HKU Bulletin May 2009 (Vol. 10 No. 2)

16 Outstanding Teaching Award Speaking to 200 guests at this, the eighth, annual ceremony, Vice-Chancel lor Professor Lap-Chee Tsui rei terated the University’s dedication to pursuing excellence. “Today we have come together to honour our colleagues who have demonstrated outstanding performance in teaching and in research. This ceremony provides the opportunity to give due recognition to these excellent individuals, to thank them for the positive impact they are having at HKU and beyond, and, hopefully, to also encourage others to accomplish such achievements.” Guest of Honour, Pro-Chancellor, Dr the Honourable David Li Kwok Po, said the high calibre of awardees revealed the University’s solid foundation of achievement, and showed “that it has both the talent and determination to lift its high reputation even further”. He was confident that these assets would enable the University to embrace the challenges ahead, and seize the opportunities presented by the imminent four-year new curriculum. Here we feature the winners of the 2008 awards. Excellence in Teaching and Research 2008 Every year the University recognizes teaching excellence by honouring outstanding educators. The Teaching Excellence Award Scheme signifies the University’s commitment to recognizing and promoting excellence in pedagogy. Professor Chan Li Chong Department of Pathology Professor Chan Li Chong has been actively involved in the teaching of the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery programme and, in particular in the problem-based learning (PBL) tutorials. He has also played a key role in developing the PBL curriculum to promote effective student-centred learning. Professor Chan describes his teaching philosophy as ‘The medical student of today is the clinical teacher of tomorrow’. “Implicit in this statement,” he says, “is a responsibility to identify and implement ways to help students fulfill their potential to develop as self directed learners; to acquire critical thinking skills, and the courage to challenge scientific and medical dogma. At the same time, the teacher should help the student develop reflective practice and recognize the importance of humanistic values and teamwork in professional practice.” His former student, Philip Kam Ming Ho adds: “His commitment to and passion for teaching impressed me and made me feel he was an excellent and dedicated teacher both in and out of the classroom. “I have had various chances to get to know Professor Chan in person and he has always been an approachable teacher out of the classroom.” Professor Ali F. Farhoomand School of Business In the past two years Professor Farhoomand has received two teaching awards. In 2006, students in the Shanghai IMBA programme elected him their favourite teacher and, in 2007, he won the Faculty Outstanding Teacher Award for his use of unique and creative teaching pedagogy in training students to think creatively and critically. Professor Farhoomand says: “In the last couple of years I have spent a fair bit of time reading, thinking and reflecting about epistemology, teaching and learning. It has led me to the firm belief that we need to shift our primary responsibility as educators from teaching to generating knowledge and facilitating student learning through introspection and cognitive engagement with what they aim to learn.” His former exchange student, Andrew Chang, offers this quote from Professor Farhoomand on the first day of class. “People don’t resist change. They resist being changed.” And Chang adds: “The best lessons are the ones that stay with you long after graduation; the tools that you apply in the real world and the gems that change the way you think. Professor Ali was more than just a teacher. He was a consultant and a coach; a mentor and partner; a philosopher and poet.” 17 TEACHING AND RESEARCH For the eighth year running HKU has saluted colleagues who have excelled in their teaching and research. This year, 49 awards were granted to distinguished faculty members in five categories, including outstanding teachers, researchers, young researchers, research student supervisors and faculty members who have produced outstanding research publications in the University’s 10 Faculties. Professor Chan Li Chong Professor Ali F. Farhoomand