Issue 7 - September 2024 Research Bulletin Editorial Board
Prof Mette Hjort Outlines Her Vision as Chair Professor at the Faculty of Humanities (FHM)
Expertise and Contribution: With an interdisciplinary background spanning Art History, Theatre, Film and Media Studies, and Philosophy—paired with extensive research on creativity, sustainability, and transnational collaboration in film— Prof Hjort will significantly enhance the interdisciplinary focus of the Department of Literature and Cultural Studies (LCS) and contribute to the development of new Master's programmes.
New Initiatives: Prof Hjort plans to strengthen the Department’s internationalisation efforts, particularly through cultural engagements in Africa, including the introduction of a course on creativity and experiential learning in East Africa.
Boosting QS Ranking: Developing robust international research partnerships with esteemed universities is key to enhancing QS rankings and global academic standing.
- Emerging Areas: Prof Hjort identifies Health Humanities and Environmental Humanities as critical areas of focus for the Faculty, complementing ongoing research in Care, to ensure that the Faculty remains at the forefront of academic research and education.
- Message to Faculty and Students: Prof Hjort is enthusiastic about joining the innovative and dynamic environment at FHM and EdUHK and looks forward to contributing to the Faculty’s continued success.
Centre for Research on Chinese Language and Education (CRCLE) Shares its Commitment to Bridging Tradition and Innovation (CRCLE)
- Research Foci and Strengths: Combines expertise in interdisciplinary and inter-departmental research in three key domains and provides robust research support
- Digital Humanities: Fuels learners’ interest in Chinese classical poetry with AI-based application featuring personalised learning experience
- Humanistic Care: Preserves linguistic and cultural diversity and heritage as well as promotes moral and affective education
- Challenges and Opportunities: Embraces its most exciting opportunity and faces its most significant challenge amid the rapid advancement of AI technology
- Triumphant Achievements: Boasts remarkable success in research, publications, and regional collaborations thanks to unrelenting efforts
- Future Plans: To increase emphasis on language contact studies and expand global outreach
CHL Co-organises the “International Conference on History of Chinese Linguistics and Chinese Education” (CHL)
The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) and Université Paris Cité jointly initiated the “International Conference on History of Chinese Linguistics and Chinese Education”. The Department of Chinese Language Studies (CHL) at EdUHK co-organised the event, which took place on 13 and 14 Jun at Université Paris Cité in France, attracting over 70 scholars from various countries.
Conference highlights:
- Prof John Lee Chi-Kin delivered a keynote speech entitled “An initial exploration of the concepts and educational implications related to Zhongyong”.
- Prof John Erni delivered a keynote speech entitled “Popular fantastic novels and middle-class enhancement in China”.
- Dr Wang Cong from CHL and Dr Qi Chong from Université Paris Cité presented the ANR-RGC project’s significant interim findings.
- Several faculty members and doctoral students from CHL at EdUHK delivered invited speeches and academic paper reports.
- The ANR-RGC project invited Prof Wan Quan from Chinese Academy of Social Sciences to deliver a talk.
- CHL had the “International Seminar on Language Teaching and Cultural Heritage” with leaders and teachers from different Confucius Institutes and Université Paris Cité in France.
For more information, please contact us at chl@eduhk.hk
Prof Hung Keung’s Breakthrough: The Portable Interactive Mediation Mirror (CCA)
Prof Hung Keung of the Department of Cultural and Creative Arts (CCA)’s groundbreaking research project, the Portable Interactive Mediation Mirror, represents a significant leap in the convergence of art and technology. This innovative creation has garnered international and widespread attention for its transformative potential in the realm of interactive artistic experiences.
- New Interactive Art Experience: The Portable Interactive Mediation Mirror offers viewers an immersive and interactive art experience, blurring the lines between the physical and digital realms.
- Mediation of Reality: It serves as a medium for the mediation of reality, allowing individuals to engage with their surroundings in novel and captivating ways, redefining the traditional concept of art.
- Demonstrating New Design Research Practice: Its portable design enables the integration of interactive art into diverse settings, from gallery spaces to public installations, fostering accessibility and inclusivity.
- Novel Technological Integration: Prof Hung’s project seamlessly integrates cutting-edge technology with artistic expression, showcasing the potential of art to harness technological advancements.
- Enriching Audience Engagement: The mirror sparks meaningful dialogue and engagement among audiences, encouraging them to explore their own perceptions and relationship with the world around them.
- Future Implications: This research project paves the way for future developments in interactive art, offering a glimpse into the transformative power of art in the digital age.
- The Portable Interactive Mediation Mirror stands as a testament to Prof Hung’s innovative spirit and his unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of artistic expression through technology.
For more information, please contact Prof Hung Keung at: hungkeung@eduhk.hk
Learning English with Little Leaf - Promoting e-Learning and Self-Learning Among Primary Students (ELE)
Supported by the Central Reserve Allocation Committee (CRAC), Dr Timothy Taylor from the Department of English Language Education (ELE) carried out a 2-year project aimed at increasing access to high-quality online English language learning materials and promoting self-learning for primary students in Hong Kong.
- The project provides high quality, technology-rich, and easily accessible English language learning materials for primary students in Hong Kong.
- The project enhances English student-teachers' knowledge, skills, and IT abilities in creating materials for primary education.
