ANNUAL REPORT 2022 1
ANNUAL REPORT 2022 3 2 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2022 Tagline
ANNUAL REPORT 2022 1 4 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2022 02 06 12 14 26 40 52 61 64 66 VISION MISSION CONTENTS The University of Hong Kong, Asia’s Global University, delivers impact through internationalisation, innovation and interdisciplinarity. It attracts and nurtures global scholars through excellence in research, teaching and learning, and knowledge exchange. It makes a positive social contribution through global presence, regional significance and engagement with the rest of China. The University of Hong Kong will endeavour: • To advance constantly the bounds of scholarship, building upon its proud traditions and strengths • To provide a comprehensive education, benchmarked against the highest international standards, designed to develop fully the intellectual and personal strengths of its students, while extending lifelong learning opportunities for the community • To produce graduates of distinction committed to academic / professional excellence, critical intellectual inquiry and lifelong learning, who are communicative and innovative, ethically and culturally aware, and capable of tackling the unfamiliar with confidence • To develop a collegial, flexible, pluralistic and supportive intellectual environment that inspires and attracts, retains and nurtures scholars, students and staff of the highest calibre in a culture that fosters creativity, learning and freedom of thought, enquiry and expression • To provide a safe, healthy and sustainable workplace to support and advance teaching, learning and research at the University • To engage in innovative, high-impact and leading-edge research within and across disciplines • To be fully accountable for the effective management of public and private resources bestowed upon the institution and act in partnership with the community over the generation, dissemination and application of knowledge • To serve as a focal point of intellectual and academic endeavour in Hong Kong, China and Asia and act as a gateway and forum for scholarship with the rest of the world MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND VICE-CHANCELLOR THE FUTURE WE WANT HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR THE UNIVERSITY’S DEVELOPMENT PLAN TEACHING AND LEARNING INSPIRING BEYOND BOUNDARIES RESEARCH AND INNOVATION INNOVATING BEYOND DISCIPLINES TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE IMPACTING BEYOND ACADEMIA THE UNIVERSITY PROFILE AN EXTRACT FROM THE UNIVERSITY’S ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 2021-22 OFFICERS OF THE UNIVERSITY THE COURT
ANNUAL REPORT 2022 3 2 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2022 THE FUTURE WE WANT MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND VICE-CHANCELLOR Throughout HKU’s history, our people have responded to the needs of their times. Today, we have a chance to serve and lead again. At the Community Vaccination Centre in the historic Loke Yew Hall. An international city starts with a global university. The year 2022 began with the fifth wave of the current pandemic as classrooms, workplaces, and businesses closed their doors, and once again tested our resolve as a city and community. Now, as Hong Kong writes its comeback story, we are reconnecting with the world, hosting global events, and finding our place in a rapidly changing world. As we have for over a century, the University of Hong Kong is part of this movement, both as a reflection of these shifting trends and as a leader that is driving hope, peace, and progress. Throughout HKU’s history, our people have responded to the needs of their times. Today, we have a chance to serve and lead again. I am grateful to all members of the HKU family, especially those who have worked on the frontlines to protect and enhance our lives. My deep thanks to each and every one of you. Above all else, this has been a year for active legacy-building. Our faculty, staff, and students honoured HKU’s 111th Anniversary, a celebration that continues into 2023, by working on the future we want for our children and grandchildren. A spectacular illumination on Foundation Day that bathed our historic buildings in a dynamic sea of light was followed in the summer with the groundbreaking of Tech Landmark, a complex of institutes that positions us on the forefront of future breakthrough discoveries. More importantly, Tech Landmark ignites a roadmap of special projects that secures our capacity to resolve global challenges and deliver for social good. Already, we have established the D. H. Chen College, a student residential space that draws on the values and philosophy of Buddhist beliefs, and coming up we will unveil the Pokfield Campus, among many other initiatives you can read about in this annual report. Indeed, it has been a personal joy for me to welcome back local and non-local students to the HKU campus after lengthy pandemic restrictions. Nothing can replace the value of collaboration that human emotions and interactions bring. In that same spirit, I believe it is critical for exchange programmes to return to a state of vibrancy because HKU – officially the world’s most international university – has always been committed to drawing the best students from afar, while offering local students the chance to broaden and be exposed to international horizons. With that in mind, we are actively moving forward with an expanded array of learning modes, using the knowledge we gained during the pandemic on how technology can help bridge gaps in education.