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PolyU’s School of Nursing ranks 31st in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024 (Nursing)

In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024, PolyU’s School of Nursing leapt forward to 31st, 2nd in Hong Kong and we are one of only 5 Asian nursing schools in the top 50.  Prof. Janelle YORKE, Chair Professor of Nursing & Head of the School of Nursing of PolyU said, “I am delighted to see these results. This represents the dedication and commitment to achieve excellence in our teaching, learning and research in nursing. Well done to all of the team at PolyU School of Nursing.”  The QS World University Rankings by Subject highlight the world's top universities in individual subject areas, covering 55 subjects as of 2024. It aims to help prospective students identify the world’s leading schools in their chosen field. The rankings are based on academic reputation, employer reputation and research impact. The table below shows our scores in detail:   School of Nursing, PolyU Ranking in 2024 31st Overall score 84.6 Academic reputation 81.1 Employer reputation 76.4 Citations per paper 91.9 H-index citations 83.4 Data retrieved from https://www.topuniversities.com/university-subject-rankings/nursing    

SN scholars received awards from the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma)

Dr Justina LIU, Associate Professor of School of Nursing, will be inducted into the International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame, and Dr Arkers WONG, Assistant Professor of School of Nursing, will be awarded the Emerging Nurse Researcher/Scholar at the 35th International Nursing Research Congress by the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma). Dr LIU is a trailblazing researcher and innovative nurse educator, dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of older adults. Her research program focuses on using cutting-edge gerontechnology to manage health issues such as fatigue, sarcopenia, low physical activity levels, falls, and low social participation among older adults with frailty. Her work has been highly influential and well evaluated by the international nursing community. She has been successful in commercializing her work and seen her honoured by regional and international awards. Dr WONG has been recognised for his extensive experience in nursing education and research, and has received numerous awards. His research interests include telehealth, mobile health (mHealth), primary health care, self-care, and health promotion and prevention. Congratulations to Dr LIU and Dr WONG. They will continue their missions to transform the future of healthcare for the benefit of the humankind. About the awards Established in 2010, the Hall of Fame recognises nurse leaders who have achieved significant and sustained international acclaim for improving the nursing profession and the people it serves.  Since 2015, the Emerging Nurse Researcher/Scholar Award has recognised early career nurse researchers and scholars from each of Sigma’s seven global regions whose research or scholarship has influenced the nursing profession and the people it serves.   

Closing ceremony for PolyU School of Nursing’s Standalone Therapeutic Music-with-Movement Programme

The closing ceremony of the funded Standalone Therapeutic Music-with-Movement Programme was held today, which marked the successful adoption of School of Nursing of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s (PolyU) gerontechnological innovation in the community for caring older adults with cognitive impairment. The ceremony was attended by Dr Laura Lo, Associate Vice President (Institutional Advancement) of PolyU together with Ms Jean HO (Chairperson), Ms Rose HO; and Dr Liliane CHAN, the representatives of the funding organisation of the programme, the Ho Cheung Suk Yuen Charitable Foundation. The Foundation had generously donated a sum of HK$ 500,000 for the development of the programme, in addition to the over HK$ 4,460,000 funding support from the Innovation and Technology Commission through the Innovative and Technology Fund for Better Living. 30 representatives (including those staff members who had participated in the programme) from 22 elderly centres and care services for older adults joined the School of Nursing of PolyU in celebration of the outstanding achievement of the programme. The Standalone Therapeutic Music-with-Movement Programme is significant in transforming the way psychosocial interventions are delivered in elderly care settings. Integrated with augmented reality technology, motion-sensing music instruments, and an intelligent cloud-based platform that enables storage and analysis of data for monitoring of the players’ cognitive and physical condition, the Music-with-Movement intervention, is a fun-filled tablet-based activity that offers cognitive stimulation and social interaction opportunities to older adults with cognitive impairment. Our preliminary research evidence has showed that the programme is effective in promoting memory functions and their perceived social support of older adults with cognitive impairment. Those with mild cognitive impairment, in addition, presented with enhanced general well-being. Those centre staff members and caregivers who had received our training to deliver the intervention were found improved in knowledge and attitudes towards dementia. The programme was implemented in 56 local elderly service centres in the past two years. It served more than 1,000 older adults with cognitive impairment, trained 140 centre staff members and caregivers to deliver the intervention. In addition, 150 nursing students from the School of Nursing of PolyU involved in the programme gained hands-on experiences in the community settings. The creativity and uniqueness of the programme have been recognised by the Hong Kong Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Awards in 2022, the Claudia J. Beverly Innovation Award from the National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence in 2023, and the Innovation Awards at the Consumer Electronics Show held at the United States this year. Prof. Janelle YORKE, Chair Professor of Nursing & Head of the School of Nursing of PolyU, expressed gratitude to the funding organisations and collaborative partners and organisations at the ceremony. “We have laid a solid foundation for the Music-with-Movement programme through concerted effort and I look forward to more collaborations with local organisations and partners in the future for developing new innovations to enhance wellness of ageing populations and their caregivers.” She concluded in her welcoming speech at the ceremony. Dr Daphne CHEUNG, Principal Investigator of the programme and Associate Professor of the School of Nursing of PolyU said, “The effectiveness of the programme is encouraging, and the project has profound implication for improvement in quality of care in local elderly care services through integrating gerontechnology.”

