Dr. Tao Lei, research assistant professor in the Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies at the Education University of Hong Kong, along with his co-authors, have been chosen as the 2024 recipients of William E. Mosher and Frederick C. Mosher Award by American Society for Public Administration. This award was presented to them for their paper "Advancing the Frontiers of Genomic Public Administration: From Genetics to Administrative Attitudes, Behaviors, and Practices" (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/puar.13744), which was selected as the best academic article of 2023 in Public Administration Review (PAR), one of the top-ranking journals in the field of public administration.
This is the first time Asian scholars have won this prestigious award since its establishment. The award acknowledges the interdisciplinary contribution to public administration research made by Dr. Tao Lei and his two co-authors, Professor Tang Shui-Yan from the University of Southern California, and Professor Wen Bo from the University of Macau.
A remarkable accomplishment of the award-winning article is its establishment of a new research sub-field, Genomic Public Administration (Geno PA). This innovative field explores the attributes and behaviors of public administration through the lens and methodologies of behavioral genetics. The article also introduces an integrated research framework that aids in understanding how the insights derived from genetics and public administration can mutually enhance each other over time. This pioneering work is anticipated to supplement traditional public administration theory by delving into the genetic foundations of administrative behaviors and practices.
On March 15 (Friday), 2024, the Household Finance and Investor Protection International Symposium was successfully held at the Tai Po Campus, The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK).
The symposium facilitates a collaborative platform where participants can exchange knowledge, research findings, and best practices related to household finance and investor protection. Distinguished scholars presented their research on various topics including financial literacy, investor behaviour, investment strategies, and regulatory frameworks.
This symposium was supported by the Beijing-Hong Kong Universities Alliance.
At the start of the symposium, Dr Man Kong CHOW, Associate Vice President (Institutional Advancement) of EdUHK delivered a welcome speech. Dr Zhiyong Fox HU, Acting Head of Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies (SSPS), also attended the symposium as a moderator.
Two experts in Finance delivered the keynote speeches at the symposium. Professor Sumit AGARWAL, Low Tuck Kwong Distinguished Professor of Finance at National University of Singapore, delivered the keynote speech on the topic “From Efficiency to Excess: Understanding Utility Usage in Green-Certified Homes”.
Professor Minkang GU, JP, Associate Co-Director of the Academy for Applied Policy Studies and Education Futures of EdUHK also conveyed a keynote speech on the theme of “Fiduciary Duty and Its Application in Personal Finance”.
International scholars from the universities in Beijing, Hong Kong and Singapore conducted in-depth academic discussions on the topics including financial literacy, investor behaviour, investment strategies, and financial regulation.
Professor Abhiroop MUKHERJEE at the Department of Finance, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology delivered a speech on “Sanctions, Satellites, Suspect Ships”.
Professor Song SU, Professor at Department of Digital Economy and Management, and Director of Financial Literacy Education Research Centre, Beijing Normal University, delivered a speech on “Financial Literacy of Chinese Residents: Empirical Study Based on a National Survey”.
Professor Ping JIANG, Professor at Department of Finance, University of International Business and Economics, delivered a speech on “Question Dodging, Information Environment, and Analyst Forecasts”.
Dr Yonglin WANG, Assistant Professor at Department of Economics, Lingnan University, delivered a speech on “The Digital Revolution: Bridging the Information Gap in the Consumer Credit Market”.
Dr Jian ZHANG, Assistant Professor at Department of Finance, The University of Hong Kong, delivered a speech on “Dirty Air and Green Investments: The Impact of Pollution Information on Portfolio Allocations”.
Dr Weiqiang TAN, Associate Professor at Department of SSPS, EdUHK, also briefly introduced the latest research outcome on “Subjective Financial Literacy and Retirement Planning”.
The symposium was attended by staff members and students at EdUHK, and also members of the public.
The “Jockey Club Financial Education Programme for Students” project is created and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, and co-created by The Education University of Hong Kong, The University of Chicago, Hong Kong Family Welfare Society and CoCoon Foundation.
The primary objective of the project is to equip young students with essential financial capabilities, enabling them to achieve long-term financial well-being and personal fulfilment. By instilling financial knowledge, developing the right mindset and motivation, and honing financial decision-making competences, the project cultivates a critical life skill that directly impacts the students' lifelong financial capability.
Collaborating closely with local educators and global experts, the project empowers teachers with high-quality teaching materials, professional development programmes, and a vibrant teacher community of practice. The project also offers parent-child financial education workshops and seminars, fostering a holistic approach to financial literacy.
In recognition of the latest curriculum reform on primary school General Studies (Humanities Studies), the project provides timely learning materials, teacher training, and relevant supporting resources to ensure an inclusive school-based implementation of financial education.
With the combined efforts of all participating organisations, "Jockey Club Financial Education Programme for Students" endeavors to transform the financial landscape of Hong Kong by empowering the next generation with the knowledge and skills necessary for financial success and personal well-being.
In the project, the Education University of Hong Kong team leader is Professor Yu Wai Mui Christina from the Social Sciences and Policy Studies Department. Other members include Professor Chou Kee Lee, Dr. Tan Weiqiang, Dr. Zhu Yuefeng Alex, Dr. Law Kim Fai Eric, and Dr. Lee Kwok Wai Ray from the department. The team has received a generous donation of HK$56.6 million from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.