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND VICE-CHANCELLOR 5 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2022 We stand on the precipice of meaningful change and now is the time to climb up the mountain, look bravely beyond – and advance boldly in front. 4 Professor Xiang Zhang President and Vice-Chancellor December 2022 Ms Jeannie Tsang Wing Shi Acting Executive Vice-President (Administration and Finance); Registrar Professor Max Shen Zuojun Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Richard Wong Yue Chim Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Gong Peng Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Development) Professor Xiang Zhang President and Vice-Chancellor OUR LEADERSHIP Professor Ian Michael Holliday Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) The international research landscape has transformed and HKU will adopt a big vision approach. As a world-leading university, HKU shall aim high to respond effectively in a global landscape that is being re-shaped by sustainability goals, environmental emergencies, and geopolitical concerns. We are helping our community navigate these complexities as they emerge, while working to nurture innovation. HKU is in position to lead and support Hong Kong, with partnerships across the border including the Greater Bay Area very much geared towards these ambitions. In the long term, our aim is to cut across sectors. For example, our growth plans include biotechnology and life-related technology, where science, engineering, medicine, and dentistry can make initially large contributions: using robotic engineering and artificial intelligence to achieve healthy populations, and looking deeper into the role of biomedical engineering as a cross-point for health and medicine. We are also exploring our leadership in research and expertise in areas such as climate, built environments, and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) to propel Hong Kong towards a sustainable future – while applying innovation to the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Of course, our greatest assets are our people. I continue to commit to bringing the finest global talent to HKU, who accelerate a culture and mindset where everyone thrives and achieves. We have already welcomed scholars and students from top international universities. On my part, that also means providing a level of environment where these talents are not only drawn to HKU, but are willing and happy to stay in our community. This task is made harder in a pandemic where family and other personal commitments understandably take priority, but we are sensitive to individual needs and will find a way through together. The global battle for talent is fiercer than ever. The most resilient economies are those which establish a clear lead in talent development. Talent is the key to innovation and competitiveness and the University no doubt is the major source of that. In the post-pandemic world, it is not the most intelligent that will survive, but the ones that are the most adaptable. HKU is leading the change to achieve academic excellence and in grooming talents not only for the city, but also for the country and the world. HKU is proof that there are no limits on our possibilities. Yes, the world is deeply divided, and inward thinking has diminished trust and openness. But here in Hong Kong, we have come a long way not only in these few years, but over the 111 years our University has served humanity. Once again, we stand on the precipice of meaningful change and now is the time to climb up the mountain, look bravely beyond – and advance boldly in front. Wang Anshi (王安石), the Chinese poet, philosopher and politician during the Song dynasty, once said, “We have no fear of the floating clouds that block our vision, as we are already on the summit (不畏浮雲遮望眼，只緣身在最高層).” Ms Isabella Wong Yee Sin Chief of Staff
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR 7 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2022 6 HKU’S 111TH ANNIVERSARY HKU 111UMINATE The University began its 111th Anniversary with a special light projection on the evening of the University’s Foundation Day, March 16 – which, this year, was a time when Hong Kong was just emerging from one of the darkest periods in its battle with the pandemic. The online programme showed the Main Building and other signature sites on campus being illuminated by beautiful light art projections. In a message accompanying the lightshow, President and ViceChancellor Professor Xiang Zhang paid tribute to the people of Hong Kong, who have supported and shaped the University for over a century. An HKU ‘111uminate’ DJ party was held at the Centennial