Nomination for Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Department 2024

2024 Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award at Department (School of Nursing) level is now open for nomination.   The candidate must be a graduate who has successfully completed full-time or part-time programme offered by PolyU. The proposer can be PolyU graduates, Honorary Graduates, University Fellows, PolyU staff, current PolyU Council and Court members and current Advisory Committee members.   In addition to honouring distinguished graduates for their distinction in specific areas, the Award recognises the alumni’s active support to their alma mater. Support and Contribution to PolyU is one of the key nomination and selection criteria at all levels.    Four specific areas of achievement would be given recognition, which include:  Professional achievement Entrepreneurial achievement Scholarly achievement Community service achievement  Alumni who are aged at/under 40 would be eligible for the Outstanding Young Alumni Award.   Awards will be conducted at three levels: Department level, Faculty level and University level. Each Department should normally have one senior awardee and one young awardee each year.   According to the schedule, the nomination period will be in March 2024 for the Department level. We are now inviting your nomination for the PolyU Alumni Award at Department Level and return back the nomination form to Ms Evangeline LAM at evangeline.lam@polyu.edu.hk for our further processing. The deadline for the nomination period for School of Nursing’s Outstanding Alumni will be on 30 April 2024.    The awardees of the 2024 Outstanding PolyU Alumni at Department level will be announced by the end of May 2024. Also, the selected Department awardees will be nominated by the School of Nursing for the PolyU Alumni Award at the Faculty and the University levels.   Please find the details in the eligibility, award categories and selection criteria for your perusal and the nomination for the Outstanding Alumni at Department Level here.   We look forward to your nomination in recognition of our distinguished alumni!

Prof. Janelle YORKE received the HKSAR Global STEM Professorship

Prof. Janelle YORKE, Chair Professor of Nursing and Head, School of Nursing, has been awarded the HKSAR Global STEM Professorship. She is the first nursing researcher in Hong Kong who has gained such an honour.   The Global STEM Professorship is awarded to accomplished scholars in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Prof. YORKE’s achievement is a recognition from the HKSAR Government to the Faculty and the School of Nursing in the contributions to healthcare and nursing development.     As a Global STEM Professor, Prof. YORKE will be provided with research personnel and space to establish a Digital Oncology Care Enhancement Laboratory that will work towards establishing an electronic-patient-reported outcomes measures (ePROMs) programme for real-time patient monitoring and a suite of linked digital self-management interventions. The work will involve original research alongside real-world implementation into clinical practice, to inform best practice and improve patient outcomes.   We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Prof. YORKE. Her contributions and expertise will undoubtedly further elevate our research and nurture talent to continue to develop the School.   

PolyU researchers’ innovative Music Therapy System for older adults wins CES 2024 Innovation Award for impactful aging technology

