News

PolyU implements innovative, personalised healthcare pedagogies with AI and frontier technologies to advance the PolyU Education 4.0 initiative

In response to rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and a changing educational landscape, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has launched its PolyU Education 4.0 initiative, aiming to transform learning and teaching by integrating frontier technologies including AI, the metaverse and immersive experiences into a student-centred approach that fosters innovation and promotes the widespread use of AI and cutting-edge educational technologies in learning and teaching.   In the field of healthcare education, there is a growing global shift towards competency-based and interprofessional education, creating a pressing need for more effective and innovative educational models. The PolyU Department of Health Technology and Informatics (HTI) is proactively leveraging AI and various frontier technologies to reshape healthcare technology education and implement the PolyU Education 4.0 initiative. Prof. CAI Jing, Head and Chair Professor of Medical Physics and Intelligent Oncology of HTI, said, “The PolyU Education 4.0 initiative represents a major shift in how we approach education, emphasising personalised, interactive and flexible teaching that enables students to achieve autonomous learning. Transformative technologies like AI are fundamentally reshaping healthcare education and clinical training. We are committed to integrating these cutting-edge technologies into learning and teaching to overcome the limitations of traditional clinical education and to elevate both the effectiveness and quality of healthcare technology training. Our goal is to nurture a new generation of healthcare technology professionals who combine technical expertise with innovative thinking and practical capabilities — graduates who will drive sustainable advancement in the healthcare technology sector across Hong Kong, the Nation and the world.” Among the Department’s initiatives is the AI-powered Learning Activity Management System (LAMS), led by Prof. WONG Chi-ming, Associate Professor of HTI. LAMS transforms the traditional approach of providing identical materials to all students by offering personalised, syllabus-aligned learning pathways for each student. The system maintains full instructor control throughout the entire teaching process, from defining learning outcomes to approving materials, while leveraging AI to generate personalised content, provide real-time performance analytics, and offer automated feedback and progress tracking. This enables students to study independently, collaborate with peers or receive AI-guided tutoring while enabling teachers to maintain comprehensive oversight of the learning process. Early evaluation indicates that LAMS effectively enhances student engagement and learning outcomes. In the realm of immersive pedagogy, the Metaverse Imaging Anatomy Gallery, created by Prof. Helen LAW Ka-wai, Associate Head of HTI, is reimagining anatomical education. The platform harnesses the metaverse, dialogue and gamification to transform passive study into an active, three-dimensional virtual reality experience that facilitates authentic collaborative learning, breaking through the limitations of traditional two-dimensional online learning. Students can explore an interactive digital learning environment at their own pace, moving beyond static diagrams to engage with educational content in innovative ways. For instance, they can navigate through the medical imaging anatomy module, visualising the human body layer by layer in ways impossible with textbooks. The platform features an integrated AI chatbot that serves as a 24-hour guide, answering questions and providing instant feedback. This innovative approach is enhancing student engagement and deepening their understanding of complex anatomical concepts. The Hybrid Immersive Virtual Environment Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (HiVE CPR) Drill, jointly developed by Prof. Shara LEE Wee-yee, Associate Professor of HTI, and a research team of the PolyU Industrial Centre, challenges the common misconception that immersive environments are unsuitable for large-scale practical skills training. This immersive skills training system provides a highly realistic simulation of a mass casualty traffic accident on Nathan Road, complete with ambient street noise and up to eight wireless manikins, each with individually configurable physiological conditions. This innovative approach enables a cohort of 120 students to complete high-quality, hands-on CPR practice within a single two-hour session by rotating through multiple training stations in small groups, achieving a scale of clinical training that conventional approaches simply cannot match. Students must complete multiple tasks in simulated emergency and high-pressure scenarios, including calling for emergency assistance, performing CPR and using an automated external defibrillator. Upon completion, the system displays real-time performance data immediately and provides each student with individualised feedback on their compression depth, rate and interruptions. Participating students report that the simulation effectively enhances their confidence in performing CPR and significantly increases their willingness to voluntarily assist casualties in future emergencies. This attitudinal shift holds great significance for safeguarding public health and safety. HTI focuses on academic excellence in its “4M” core educational areas: medical laboratory science, medical imaging and radiation science, medical physics and medical data science. With state-of-the-art teaching facilities and advanced technologies, the Department is fully committed to enhancing teaching quality and strengthening clinical education, providing solid support for the transformation of healthcare education and continuing to implement the PolyU Education 4.0 initiative through multiple innovative pedagogical approaches. Prof. Cai added that all innovative teaching initiatives implemented by the Department were driven by clear educational objectives, aimed at extensively applying emerging technologies to improve the quality and effectiveness of learning and teaching. The Department will continue to deepen the practical application of the PolyU Education 4.0 initiative, further refine its teaching facilities, platforms and pedagogical approaches, provide exemplary practices for the future development of healthcare and clinical education, and make greater contributions to nurturing the next generation of healthcare technology professionals.

