RISA People

Kenneth Fong is a Professor and Associate Head (Research, Innovation, and Knowledge Transfer), Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Director of the Research Centre for Assistive Technology at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU).  He is also the management committee member of the Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things and the University Research Facility in Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience (UBSN) respectively. Besides, he is the chairman of University Ethics, Diversity and Inclusion Committee and the elected member of Senate, PolyU.

Prof. Fong's background training is in occupational therapy. He had been programme leaders of the BSc (Hons)OT, MOT, and MOT(China) programmes. He is now the Editor-in-Chief of Hong Kong Journal of Occupational Therapy (HKJOT), member of Community Chest and honorary advisors of several NGOs and supporting organizations for people with chronic diseases and disabilities in Hong Kong. He is the chairman of the Education Committee and Examination Committee of the Occupational Therapists Board. In addition, he is a member of the Supplementary Medical Professions Council and the Occupational Therapists Board respectively.

Prof. Fong received the Department Outstanding Teaching Award in 2011 and 2018, the Faculty Team Teaching Award of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences in 2010 and 2019 respectively. He has completed supervision for 8 PhD students. Currently, he is supervising 4 PhD students and 5 DHSc students as chief supervisor and co-supervising 7 PhD students. His undergraduate and postgraduate students have received numerous awards in the design of assistive technology products in both local and international events including the Global Students Innovation Challenge, i-CREATe, in Asia. In 2024, he received the best paper award from UBSN of PolyU and was awarded the World's Top 2% Scientists (Rehabilitation) by Stanford.

As the Principal Investigator, Prof. Fong has received competitive public research grants in the last 5 years include the following:

• Research Impact Fund (RIF) (R5028, 2021-), Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee, Hong Kong

• General Research Fund (GRF) (15105919M, 2019-22), Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee, Hong Kong

• Innovation and Technology Fund – Mid-stream Research Programme for Universities (MRP/011/17X, 2018-21), Innovation and Technology Commission, Hong Kong

• Beat Drugs Fund (BDF190052, 2019-2023), Narcotics Division, Security Bureau, Hong Kong

• Certificate in Child Mental Health, University of Hong Kong
• Professional Diploma in Occupational Therapy, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Professional Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University
• Postgraduate Diploma in Biomechanics, University of Strathclyde
• Bachelor of Science (Health Studies), University of Paisley
• Master of Science in Health Care (Occupational Therapy), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Doctor of Philosophy (Education), University of Hull

• Registered Occupational Therapist (Part I)
• Occupational Therapist Registered