Garden on September 23 to premiere an art installation created to mark the University’s 111th Anniversary. The party was the first oncampus get-together for HKU students and staff since the resumption of faceto-face teaching. President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Xiang Zhang officiated at the lighting ceremony to kick off the party and shared a fun-filled evening with over 100 HKU students and staff. One student said: “I think it was really successful tonight, something like this is needed in the community because it brings every student from HKU together. I think it is really important because it makes me feel more connected to the University and to the community in general.” Under a backdrop of light art projections, guest performers included Mosaic A Cappella, M. Danso, St John’s College Dancing Team and Band, Astréas, Hong Kong Institute of Rope Skipping, and DJ RYANSEE. To spice up the evening, all party-goers were gifted limitededition NFTs (non-fungible tokens). HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR “Every year, we gather on Foundation Day, to honour the achievements of HKU, reflect on our history, and prepare for the future. Today, on our 111th Anniversary, I thank you for being an important part of this special journey,” he said. “Throughout history, we have seen war, occupation and disease outbreaks. We survived them, we emerged stronger every time, and we embody the ‘Lion Rock Spirit’,” Professor Zhang said. “Tonight, our Main Building is being illuminated in an expression of hope. Hong Kong is going to be fine.” Learn more about HKU’s 111th Anniversary
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR 9 8 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2022 The University held a 111th Anniversary Celebration-cum-Tech Landmark groundbreaking ceremony, officiated by Chief Executive of the HKSAR and HKU Chancellor Mr John Lee, on July 23. The Tech Landmark, targeted to be completed in 2024, will host institutes dedicated to strategic research with a strong focus on interdisciplinary studies, such as artificial intelligence, big data, smart materials, quantum science and biomedical engineering. It is set to become a hub for innovative thinking, learning, teaching, research and entrepreneurship. The Tech Landmark is not only a new milestone for the development of HKU as the University enters its second century, but it is also a prelude to a series of ambitious projects combining humanities with world-class innovation and technology. BREAKING GROUND AT TECH LANDMARK HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR The Tech Landmark project is a strategic move for the University to respond to the national 14th Five-Year Plan, to promote the development of innovation and technology in Hong Kong, and to establish Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology centre. HKU will contribute to the country’s scientific and technological development by providing excellence in education, research and talent cultivation.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR 11 10 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2022 During the Second World War, the Main Building’s Loke Yew Hall served as a hospital for soldiers and citizens. On February 23 this year, at the height of the fifth wave of the pandemic in Hong Kong, Loke Yew Hall was once again called into service, becoming a Community Vaccination Centre, with the ability of providing 2,000 BioNTech vaccine doses daily to citizens aged 12 or above, and priority was given to senior citizens. Reservations for vaccination could be made via the government’s COVID-19 vaccination booking system. The Centre was staffed by a team of volunteer doctors from HKU, and retired doctors and nurses, and operated until May 22. HKUMED 135TH ANNIVERSARY DENTISTRY 40TH ANNIVERSARY HKU LIBRARIES’ TWO ANNIVERSARIES The Faculty of Dentistry was established in 1982 as the first and only dental school in Hong Kong. In less than four decades, it has risen from humble beginnings to become one of the premier dental institutions globally. It was ranked the number one dental school in the world in the QS World University Rankings by Subject from 2016 to 2018 and remains ranked among the top 1% of dental schools in the world today. The HKU Libraries is celebrating the 110th anniversary of the Main Library and the 90th anniversary of the Fung Ping Shan Library with the theme ‘Engaging the Past, with the Future, for the Future, TOGETHER’. HKU’s original library facilities were first established in the Main Building in 1912, and the Fung Ping Shan Library was established in 1932 as the University’s Chinese library. MORE MILESTONES, MORE CELEBRATIONS HKU JABS FOR SOCIETY’S MOST VULNERABLE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR Founded as the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese in 1887, the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine now stands in the top 15 medical schools globally. As it reflects on its distinguished history of serving Hong Kong’s changing healthcare needs over the past 135 years, the Faculty is also launching ambitious goals for the future.