A ground-breaking therapeutic music-with-movement system invented by researchers of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has won a prestigious global consumer product award in the ‘Accessibility & Aging Tech’ category at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024 Innovation Awards. Being the only Hong Kong educational institution honoured with this award serves as a testament to the exceptional impact of this music-with-movement intervention on older adults and their caregivers. An integral part of the CES, the annual CES® Innovation Award recognizes outstanding innovation in design, evaluating products based on engineering quality, aesthetics and design, practical value, uniqueness and their impact on quality of life. Dr Daphne CHEUNG, Associate Professor of the PolyU School of Nursing, led the project that developed the “Music-with-Movement System for Older Adults.” The research team merged an existing therapeutic music intervention system with advances in medical research and engineering technology for the ageing population. This ground-breaking system empowers caregivers and staff working in the elderly care sector to effectively and efficiently engage older adults in music intervention. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU congratulated the team and said “The research team is well-deserving of this award for their trailblazing work in social technology innovation for interactive music intervention for older adults. This recognition serves as a testament to our commitment to multidisciplinary research with the aim of bringing healing and fostering meaningful connections within the elderly population. PolyU’s academic and research expertise in transformative knowledge and technology remains at the forefront of innovation, providing impactful solutions for the betterment of human well-being.” The music-with movement system combines many elements including songs, Augmented Reality (AR) interactive games and motion sensors in a tablet, a game engineer and a cloud-based management platform. Integrating oldies music with motion sensors and AR makes it the first of its kind in music interventions. The interactive, cognitively stimulating musical games aim to maintain the cognitive and social stimulation levels of older adults. The user-friendly design of this therapeutic programme also helps alleviate issues caused by social isolation. Dr Cheung said “It’s my greatest honour to receive this award in recognition of the application of our research into aging technology, a key focus in our work related to the increasingly aging population. The music-with-movement programme reinforces sustainable adoption among old adults for their consistent engagement and facilitates effective intervention and communication.” While the music-with-movement programme was developed for people in Hong Kong with dementia, it later came to involve family caregivers as a dyadic intervention. Integrating current information and communication technology as implementation strategies for music intervention builds effective communication and collaboration and more effective bonding among old adults, caregivers, staff working in elderly centres and health professionals. The upcoming CES will be held in Las Vegas, the United States from 9th to 12th January 2024. The PolyU delegation will showcase a number of innovative projects, aiming to connect with technology prospectors for potential collaborations. CES is one of the world's largest consumer technology trade fairs, bringing together innovators, entrepreneurs and thought leaders from around the world. It provides a platform to showcase cutting-edge technologies and breakthrough research.

Healthy Ageing Conference 2023: Advancing Healthy Ageing in the Western Pacific, Moving Forward with the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing

