News and Events

Innovative education pedagogies garner the Global Education Award and major awards in QS Reimagine Education Awards

PolyU strives to advance teaching and learning innovations and to develop cutting-edge educational technologies for delivering rich, high-quality learning experience to students. With their innovative teaching and learning projects, three PolyU teams won a Gold Award, two Silver Awards and one of the two overall awards, namely the Global Education Award, at the QS Reimagine Awards 2024. This represents an exceptional PolyU performance, particularly as it is the first Hong Kong institution to receive the overall award.   Interdisciplinary smart solution wins Gold Award and Global Education Award The interdisciplinary team led by Dr Rodney Chu, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Applied Social Sciences, developed a solution leveraging the synergy between various educational technology solutions to adapt to the learning habits of the new generation of tech-savvy students.

Sixteen PolyU academics recognised amongst world’s most highly cited researchers

Sixteen* scholars from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have been recognised in the list of“Highly Cited Researchers 2024” by Clarivate Analytics. Their inclusion is a testament to the University’s research and academic excellence, dedicated to making broad positive societal impact. This annual list recognises researchers for significant impact in their respective research fields. Each researcher selected has authored multiple highly-cited papers that have ranked in the top 1% by citations for their fields and publication year in the Web of Science over the past 11 years. This year, a total of 6,636 researchers from 59 countries and regions from a diverse range of fields have been named as Highly Cited Researchers.

PolyU and Times Higher Education co-host THE Global AI Forum, exploring the challenges and opportunities for higher education

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Times Higher Education (THE) co-hosted the THE Global AI Forum today to explore the theme of higher education in the artificial intelligence (AI) era. The event brought together about 40 leading scholars and thought leaders in the fields of higher education and AI from more than 10 countries and regions worldwide. They shared insights into the impact of AI on the development of higher education and discussed potential collaboration among institutions, with a view to addressing global challenges and embracing opportunities. Officiating guests included Ms WU Cheng, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; Dr Jeff SZE, Acting Secretary for Education of the HKSAR Government; Mr Tim LUI, Chairman of the University Grants Committee; Ms Simone DILENA, President (Asia Pacific) of THE, and Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President.

THE Central Asia Universities Forum 2024

On October 16, 2024, Prof. Daniel T.L. SHEK, Associate Vice President (Undergraduate Programme), participated in the Times Higher Education (THE) Central Asia Universities Forum 2024 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, accompanied by an IPAO team. The Forum, supported by prominent organisations such as the World Bank, UNESCO and the British Council, provided a platform for leading scholars to explore the evolving educational landscape influenced by emerging technologies. A key focus of the discussions was the necessity for universities to balance theoretical knowledge with practical skills to effectively address contemporary challenges. During a panel discussion titled “Innovating the Curriculum: Aligning Curricula with Labour Market Demands in Central Asia,” Prof. SHEK shared insights from the University's Service-Learning initiatives, highlighting the importance of developing critical mindsets and transferable skills among students.

Briefing on the QS Reputation Surveys Nomination Exercises for Ranking Year 2026

On September 23, 2024, the briefing commenced with opening remarks from Prof. Ben Young, Vice President (Student and Global Affairs), followed by a presentation on the QS Reputation Surveys nomination exercises by representatives from IPAO. Nearly 100 academic and administrative staff attended to refresh their understanding of the ranking process and to learn about new strategies for the upcoming exercise. Prof. Young emphasised the benefits of the University’s participation in the QS Reputation Surveys, underscoring their significance for both institutional and subject-level standings in global rankings. The IPAO representatives provided an overview of the latest QS ranking methodology and outlined the nomination submission process. It is anticipated that through the collaborative efforts of faculties, schools, and various academic and non-academic departments alongside IPAO, the University’s reputation will be appropriately represented in the QS Surveys.

THE Digital Universities Asia Conference 2024

Dr Wu Xiao-Ming, Associate Professor of the Department of Computing and Dr Julia Chen, Director of the Educational Development Centre joined the Times Higher Education (THE) Digital Universities Asia Conference in Bali, Indonesia, from 1 – 3 July, along with the IPAO team. Convening influential voices from leaders in higher education, industry and policy-making, the Conference not only explored the future of digital transformation, but also demonstrated how Asia’s higher education sector can empower faculty, students and support staff through the use of cutting-edge digital tools and technologies. During the panel discussion on "Authentic learning practices: Addressing misinformation in the age of ChatGPT", Dr Chen shared PolyU's innovative approach to using AI responsibly. She explained how the University leverages generative AI systems to enhance students' critical thinking skills and emphasised the significance of digital literacy and ethical reasoning. In the panel discussion on "Setting ethical boundaries for AI systems: Navigating uncharted territories", Dr Wu shared some of the challenges of the ethical complexities involved in AI development. She emphasised the importance of data security and privacy, and discussed strategies such as engaging with staff and students to establish transparent guidelines on AI development and deployment, with the aim of maintaining the principles of fairness and accountability to combat bias within AI systems. In discussion with industry leaders, the PolyU delegation demonstrated the University's aspiration to be an innovative world-class institution by embracing new technologies to spark innovation and creativity in teaching and learning, while aligning their efforts with the principles of academic integrity in the digital world.

PolyU leaps to 67th in the U.S. News and World Report’s Best Global Universities Rankings, placing third in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has attained encouraging results in the U.S. News and World Report’s 2024-2025 Best Global Universities Rankings, surging 33 places to 67th in the world. The University has also been ranked 9th in Asia and third in Hong Kong. In the subject rankings, PolyU has a total of 17 subjects being ranked among the top 50 in the world, with three of them among the top ten, including Civil Engineering (2nd), Engineering (5th), and Mechanical Engineering (6th).

PolyU shines in global university rankings: a testament to its excellence and impact

PolyU has reinforced its position as a global leader in academic excellence by securing a record-high result in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2025 and making a strong debut in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2024. These impressive achievements demonstrate PolyU's unwavering commitment to providing high-quality education, conducting impactful research, and making significant contributions to society.

THE Global Sustainable Development Congress 2024

Professor Christina Wong, Director of Research and Innovation at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), and the IPAO team were invited to participate in the Times Higher Education (THE) Global Sustainable Development Congress in Bangkok, Thailand, from 10 to 13 June 2024. More than 3,000 global thought leaders, innovators and academics gathered to discuss solutions for a sustainable future.   Prof. Wong delivered an informative presentation during the panel discussion on “Global collaboration in research: Uniting minds for a sustainable tomorrow”.  Together with two other panellists, she shared insights on integrating the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into research strategies.   PolyU has made significant contributions to the SDGs through research and innovative technology projects. The University's combined efforts led to its impressive debut in THE Impact Rankings 2024, attaining the 77th spot globally. This ranking reflects the University’s commendable achievements and commitment to sustainability. 

PolyU reaches record high in QS World University Rankings — Striving to address challenges of land and space shortages; Contributing to the development of an international education hub

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has reached new heights in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2025, surging eight places from the previous year to 57th. The University has also achieved highly commendable results in several performance indicators, including the “International Research Network” and “Citations per Faculty”, where it rated second and third in Hong Kong respectively. PolyU has been relentlessly pursuing excellence and actively attracting top-tier global talents. Efforts made by the University to this end include recruiting 13 internationally renowned scholars through the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government’s Global STEM Professorship Scheme to strengthen the relevant disciplines. The QS ranking clearly reflects the University’s teaching and research quality as well as its global impact.