ANNUAL REPORT 2022 13 12 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2022 13 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2022 THE UNIVERSITY’S DEVELOPMENT PLAN
14 15 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2022 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2022 To ensure that HKU stays on the frontlines of knowledge, while moving to new frontiers of discovery, the University has set in motion a stateof-the-art development roadmap. Already, our future is being shaped by the Lee Shau Kee Institute of the Mind and the Musketeers Foundation Institute of Data Science. We are broadening our expertise and shared understanding on the problems and opportunities of tomorrow’s world – THE UNIVERSITY’S DEVELOPMENT PLAN TECH LANDMARK THE HEADQUARTERS OF INNOTECH RESEARCH Home to new institutes for interdisciplinary studies and emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, big data, geriatric science, quantum science and more ACADEMIC BUILDING, NO. 3 SASSOON ROAD MORE SPACE TO CREATE ONE CONTIGUOUS CUTTING-EDGE MEDICAL CAMPUS Home to the School of Chinese Medicine and the School of Nursing: transforming Sassoon Road premises into one state-ofthe-science Medical Campus from ageing to carbon neutrality, smart cities to quantum science and more. The University’s development plan will nurture innovation and knowledge creation to address the challenges humanity faces and generate sustained, meaningful impact in Hong Kong, the Mainland and the world. GLOBAL INNOVATION CENTRE ACCELERATING THE UNIVERSITY’S ABILITY TO ACHIEVE HUMAN BREAKTHROUGHS Dedicated to cross-sector frontier research and technology that will create positive global impact Conceptual illustration ANNUAL REPORT 2022 ANNUAL REPORT 2022 16 POKFIELD CAMPUS UNIFYING EDUCATION, CULTURE AND SPORTS A leading-edge campus hub to host the HKU Business School, a university guest house, a premium residential complex as well as upgraded and expanded sports facilities HKUSHENZHEN CAMPUS A VISIONARY NEW CAMPUS IN NANSHAN AND A SPRINGBOARD FOR THE FUTURE IN THE GREATER BAY AREA A state-of-the-art campus in Nanshan, Shenzhen focussing on research, teaching and learning and knowledge exchange STUDENT RESIDENCE AT WONG CHUK HANG WHERE OUR STUDENTS CAN LIVE AND LEARN TOGETHER HOLISTICALLY One of the pilot projects adopting innovative modular integrated construction technology in Hong Kong and providing 1,224 student places HIGH WEST DEVELOPMENT EMPHASISING CARE AND WELL-BEING FOR OUR STAFF Providing accommodation for 938 students and 266 flats for senior staff, with parking and recreational facilities Conceptual illustration
TEACHING AND LEARNING 15 14 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2022 INSPIRING BEYOND BOUNDARIES TEACHING AND LEARNING
TEACHING AND LEARNING 17 16 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2022 Resilience and forward-thinking marked the University’s teaching and learning in the 2021–22 academic year, when we made progress in advancing and modernising our curriculum while coping efficiently with the ongoing challenges posed by COVID-19. Our guide has been the HKU Undergraduate Teaching and Learning Strategy 2021–28, which lays out a framework for innovating teaching and maximising students’ potential. HKU’s teachers have been embracing new technologies to ensure students can continue to learn whatever the circumstances and to explore new ground, both in terms of how content is taught and the content itself. Simulations, virtual reality and 3D cameras are being used in disciplines as diverse as archaeology and nursing. To support teachers, the University runs a biannual Teaching and Learning Festival featuring workshops and sharing sessions and it has opened Digital capabilities have become more important than ever in society. To meet that demand, we launched several new programmes in 2022–23 that emphasise digital literacy and the ability to work with big data and artificial intelligence. These include the Bachelor of Engineering in Data Science and Engineering, Bachelor of Arts in Humanities and Digital Technologies, Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics, Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Analytics, and Bachelor of Science in Marketing Analytics and Technology. In a similar vein, the double degree Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Laws prepares students to deal with legal issues related to STEM. Another new programme, Bachelor of Psychology, addresses the growing demand for mental health professionals. Meanwhile, tech components have been applied to the