Population ageing is a pressing priority in the Western Pacific region, home to one of the world's largest and fastest-growing elderly populations. Recognizing the significance of this issue, the World Health Organization (WHO) has taken the lead in developing an action plan on healthy ageing for the region, aligned with the United Nations (UN) Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030). In line with these efforts, the Healthy Ageing Conference 2023 was successfully held in Hong Kong on 26-27 October 2023. The conference, organized by the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Community Health Services, School of Nursing of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), and co-organized by the Department of Health of The Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), PolyU Research Institute of Smart Ageing, and PolyU Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, served as a crucial platform to address the challenges and explore innovative solutions for healthy ageing in the region.   The conference's opening ceremony marked its official commencement, with esteemed speakers delivering their addresses. Professor Jin-guang TENG, President of PolyU, welcomed participants and emphasized the pivotal role of the conference in realizing the United Nations' vision of healthy ageing. “The conference aimed to address the multifaceted factors influencing the well-being of older individuals and their families. It provided a platform to showcase cutting-edge gerontechnological innovations, discuss the latest interventions and advancements in epidemiology, and identify comprehensive strategies for implementing the WHO's action items.” Professor TENG remarked.    Mr. ZHANG Hui, Counselor (DG level) from the Department of Ageing and Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, emphasized healthy ageing was the least costly and most effective means and ways to cope with population ageing. The Chinese government had been positively responding to the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030). Mr. ZHANG highlighted the significance of collaboration and knowledge exchange between Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao in various aspects such as scientific research, technologies, projects, standards, norms, talents, services, and industries related to healthy ageing and elderly care. Mr. ZHANG Hui expressed, "The National Health Commission will continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Hong Kong and Macao in the field of healthy aging, learn from each other and complement each other's advantages."   Professor Chung-mau LO, Secretary of Health, Health Bureau of the HKSAR Government, emphasized that the government acknowledges the significant challenges posed by the rapidly ageing population. The government is committed to implementing a comprehensive structural reform that will transition the healthcare system from a treatment-oriented approach to a prevention-focused approach, and shift the service delivery from hospital-based to community-based settings. Professor LO stated, "Our ultimate goal is to enhance the overall health of the population, ensure accessible and integrated healthcare services, and establish a sustainable healthcare system."   Dr. Ronald LAM, Director of Health from the Department of Health of the HKSAR Government, reiterated the unwavering commitment of the HKSAR Government to promote healthy ageing.  Dr. LAM emphasized that a comprehensive policy on healthy ageing has been formulated based on the recommendations of the Elderly Commission. Various programmes aimed at promoting the well-being of older adults are being implemented by the Department of Health, including health education for all age groups, caregiver training, and supports the revitalization of primary healthcare services. “Meeting the challenges of Silver Tsunami would require not only cross-sectoral, but also international collaboration. Let’s join hands for the health and well-being of our senior citizens.” said Dr. LAM.    Dr. Hiromasa OKAYASU, Director of the Division of Healthy Environments and Populations at the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO), reaffirmed that the conference offered an exceptional platform for policymakers, stakeholders, practitioners, researchers, and academics to come together and address the pressing trends and challenges related to population ageing in the region. Dr. OKAYASU stated, "The Hong Kong Polytechnic University's School of Nursing made significant efforts to facilitate a wide range of discussions, encompassing research and practical ideas, all with the aim of enhancing healthy ageing."   Professor Angela Yee-man LEUNG, Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Community Health Services, School of Nursing at PolyU, shed light on the prevalent issue of intrinsic capacity decline among community-dwelling older adults in Hong Kong. “Efforts have been made to promote the adoption of the World Health Organization's integrated care for older people (ICOPE) Framework in Hong Kong. This includes the provision of a comprehensive training package and experience-sharing symposium, with the aim of facilitating the effective implementation of the ICOPE approach. Notably, we are pleased to witness the successful trial run of the ICOPE model by Wong Tai Sin District Health Centre.” said Professor LEUNG.    Furthermore, a series of webinars titled 'Embracing Ageing in the Western Pacific' has been regularly organized since 2020. These webinars create a valuable platform for experts in the region to exchange knowledge and ideas regarding emerging trends, best practices, and innovative solutions that promote healthy ageing. Professor LEUNG added, "We are delighted to foster a collaborative environment that facilitates knowledge sharing and encourages advancements in the field of healthy ageing."   The Healthy Ageing Conference 2023 represented a significant milestone in the pursuit of healthy ageing. By fostering collaboration, exchanging views and ideas, and sharing innovative approaches, the conference laid a solid foundation for implementing the Regional Action Plan on Healthy Ageing. Ultimately, the goal is to realize the visions outlined in the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030) and create a healthier, more inclusive future for older individuals and their communities.   About World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Community Health Services, School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated PolyU’s School of Nursing as a WHO Collaborating Centre (WHO CC) for Community Health Services since December 2007. Through implementing the WHO’s mandate, the School has been playing a proactive role in strengthening evidence-based community health services and improving the health outcomes of local, regional and global populations.   In 2019, The WHO re-designated the School’s WHO CC for Community Health Services with the focus that aligns with one of the WHO current strategic priorities - Healthy Ageing. The Centre is committed to the objectives of identifying crucial indicators of ageing and health within the region, actively advocating for and implementing the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines on Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE), and establishing a platform for interdisciplinary collaborations between healthcare professionals and academia to initiate projects focused on promoting healthy ageing.     About the Healthy Ageing Conference 2023: The Healthy Ageing Conference 2023 was an international event organised by the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Community Health Services, School of Nursing of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), and co-organised by the Department of Health of the Government of Hong Kong SAR, PolyU Research Institute of Smart Ageing, and PolyU Department of Rehabilitation Sciences.  The conference aims to address the key trends and challenges associated with population ageing in the Western Pacific region, promote healthy ageing, and facilitate the implementation of actions in response to the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing.   The Healthy Ageing Conference 2023 featured a comprehensive program encompassing a wide range of topics including healthcare innovations, social engagement, policy development, and technological advancements. Participants engaged in thought-provoking discussions, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities, fostering collaborations and inspiring initiatives to address the multifaceted aspects of healthy ageing.   For more information about WHO's work on the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030), please visit the official website: [https://www.who.int/initiatives/decade-of-healthy-ageing].

