Page Book", a strategic blueprint that provides clear ethical guidelines and operational rules for AI use in research and teaching. Professor Zhai highlighted the innovative "AI+X" multidisciplinary programme, which co-nurtures PhD students across computer science and other disciplines to foster cross-domain innovation. He demonstrated how AI-powered "Reverse Engineering" in coding classes allows students to move from mature AI-generated models to granular problem-solving, and shared cutting-edge research on using facial and gesture recognition to support student mental health and embodied intelligence in the classroom. Providing the institutional roadmap for PolyU, Dr Kelly CHAN, Associate Director and Head of Digital Transformation Division at IHERD, unveiled the University’s Digital Transformation (DT) Blueprint. Transitioning from the successful pilot of the Graduate School Data Hub to a university-wide initiative, Dr Chan discussed that legacy systems must be replaced by a modern three-layer architecture—comprising a foundational Data Hub (the "plumbing"), integrated Business Functions, and an Innovation Layer for AI-driven decision-making. This framework aims to create a "Single Source of Truth" that enables PolyU to respond to educational changes with unprecedented agility. Dr Chan emphasised DT is not technology alone — it’s about people, culture, and shared purpose. Transformation begins with a shared vision (E4.0) and grows through systematic frameworks, sound governance, empowered people, The salon concluded with a discussion on the role of human agency in an automated era. The panel addressed the concept of "Embodied Cognition", noting that while AI can provide massive, personalised resources and simulate complex environments via the Metaverse, it cannot replace the essential "human touch"—the emotional support, mentorship, and physical interaction that define a holistic education. In his closing remarks, Professor Cao reminded colleagues that the transformation is a deeply human journey. He noted that while the technology is evolving rapidly, the ultimate goal of the E4.0 initiative is to empower both teachers and students through a systematic, culture-led digital evolution.

Third ETI Salon showcases Peking University, Tianjin University and PolyU experts exploring AI-Driven strategies for education transformation

On 20 January 2026, the Third Education Transformation and Innovation (ETI) Salon was held, marking a transition from the theoretical foundations of Education 4.0 to the identification of practical measures for university-wide implementation. Hosted by Professor Jiannong CAO, Vice President (Education), the event featured a distinguished panel of experts from PolyU, Peking University, and Tianjin University, drawing over 100 participants for a deep dive into how technology can shift students from passive receivers of information to self-directed learners. Professor Shirley NGAI, Associate Head of PolyU’s Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and a UGC Teaching Award recipient, shared her successful model for transforming allied health education. To address the "clinical gap" where students struggle to apply knowledge in high-pressure hospital settings, Professor Ngai detailed a tiered technology approach: using VR/AR for early immersion, high-fidelity mannequin simulations for decision-making training, and specialised AI tutors to provide personalised feedback on complex anatomy cases. She emphasised that these tools allow teachers to evolve from content providers into mentors who focus on the "human touch" and quality assurance. Providing a broader institutional perspective, Professor Wenxin LI, Associate Dean of School of Electronics Engineering and Computer Science, Peking University, shared her University's comprehensive AI education framework. The model delivers AI literacy across three layers: specialised AI majors, AI-integrated Computer Science majors, and general AI literacy for all students, including those in the humanities. Professor Li highlighted PKU’s requirement for all undergraduates to learn Python since 2018 and introduced "Botzone," a gamified platform where students develop AI programs for competition. This approach, she noted, fosters an environment where students become creators of AI rather than mere users. Professor Yanli LIU, Associate professor of School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Tianjin University introduced the cutting-edge concept of the "Virtual Professor"—a high-level digital twin designed to assist in teaching. She explained how "AI for Science" (AI4S) is replacing complex calculations, thereby redefining the classroom’s purpose to focus on high-level human intelligence skills like imagination and critical thinking. Her system allows students to offload routine tasks, such as literature reviews, to a digital assistant, freeing them to pursue creative engineering solutions and interdisciplinary exploration. The salon concluded with a powerful reflection on the future of the teaching profession. The panel reached a consensus that while AI will not replace teachers, teachers who embrace AI will inevitably replace those who do not.