student services provided by the Centre of Development and Resources for Students, which offers online counselling and psychological support to students with needs, as well as a CV-checker and AI-based mock job interviews that give students feedback on their performance. Enterprising students have a growing array of opportunities to develop their ideas and get an early start in innovation and entrepreneurship. iDendron (see Technology Transfer and Knowledge Exchange chapter) has offered funding and entrepreneurial training to students for several years, while the Tam Wing Fan Innovation TEACHING INNOVATION PROGRAMME INNOVATION STUDENT INNOVATION The 3rd HKU Teaching and Learning Festival 2022 celebrated the achievements of teaching innovation and development that positively impact student learning. The Tam Wing Fan Innovation Wing Two was officially opened in December 2021. The Innovation Wing One and Two and the Innovation Academy together form an integrated hub for innovation, exploration, outreach and collaboration. Learn more about HKU’s new big data-oriented programmes the new Learning Lab, a unique hybrid classroom that offers professional development for teachers and a model for bridging the divide between online and in-person students. We have also formalised our university teacher professional learning programme into the HKU Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, a portable qualification for teachers who complete our general training programmes that will be launched in 2023. Wing, which opened in phases in late 2020 and late 2021, supports maker culture through a well-equipped space where students can collaborate, develop their ideas, and receive training from experts and peers. So far more than 2,300 students from all 10 faculties have come through the Innovation Wing.
TEACHING AND LEARNING 19 18 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2022 Our graduates’ ability to develop innovative solutions for societal challenges will depend on flexible, agile thinking. The University aims to advance this capability by systematically integrating undergraduate research into the curriculum for all students, which will deepen their knowledge and learning capabilities. Interdisciplinarity is also being advanced through the new Elite Capstone Programme that brings together students from at least three different faculties to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems. The Common Core, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2022, has been a pathbreaker in undergraduate research and interdisciplinarity and it will also support our coming Future Readiness programme to ensure HKU students have the skills and mindsets to be leaders in the future workforce. It is truly wonderful to have students back on campus at the start of the 2022–23 academic year, following the lifting of pandemic restrictions in Hong Kong. HKU prides itself as an attractive destination for top students from around the world. In 2022, 121 top scorers came to HKU from Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas and our new students also had the highest average admission score in the HKDSE. DIGGING DEEPER STUDENTS CHOOSE HKU Students from across different faculties attending a workshop, jointly organised by the Common Core and Arup, for a transdisciplinary research project to study the design of open spaces across Hong Kong. HKU prides itself as an attractive destination for top students from around the world. 121 top scorers including 52 students who studied in Hong Kong and 69 from the Mainland and overseas admitted to HKU in the 2022 intake. 98.7% employment Almost all graduates from 2021 were engaged in employment or pursuing further studies (21.4%) by the end of the year. This was the 16th consecutive year of full-time employment for HKU graduates. The future outlook for HKU graduates looks very rosy, even given the backdrop of geopolitical events and pandemics. HKU and Hong Kong in general are set to see a big expansion in opportunities through our deepening engagement with the Greater Bay Area. We are committed to preparing our students to lead the way in capitalising on these opportunities and building new bridges to the region and the rest of the world. 90 countries / regions Students came from countries as diverse as Armenia, Brazil, Czech Republic, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland and Kazakhstan. The University has returned to face-toface teaching for all programmes in the 2022–23 academic year. Sports talents join the HKU family via the Top Athletes Direct Admission Scheme.