PolyU nursing scholars awarded prestigious UGC Teaching Award

The Internationalisation at Home (IaH) team from the School of Nursing of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) received the University Grants Committee (UGC) Teaching Award in the Collaborative Teams category for 2023 in recognition of their achievements in pioneering the adoption of novel IaH activities in nursing education. This new education model goes beyond conventional clinical practices to develop students’ cultural awareness and global competence. The Award was presented by Mr Tim LUI, Chairman of UGC at a presentation ceremony held today. Prof. Wing-tak WONG, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU congratulated the team, and said, “PolyU is committed to pursuing excellence and impact through its education and research endeavours, while nurturing students to be global-minded leaders. The five members of IaH are enthusiastic proponents of innovative teaching and learning, thus helping to foster professionals who are ready to cope with multi-cultural contexts and the growing demand for healthcare. The team has also extended the impact of IaH to collaborating universities worldwide. We warmly congratulate the team on their accomplishments.” The IaH team, led by Prof. Engle Angela CHAN, Interim Head and Professor of the School of Nursing, included Dr Arkers Kwan-ching WONG, Assistant Professor; Mr Timothy Kam-hung LAI, Associate Professor of Practice; Dr Betty Pui-man CHUNG, Assistant Professor of Practice; and Dr Doris Yuet-lan LEUNG, Adjunct Assistant Professor. To prepare nursing students for their profession in Hong Kong’s culturally diverse society with its increasing healthcare demands, the team has adopted IaH activities in the BS (Hons) in Nursing since 2015. It serves as an alternative to the offline “overseas exchange” learning experience in developing students’ cultural awareness. The team has worked closely with overseas institutions, including Malmo University in Sweden and La Trobe University in Australia, to design a series of online student-led group activities for exchanging insights on major challenges in nursing. The IaH has additionally provided a platform for cultural exchange activities to continue and cultivate talents with global vision during the pandemic. The School of Nursing of PolyU has also integrated IaH activities into a Service-Learning subject, a summer exchange programme and collaborative projects with local and international peers designed to enhance students’ global learning experience, impacting over 1,100 undergraduate and postgraduate students globally. With nine journal articles published and seven presentations at international and local conferences on their IaH work, the team hopes to expand the impact of IaH across multiple disciplines and will integrate virtual reality technology to provide students with an immersive learning experience. Prof. Engle Angela Chan is honoured to receive the award, and said, “I am pleased that our team’s work has been recognised by the UGC. My heartfelt gratitude goes to my teammates and the University for their effort and support. Both drive us to realise our shared vision of providing high-quality training and learning experiences for nursing students. IaH activities focusing on peer learning help students enhance their global competence and ability to communicate with culturally diverse patients by gaining in-depth understanding of clinical practices worldwide through bilateral exchange. We look forward to the wider adoption of IaH activities in collaborative partners to cultivate future nursing professionals.” The UGC Teaching Award was introduced to honour academics of the UGC-funded universities for their outstanding teaching performance and achievements, as well as their leadership in and scholarly contributions to teaching and learning within and outside their campuses. The Award consists of three categories, namely General Faculty Members, Early Career Faculty Members, and Collaborative Teams. The last is given in recognition of outstanding interdisciplinary pedagogical work.     *** END ***  

SN launched the first e-painting platform for caregivers in Hong Kong

School of Nursing of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has developed the Hong Kong first e-painting platform for caregivers, which allows them to use computers or electronic devices for drawing. This platform aims to improve caregivers’ mental health, and let them connect and communicate with other caregivers in Hong Kong.   Click here for the full article in Chinese.    

SN innovations received the Smart Ageing Awards

Dr Justina Liu and Dr Daphne Cheung of the Healthy Ageing through Innovations Areas of Excellence, received Smart Ageing Awards from the Golden Age Foundation for recognizing the impacts created by their innovative products funded by ITF for Better Living and other funding sources. Dr Justina Liu’s team and Pok Oi Hospital invented the first Immersive Virtual-Reality dual-task training system that simultaneously provides motor and cognitive training to older adults with cognitive frailty. As of today, this device has trained more than three hundred older adults to improve their health. Justina and her team obtained the Silver Prize of the Smart Ageing Award. (Hong Kong Short-term Patent: 32023070917.4) Dr Daphne Cheung’s team developed the Music-with-Movement system for older adults with cognitive impairment to improve their cognitive and psychosocial well-being. More than seven hundred people benefited from this project, and more than 150 staff/nursing students were trained to use the system. This product received a Merit Prize. (Hong Kong Short-term Patent: 32023075903.9)