Dear Colleagues,
I am delighted to share with you the fantastic news on the funding result of the Research Impact Fund (RIF) 2024/25 announced by the Research Grants Council (RGC) on 27 December 2024.
Out of 175 proposals submitted to the RGC, 14 projects were funded in this round of RIF exercise. Professor Chou Kee Lee of the Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies (SSPS) has distinguished himself through a rigorous selection process, demonstrating exceptional academic merit and influential contributions to society. Please join me in conveying my warmest congratulations to Professor Chou and his team on their great achievement!
The RIF aims to encourage local academics to consider and articulate the potential of research to deliver benefits to the wider community, to encourage more impactful and translational research projects, and to encourage a greater volume of collaborative research beyond academia (e.g. with government departments, the business sector, the industry and research institutes).
Professor Chou’s project “Alleviating Loneliness in Older Adults Living in Poverty: A Multi-level Intervention” received HK$5.3 million in funding from the RGC. In this four-year project, Professor Chou’s team seeks to conduct a single-blinded cluster, four-arm randomized controlled trial designed to test the effect and cost-effectiveness of a multi-level intervention to alleviate loneliness among Hong Kong Chinese older adults living in poverty. This study will lay a solid foundation for the large-scale implementation of such an effective, accessible, affordable, and scalable intervention shortly by capitalizing on community social capital.
As we move forward, I encourage faculty members to tap into your full potential to embark on impactful research and continue to grow in the research capacity and vibrancy of the University. The RGC has different levels of large-scale research grants above the usual Early Career Scheme (ECS) / General Research Fund (GRF), such as Collaborative Research Fund (CRF), Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS), Strategic Topics Grant (STG) and Research Fellow Scheme (RFS) / Senior Research Fellow Scheme (SRFS), in addition to the RIF. Your unwavering efforts are indispensable to our success, and I am excited to see more incredible work we will accomplish together, elevating the university to new heights.
Congratulations again to Professor Chou and his research team members.
Best,
Chetwyn
Professor Chetwyn Chan
Vice President (Research & Development)
Dr Herbary Cheung, an alumnus of The Department of Asian and Policy Studies (now The Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies), has been honored with two prestigious Early Career Researcher awards for his outstanding work on gender and migration, promoting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Southeast Asia.
Dr Cheung completed his PhD under the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) at EdUHK in 2022, under the supervision of Dr. Isabella Ng. He is currently a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) at the Malaysia School of Arts and Social Sciences, Monash University.
In 2024, Dr. Cheung was awarded the PVC’s Award for Excellence in Research (Early Career Researcher) at Monash University and the New Mandala’s Emerging Scholar Award. These accolades highlight the importance of his research in tackling complex societal issues, while advancing theoretical and methodological approaches in gendered migration studies and intersectionality in Southeast Asia.
Dr Cheung recently published a book titled Single Mothers in Thailand: Women, Motherhood, and Going it All Alone. The book investigates a range of major sociological debates and policy studies related to gender, family, marriage, health, intersectionality, and social exclusion of single mothers in Thailand.
Congratulations to Dr. Cheung on these well-deserved achievements!
As part of the PUA3016 Leadership in Social Entrepreneurship and Development course, over 40 students had an incredible opportunity to visit Project Dignity Hong Kong.
The agenda featured a delightful lunch at Dignity Kitchen, where the students experienced the vibrant food culture while engaging with the mission of social inclusion. The highlight of our visit was a compelling presentation by Mr. Koh Seng Choon, the founder of Project Dignity. His inspiring journey from humble beginnings to establishing a successful social enterprise demonstrated the profound impact of innovative business models on marginalized communities.
Mr. Koh elaborated on how Project Dignity not only serves authentic Singaporean dishes but also empowers individuals through comprehensive training and placement programs. This initiative exemplifies how food can be a catalyst for social change, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds and fostering community spirit.
The visit underscored the significance of leadership and compassion in social entrepreneurship. The students left feeling inspired and motivated to contribute positively to the community.
This is a compulsory GBA field trip for the course GGP3014 Pedagogy in Geographical Education, led by Dr. Karen LIU. In this field trip, students had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the latest development in GBA city and gain a deeper understanding of the educational environment through engaging in in-depth discussion with the current experienced teacher from the mainland. The students not only visited the local school and observed a professional geography lesson, but also explored the surrounding field sites and further investigated the city changes brought by urban development and governance planning. It is believed after the field trip, students will be able to understand how to conduct an effect teaching session and enhance their subject knowledge with analytical study of different cases in GBA.