TEACHING AND LEARNING 21 20 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2022 A team led by two Faculty of Education students won the 2022 Pitching Contest for Engineering Undergraduates and InnoHub members organised by the Faculty of Engineering’s Innovation Academy, underscoring the growing interdisciplinarity of tech innovation at HKU. The crossover project, MotOral, is a mobile application targeting swallowing disorders among older adults. The app helps speech therapists provide prevention measures for at-risk patients, such as exercises to strengthen oral motor muscles, face-tracking technologies to monitor muscle movement, and visual feedback. The project was led by Lesley Lee Hoi In and Rachel Yue Hang Chi, both Year 4 students in the Bachelor of Science The University is in the process of integrating research more systematically into the undergraduate curriculum. In the meantime, individual students and teachers are demonstrating the value of this goal. Dr Gilad Feldman of the Department of Psychology requires all his students – not just star pupils – to produce research that contributes to academia. From 2018 to 2022, they conducted 80 replications and extensions of classic findings in social psychology and judgment and decision-making, which are important to uphold the credibility of the original findings. So far 28 have been published in academic journals. While the students have learned about the rigours of research, Dr Feldman has also gained insights. “My work with students has informed my understanding of open science. I encouraged them to challenge me to do better and they have motivated me to re-examine all that I’ve learned in my academic training,” he said. Undergraduate research can also send students in pursuit of research careers. Lam Suet Ying graduated in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts double major in linguistics and computer science and EDUCATION STUDENTS WIN TECH CONTEST UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SHOWS RESULTS MotOral is a mobile application that assists speech therapists in providing preventive measures of swallowing disorders for at-risk older adults. Students are encouraged to apply new technology to find solutions, whatever their discipline, and to pursue research to deepen their knowledge and understanding. THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX in Speech-Language Pathology. Rachel was already a member of InnoHub – a platform where students from all 10 faculties can collaborate on new innovations – when the two friends decided to test their ideas in the Pitching Contest. They also sought input from friends in engineering, business and law to gain perspectives from outside speech-language pathology on how to improve their app, but the leadership – and pitching – were down to the efforts of Lesley and Rachel. “This was our first-ever pitching contest and we were nervous and practised more than 30 times to ensure our pitch went smoothly. We were so excited and surprised to win the contest even though we were not engineering students,” they said. The pair received a HK$1,200 cash prize and also won the Best Presenters Award. They are now eligible to apply for funding from the Tam Wing Fan Innovation Fund and Philomathia Foundation Innovation Fund to develop their project further. “We are continuously making modifications and seeking funding to improve MotOral’s functions. This kind of support is important for turning student ideas into a self-sustaining business,” they said. moved directly into a PhD programme at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She earlier collaborated on several research studies with Dr Heeju Hwang in the Department of Linguistics, including a transdisciplinary study on pronoun production in Mandarin Chinese that was published in Cognitive Science this year with Suet Ying as the lead author. The study was funded by the Common Core Transdisciplinary Undergraduate Research Fund. “I wanted to learn what doing research is like so I could decide whether I wanted to pursue further study in this field and I found myself really enjoying it. This drove me to apply for PhD programmes,” she said. Dr Hwang said Suet Ying had contributed to knowledge about general theories of referential communications across languages. “This kind of research can raise students’ awareness about linguistic and cultural diversity and help foster an inclusive environment,” she said. Dr Heeju Hwang and Bachelor of Arts student Lam Suet Ying (on screen) have meetings and perform research studies online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lesley (left) and Rachel (centre) showcasing MotOral in the Engineering Inno Show.