Ms Tsang Shuk Ting Amy, currently a Year 5 student of the Bachelor of Education (Honours) (Business, Accounting and Financial Studies) programme, has been awarded the Gold Award at “The 11th Hong Kong Outstanding Prospective Teachers Award”. The Award is jointly organized by the Hong Kong Prospective Teachers Association and the Hong Kong New Generation Cultural Association.
Ms Tsang Shuk Ting Amy, currently a Year 5 student of the Bachelor of Education (Honours) (Business, Accounting and Financial Studies) programme, has been awarded the Gold Award at “The 11th Hong Kong Outstanding Prospective Teachers Award”. The Award is jointly organized by the Hong Kong Prospective Teachers Association and the Hong Kong New Generation Cultural Association.
Please join us in congratulating Amy on her accomplishment!
We are delighted to have Amy’s sharing on her education philosophy, as well as what she gained during the selection process of the competition. Let's hear her valuable words!
It is glad to be given a Gold Award at “The 11th Hong Kong Outstanding Prospective Teachers Award”.
I have the treasurable sharing opportunity in the ceremony, sharing my education philosophy.
I will take "people-oriented" as my educational philosophy. In curriculum design, I would advocate letting students take the lead in learning, applying Dewey’s experiential teaching that “the teacher’s role changes from a traditional provider of knowledge to a guide of children’s experience”, focusing on students' interests and freedom while emphasizing their autonomy.
I would like to be an Inspiration Co-constructors of knowledge, helping students to explore their potential. As a teacher, it is my responsibility to design and implement teaching strategies that suit the needs and abilities of my students to maximize their learning ability. In my previous teaching practice, I often divide students into strong and weak groups and try to use their different abilities to improve their learning efficiency. For example, I invite students with higher abilities to design some questions related to accounting topics in class, and let them serve as group leaders, answering classmates' questions. In the process, I try to let students take the lead in the class instead of just following the questions in the textbook. Under this kind of classroom design, students with high abilities can design questions and find answers on their own, allowing them to explore more and think deeply about the topic; while students with lower abilities can also have more space and opportunities to ask questions.
Nowadays, we face increasing changes and challenges. As a teacher, I should be proactive and willing to adapt to various situations. AI technology is currently popular, so I also tried to use AI technology to create interesting teaching videos. I tried to use the technology to make some virtual characters to explain some accounting problems that students may encounter. The video makes it easier for students to engage in class and understand the topics better.
During the competition, I had to do a teaching demonstration and be interviewed by the judges. The interview section was meaningful as the questions reminded me to think about what is teaching.
Those experiences becomes the cornerstone for me to be a BAFS teacher. I believe that life inspires life and I will keep improving my teaching ability in the future.
A delegate of three faculties of School of Political Science and Economics of Tokai University, Tokyo Japan, conducted courtesy visit to the Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies on 8 March 2024. The acting Head of SSPS, Dr Fox Hu; The associate Head, Dr Anita Chan, together with Dr Lawrence Ho, Dr Norman Cheung and the administrative colleagues responsible for overseas field-based learning, internship and student exchange provided hospitality and had an hour of in-depth discussion with the Japanese visitors. Dr Hu and two student representatives, Mr Jay Chung and Mr Cater Liu, expressed the gratitute to Prof Prof Fujimaki HIroyuki, Dr Ryuta Wada and Dr Arata Hirai who have hosted lectures on Crisis Management and Japan Society in their Tokyo campus for 30 SSPS Bachelor of Social Sciences Global and Enviromental Studes (GES) as outbound expereiental learning in December 2023. Encouraged by the promising feedbacks from that winter learning tour, SSPS discussed further possibilities to consolidate and institutionalize the collaboration with Tokai University. Consensus was reached by both units to intensify the collaboration in the areas of Sustainable Development and Growth (SDG) and public policy studies. Attempts to foster the exchange of both units in the coming academic years would include: installment of guest lectures in international relations studies at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels; coordination of theme-based public policy research workshop for academic publication and knowledge transfer; provision of scholarship for postgraduate students to participate in summer schools and the arrangement of short-term field visit and internship for SSPS students in Tokyo.
An educational fieldtrip was organized for a bunch of BEd(Geog) year II students in February 2024 to T-Park Hong Kong for studying the technical processes of transforming sludge to electricity and learning the concepts of waste management and sustainability. The journey started with a professional guide tour which allowed our students witness the various stages of waste treatment from waste segregation to energy recovery through utilizing the most advanced recycling technologies. Students also had the opportunity to explore the state-of-the-art incineration plant to understand how the burning of the waste efficiently at high temperatures (850C) could generate electricity and reduce waste volume so as to produce clean and renewable energy for the communities.
Teaching beyond the classroom walls is one of the teaching approaches we adopt in the SSPS. Through hands-on experiences, students could develop a deeper understanding of the subject topic – the global environmental issues in this case.
Upon the implementation of the National Security Law and enhancement of the electoral system, Hong Kong has entered a new phase of "Patriots Administration". Chief Executive John Lee proclaimed in his 2022 inaugural Policy Address that Hong Kong has achieved a major transition from chaos to order and is now at the crucial stage of advancing from stability to prosperity. The new order has brought about notable changes in the sphere of politics, administration and civil society, expected to deliver better governance systems, governance capability and governance efficacy, so that "our people [...] have a sense of gain and a real taste of the fruits of effective governance" as promised by Mr. Lee. To what extent has such a goal been borne out by public policy performance and results?
Mr Edwin Au-yeung, Ms Natalie Au Wing-lam and Mr Gary Chan Chi-hung shared with their fellow juniors currently studying at SSPS their job-finding and work experiences.