- 5 local schools participated in the pilot scheme of the project to practice the use of the platform.
For more information, please contact Dr Timothy Taylor at ttaylor@eduhk.hk
International Conference on Technology-enhanced Language Learning (TeLLT) and Corpus-based Language Learning and Teaching (CoLLT) 2024 (LML & CRLLS)
The International Conference on TeLLT & CoLLT was co-hosted by the Department of Linguistics and Modern Language Studies (LML) and the Centre for Research on Linguistics and Language Studies (CRLLS) at EdUHK from 3-5 Jul 2024.
- The conference aims to bring academics from around the world to report on their various research work related to TeLLT and CoLLT.
- The conference was supported by four partner universities: CUHK, HKU, LU & PolyU.
- 6 distinguished international scholars delivered keynote speeches.
- 160 presenters and around 200 participants from 17 countries/regions attended the conference.
- The presentations covered various topics, especially on the use of Generative AI in language learning and teaching.
- The high quality of the academic programme was greatly appreciated by all attendees.
For more information, please contact telltcollt2024@eduhk.hk
Complicating Volunteer Care Practices: An Experiential Journey with EdUHK Students under the “Comparative Cultures of Care” Project (IRCCS)
The “Comparative Cultures of Care” Project, a prominent research initiative under the International Research Centre for Cultural Studies (IRCCS), successfully concluded the “SELFCAREOTHERS - a volunteer journey” from Jan to Apr 2024. Through collaborating with two local food rescue and food waste NGOs, Breadline and FOOTPRINT, IRCCS fostered a culture of care among EdUHK students while examining care work critically.
- 60 EdUHK students attended keynote talks and workshops by cultural studies researchers from local universities who provided context on local environmental issues.
- Two distinct subprograms focusing on food rescue and waste reduction within the local community were designed.
- Volunteering activities organised with Breadline involved rescuing surplus bread from bakeries for people in need, addressing food waste and redistribution.
- FOOTPRINT hosted five activities to convert collected surplus vegetables into compost, promoting waste reduction and sustainable agriculture.
- Participants provided their critical reflections throughout their volunteer journey in a digital diary study, along with surveys and interviews, to produce critical insights on caregiving as a complicated social behavior.
For more information, please contact culturesofcare@eduhk.hk
The First Environmental Humanities Symposium at EdUHK (IRCCS)
A two-day Environmental Humanities Symposium, “A Gathered Dialogue: Eco-Afterlives and Slow Hope” was successfully held on 13-14 May 2024 at EdUHK and on Lamma Island. Convened by environmental scholars Dr Jamie Wang and Dr Zimu Zhang from IRCCS and the Department of Literature and Cultural Studies (LCS), the event provided a dynamic platform for reimagining the future through the lens of “Slow Hope”.
- The symposium explored themes on more-than-human history, materiality, eco-afterlives, oceanic commons and amphibious worlding, and eco-communities and alternative futures.
- Prof John Erni highlighted the symposium’s significance, noting Environmental Humanities as an emerging research focus for the Faculty.
- Prof Christof Mauch, Director of the Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society in Munich, Germany, contextualized the concept of “slow hope” in his keynote address.
- Presentations on Environmental Humanities were delivered by distinguished scholars from Singapore, Hong Kong, and Mainland China.
- The Lamma Island excursion after the conference reinforced eco-dialogues and the ethos of “slow hope” within the local context.
- This event formed the foundation for IRCCS’s longer-term engagement known as "The Sustainable Humanities."
For more information, please contact irccs@eduhk.hk
New Book by IRCCS Members: Advancing Research in Television Studies (IRCCS)
Members of the International Research Centre for Cultural Studies (IRCCS) - Dr Egret Zhou and PhD student Ms Dong Ruo - have announced the recent publication of their research-based book. This book represents significant contribution to the interdisciplinary field of Cultural Studies and underscore the IRCCS’s commitment to knowledge transfer and academic excellence.
- 《日出照舊：香港電視劇與陸港關係》, co-authored by Dr Zhou and Ms Dong, is the first academic book exclusively dedicated to Hong Kong TV dramas.
- Their research addresses the creativity and political discourse embedded in these TV dramas through aesthetic analysis and cultural studies.
- Invited by the Hong Kong Book Fair 2024, the authors gave a public book talk which attracted many interested readers.
For more information, please contact irccs@eduhk.hk
Navigating the PhD Journey: Sharing Experiences and Findings (RCCLLC)
Research Centre for Chinese Literature & Literary Culture (RCCLLC) held a RPg sharing session and invited Ms Ji Yitian (PhD student, Department of Literature and Cultural Studies) to share about her research topic, which relates to the Buddhist’s Interpretation of “Differentiation between Hua (華) and Yi (夷)” in Northern Song Dynasty.
- This sharing session was held on 20 June.
- The speaker clarified the difference between “Hua” and “Yi” in Northern Song Dynasty by focusing on Qi Song (契嵩) (1007-1072) who is a famous Buddhist monk.
- It has advanced the studies about the traditional theory of distinguishing “Hua Yi” (華夷) by regions, cultures and races.
- The sharing session at RCCLLC was received with delight and sparked active engagement from all participants.
- It was an invaluable opportunity for the PhD students to share their passion, receive constructive feedback, improve and enlighten each other.
For more information, please contact us at rccllc@eduhk.hk
