Professor Yan Zi, Head of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, has been awarded the 2025 President’s Award for Outstanding Performance in Knowledge Transfer, in recognition especially of his achievements in creating social impact and sustainability in the community. His research, which focuses on educational assessment in both school and higher education settings and in Rasch measurement, aims to enhance the understanding and optimisation of assessment processes for improved student learning and lifelong development. His holistic assessment framework has been adopted by the Education Bureau in the updated Primary Education Curriculum Guide.

In 2024-25, the Honorary Professor at the world-renowned Centre for Research in Assessment and Digital Learning at Deakin University received nearly HK$8 million under the RGC Senior Research Fellow Scheme, highlighting his significant contributions to educational research. Recognised as one of the top 2% most-cited scientists globally, Professor Yan continues to lead advancements in educational measurement, shaping the future of learning and teaching. His ongoing research projects include exploring the role of generative AI in self-assessment and developing students’ feedback literacy through peer assessment.

Beyond his research, Professor Yan has conducted over 100 professional development workshops, training over 3,500 stakeholders, including principals, teachers and parents across Hong Kong, Macao and Mainland China, greatly enhancing knowledge transfer in the field. His recent publication, Student Self-assessment as a Process for Learning, is a landmark work that examines the significance of self-assessment in educational contexts.