On November 4, 2024, Dr Isabella Ng, Associate Professor in the Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies and co-founder of the Hong Kong Society for Asylum-Seekers and Refugees, was invited by the Malaysia School of Arts and Social Sciences at Monash University to share her expertise on advocating for the rights of refugees and asylum-seekers with her students from the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) and the interns with diverse backgrounds from all over the world.
Alongside Ms. Piya Muqit, Dr. Ng offered practical guidance on how students can apply classroom knowledge and skills to make meaningful contributions in their internships. She emphasized that internships not only serve as professional training but also empower individuals and communities in need.
In a collaborative discussion with Dr. Herbary Cheung, Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Gender Studies and Work Integrated Learning/Internship Coordinator at Monash University, Dr. Ng explored the potential for a transnational, research-based work-integrated learning project between EdUHK and Monash. This initiative aims to inspire students from both universities to investigate social and policy issues, fostering active engagement and cross-cultural inquiry beyond the classroom.
個人理財教育文學碩士課程[MA(PFE)]的同學於2024年秋季參加了一系列實地考察，通過沉浸式理財教育體驗，瞭解香港的金融業與經貿發展。同學們參觀了香港投委會理財教育體驗館、荃灣南豐紗廠、香港金管局資訊中心、中環的商貿金融地標等。
在投委會理財教育體驗館 （IFEC FinEd Hub），同學們通過各種理財互動遊戲，瞭解個人理財或私人投資決策中需要注意的投資原則、風險評估、基本的市場策略等；同學也認識了各類金融產品服務、投資工具的總體運作模式和特性。這些遊戲體驗，不僅能提升同學的基本理財素養，也爲同學們今後參與理財教育、財經溝通的實踐提供了重要借鑑，激發他們對理財策劃和理財教育的職業發展思考。
在中環，同學遊覽了部分金融地標建築，例如恆生銀行總行大廈、交易廣場等，在漫步中環商貿區的過程中，見證香港金融業與經貿的歷史變遷。認識金融監管環境，也是提升個人理財素養的重要議題。同學們參觀了香港金管局資訊中心，初步瞭解了香港金融業的總體監管環境、金管局的工作、香港貨幣及銀行的發展等。金管局資訊中心的專業導賞、展覽內容、互動遊戲，也讓同學們認識到香港完善的金融監管對鞏固國際金融中心地位的重要性。
這些考察活動，爲同學提供豐富的課外學習機會，也讓同學直觀感受到香港作爲國際金融中心的魅力。
a) Kingston University London to EdUHK
The recent visit of Associate Professor, Dr Peter Hooda, from Kingston University London to the Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies has significantly enriched our academic environment, exploring the potential of building up research and teaching network. His two enlightening talks on water contamination not only highlighted critical global challenges but also fostered international exchange. This engagement provided our students, particularly of BEd(Geog), BSc(IEM), and BSocSc(GES) programme, with invaluable exposure to cutting-edge research and diverse perspectives, enhancing their understanding of the environmental issues. Dr Hooda’s presence underscores the importance of academic mobility, as it bridges gaps between institutions and cultivates a vibrant scholarly community dedicated to addressing pressing global concerns.
b) EdUHK to Kingston University London and University of Leicester
Reciprocally, Dr Norman Cheung’s visit to Kingston University London was a remarkable academic exchange. His insightful talk on tropical cyclone climatology not only deepened students’ understanding of these complex weather phenomena but also sparked engaging discussions about their implications for disaster management and resilience. Furthermore, Dr Norman Cheung collaborated with Dr Andrew Miles at the University of Leicester on reviewing and enhancing the UK field trip curriculum for BEd(Geog) programme, ensuring that future students gain more practical and hands-on experience with global perspectives. This collaboration exemplifies the university’s commitment to fostering academic excellence and interdisciplinary partnerships that enhance student learning and research initiatives.
Mr Sai Htong Kham, a PhD student at the Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies, was invited by the Center for Malaysian Studies of the Faculty of Internation Liberal Arts at the Soka University Japan to give a guest talk on his cross-national research in Myanmar and Thailand.
During the talk, Mr Kham shared his experience and insights on conducting qualitative fieldwork studies with the students. He also discussed with Dr Alex Chan Lih-shing, a Center for Malaysian Studies member, the possibility of developing a research project on the comparative research between Myanmar’s migrants in Japan and Malaysia.
