EdUHK held the International Congress on Educational Futures 2024 (ICEF 2024) in April, to foster collaboration and inspire transformative change by bringing together experts and practitioners from various disciplines in local, national, regional and international organisations.
The congress, held at InnoCentre, Kowloon Tong, attracted more than 400 scholars, researchers, and educators from across the globe. It included a diverse programme featuring five keynote speeches by internationally renowned scholars, six symposia, a Doctoral Student Consortium, and 18 paper presentations.
A group of 13 scholars from Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand (SWU) visited EdUHK in early May to build the capacity of teachers in higher education.
With support from EdUHK’s Curriculum and Instruction Department (C&I), the scholars attended a two-day professional development series of workshops, including Dr Teresa Ng Tsui-san’s workshop on the development of creative thinking skills and Dr Kevin Yung Wai-ho’s workshop on curriculum planning in higher education.
The SWU scholars also took part in a campus visit, where they explored innovative ways to utilise VR technology to assist classroom teaching and student learning in the library, and visited the Hong Kong Museum of Education.
EdUHK students and staff members visited Surakarta in Indonesia, in May, to learn about teaching methods and classroom dynamics.
Under the guidance of Dr Ju Seong Lee, Dr Tim Taylor and Dr April Liu, the team created five original digital storytelling (DST) books. They then taught English at three local secondary schools, and observed classes and attended reflection sessions with local teachers. The team donated the DST books, enabling over 2,000 students across the three schools to access the stories.
In collaboration with Universitas Sebelas Maret students, the EdUHK team also embarked on an international community service project. They promoted a local coffee shop internationally, through the DST books, YouTube videos and translating the menu into English.
EdUHK elite athlete student Chiu Hin-chun has won the gold medal in the Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls at the 2024 World Rowing Cup II in Lucerne, Switzerland. He is the first Hong Kong rower to win gold in international competition.
Having obtained a Bachelor of Health Education (Honours) degree at EdUHK, Hin-chun is currently pursuing a Master of Social Sciences in Sports Coaching and Management, and was appointed Elite Athlete Friendly University Ambassador in 2021.
In its pledge as an Elite Athlete Friendly University, EdUHK committed to fostering dual career development. It was the first UGC-funded institution to sign a collaborative agreement with the Hong Kong Sports Institute, providing elite athletes with an opportunity to receive university education through a flexible admissions mechanism. Since 2010, EdUHK has admitted close to 130 elite athletes to its different academic programmes.
EdUHK collaborated with local organisations to hold a series of activities related to Hong Kong’s National Security Education Day in April.
The activities were designed to enhance students' national identity and raise awareness of national security among school staff, students and residents. They included a flag-raising ceremony and a seminar on ‘National Security Education – Concepts and Practices’ held in collaboration with the Yau Tsim Mong District Office and the Yau Tsim Mong District Principals Association. EdUHK also partnered with the Tai Po District Office, the Tai Po District Fight Crime Committee, the Tai Po District Youth Development and Civic Education Committee, and the Tai Po School Liaison Committee to hold the ‘2024 Tai Po District National Security Education Day - Inter-generational Activity Commendation Ceremony’ on campus.
EdUHK won four Silver Medals and three Bronze at the 49th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, in healthcare, educational technology, and games & toys.
Dr Anna Kam Chi-shan has invented the 'Automatic Screening System for Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia with Auditory Tasks', which won a Silver Medal. Two of the other Silver Medal-winning innovations are collaborations between EdUHK and industrial partners, 'I-well Home' and 'Pelios: Revealing and predicting emotion through wearable and digital biomarkers for Special Education Needs (SEN) children'. Research Assistant Professor Dr Steve Mung Wai-yin’s ‘Smart Headset featuring Adaptive Noise Filters for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder’ also won a Silver Medal.
Two distinguished people received Honorary Fellowships in a ceremony at EdUHK’s Tai Po campus in June.
Mr Chung Chi-kwong is well known in Hong Kong for his broadcasting career in the areas of sport, drama, variety and culture. He has also devoted much time to learning about and promoting traditional Chinese values and culture to young people.
Madam Pauline Ngan Po-ling, BBS, JP is a highly successful entrepreneur, who has also dedicated herself to local and national public service and charitable work, particularly in the field of education. She has led projects in Hong Kong, Fujian and Bangladesh.
EdUHK joined hands with the Tianjin University of Sport (TJUS) recently to hold the ‘National Glory – Exhibition on the Spirit of the China Women’s Volleyball Team’ on the University’s Tai Po campus. Artefacts, loaned by TJUS, included four of the Women’s Volleyball World Cups, and gold medals from three Olympic Games, matchworn kit and shoes.
The Tianjin Women’s Volleyball Team also played an exhibition match against the Hong Kong women’s team, the EdUHK women’s team and the winners of the Hong Kong Schools Jing Ying girls’ volleyball tournament. The exhibition match received an overwhelming response, with more than 400 EdUHK students, staff, alumni and public members participating.