Soft Launch of Canvas@PolyU Learning Management System (LMS)

The Canvas@PolyU, our new Learning Management System (LMS), is now officially live and accessible at https://canvas.polyu.edu.hk. The “Canvas Teacher” mobile App is also available for use, and this tutorial provides you with step-by-step guidance on how to download and log in to the mobile App. When logging in Canvas@PolyU, you will see "PolyU Canvas - Staff Resources" section: One-stop resources for Student and Staff, such as upcoming trainings, training recordings, Virtual Assistant, user guides, etc.  Sandbox Course:  As mentioned in the Briefing Session for Canvas LMS Transition on 15 April 2026, a dedicated Sandbox course is created in Canvas. The Sandbox is a course space that allows you to create course content and explore diverse features of Canvas (with no student enrolled).  The Sandbox is created for those who held Instructor or Teaching Assistant role in Blackboard during the previous academic year.   If the Sandbox course is not visible to you and you would like to access it, please click this link to request one. Please be reminded that we are providing 5 tiers of assistance designed to address every facet of the transition: School/Departmental Support: The Computer Liaison Officer (CLO) of your School/Department Self-Service: The Teaching on Canvas LMS Self-service Portal Instant Help: The Canvas Virtual Assistant for Instructor at the Teaching on Canvas LMS portal and at the front page of Canvas@PolyU Logistics and Timeline: FAQs at IHERD’s Ready for Canvas webpage, or email Readyfor.Canvas@polyu.edu.hk  Technical Support: Central ITS support via Online ServiceDesk, Hotline 2766-5900, WhatsApp/WeChat 6577-9669 Since ITS has already contacted the Course Coordinator in your School/Department, if you are interested in early adoption for the upcoming Summer Term, please contact your departmental Course Coordinator to ensure sufficient time for course set-up. For enquiries, please email ReadyFor.Canvas@polyu.edu.hk.  

PolyU x Tencent Agentic AI Seminar meets immense Interest from students eager to master future-ready skills

The PolyU x Tencent Agentic AI Seminar was successfully hosted on 28 April 2026 (Tuesday), drawing an overwhelming response from over 300 students and staff. PolyU has recently launched the PolyU Education 4.0 initiative (E4.0), designed to redefine teaching and learning for the AI era. By adopting an AI-powered and student-centred approach, PolyU aims to create new value for its community, aligning its academic vision with Tencent’s global commitment to popularising AI education. In his welcoming remarks, Professor CAO Jiannong, Vice President (Education) and Director of IHERD, highlighted that under the E4.0 framework, learning is no longer confined to the walls of a classroom. He noted that AI agents are effectively lowering learning barriers and enabling highly personalised educational paths. Professor Cao expressed his gratitude for Tencent’s strong support and announced the forthcoming launch of an AI student community, designed to help students from all disciplines connect and master emerging AI tools. Mr Ethan KWOK, Director of the Greater Bay Area Public Affairs Department at Tencent, also addressed the audience, noting that he was deeply impressed by the high registration numbers and the vibrant enthusiasm displayed by the PolyU students. The seminar featured diverse participation from all Faculties and Schools across the university, with students eager to explore the new era of AI coding and agentic AI. Experts from Tencent demonstrated how AI agents allow students to transform creative ideas into working prototypes without any prior coding experience. During the sharing session, students showcased real-world applications of these tools; a student from the Department of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DSAI) shared how AI helped her organise complex study notes, while a student from the School of Fashion and Textiles (SFT) used an AI agent to polish her professional website portfolio. As the event concluded, students were learnt about the upcoming internship opportunities and a hackathon competition form Tencent. PolyU and Tencent are committed to this ongoing collaboration, ensuring students are equipped with the skills necessary to lead in the age of AI. For those who were unable to attend the live session, a full recording of the event remains available via the official livestream link HERE.

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.