TEACHING AND LEARNING 23 22 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2022 One of the biggest challenges teachers have faced during the pandemic is how to make hybrid learning work – those sessions when in-person and online students attend class at the same time. Professor Susan Bridges and her colleagues at the Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning have examined the problem from all angles to produce a model that is attracting global attention and HKU teachers have been honoured internationally for their excellence and innovation, winning two Gold awards and one Bronze at the 2021 QS Reimagine Education Awards (the ‘Oscars’ of education) and the C Holmes MacDonald Outstanding Teaching Award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Eta Kappa Nu (IEEE-HKN). MAKING HYBRID LEARNING WORK TEACHING EXCELLENCE HONOURS The CETL Learning Lab was launched in May 2022 to support innovation, including addressing the post-pandemic demand for synchronous hybrid learning. Dr George Lim Tipoe and Dr Fraide A Ganotice Jr of the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine won a Gold award in hybrid learning for their teamwork on interprofessional education and collaborative practice. Students from 12 health-related programmes in six faculties come together to learn about, from and with one another, and deepen their understanding of each other’s disciplines, with their discussions facilitated by Open edX and learning analytics. More than 40 teachers are involved in the project. Dr Ng Ming Yen of the Department of Diagnostic Radiology won the Gold award for life sciences for a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on cardiac imaging that is the first of its kind to provide a postgraduate certificate in cardiac CT and MRI. The MOOC was developed with input from a large team of international and Hong Kong experts and HKU’s Technology-Enriched Learning Initiative. The Bronze award went to Mr Mathew Pryor and Ms Lynn Lin Hanyuning in the Faculty of Architecture in the category of ICT tools in teaching, learning and support for their Digital Exhibition Space, which makes creative use of 3D virtual technologies for students to learn and display their works. The IEEE-HKN award went to Dr Hayden So Kwok Hay in the Faculty of Engineering for his excellence in training and motivating future engineers. Dr So involves students in hands-on projects from the outset then guides them back to the underlying theories. His teaching has inspired several students to launch their own start-ups. The IEEE’s honour society, Eta Kappa Nu, honours only one professor globally each year. Dr So is the first scholar outside the US to receive the award. A promising new model for hybrid learning has been developed at HKU, while several of our teachers were honoured for bringing innovative approaches into their classrooms. EXPERIMENTS IN LEARNING we have designed this space ourselves and patented the Hybrid Learning Mobile Desk Console in the HKSAR and Mainland China, and we believe it can achieve our learning goals. This is the most advanced hybrid teaching space on campus,” said Professor Bridges. The console puts online learners at the centre of group discussions, using hexagonal tables with two back-to-back computer screens at their centre and a 360-degree camera. Online students can see all their in-person groupmates at the same time and vice versa, and both groups can look at the same computer screen at the same time. Their work can also be projected onto a giant digital canvas that wraps around the room, for feedback from teachers and classmates. Online students can also be projected onto the canvas to contribute to whole-class discussion. The Learning Lab has been presented to educators in Hong Kong, Europe and Australia to much interest. “People have never seen this kind of space before. I believe the future of teaching and learning is hybrid,” Professor Bridges said – particularly in connecting students and teachers in different campuses and countries. QS Reimagine Education Gold award IEEE-HKN award QS Reimagine Education Gold award QS Reimagine Education Bronze award is on display at the Learning Lab, a new professional development space where teachers can experiment with the future of learning. “We were given a brief two years ago to predict what classes would look like when face-to-face learning resumed and to draw out the best lessons from arrangements during COVID-19. Hybrid was the hardest to crack but Learn more about the CETL Learning Lab
TEACHING AND LEARNING 25 24 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2022 In 2016, the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine announced its unique ‘Enrichment Year’ (EY) curriculum, which requires all third-year MBBS students to spend the year broadening their horizons, pursuing their interests and even completing a second degree in Hong Kong or abroad, before the demands of clinical studies kick in. The first students to benefit graduated in 2022 and report that the year off-book was deeply fulfilling. Some 61 of the 230 students in the class completed a second degree, while Pandemic restrictions may have hindered exchanges outside Hong Kong for HKU students, but they have not prevented them from engaging with the world in other meaningful ways. The Common Core has made the most of virtual technologies so HKU students from different disciplines can collaborate with their counterparts around the world on projects of global concern. In the summer, for example, HKU students from such disciplines as business, engineering and biomedical sciences worked together with Davis College students in Rwanda to develop projects for the Nyamirambo Women’s Center, an NGO that provides education and support to women affected by gender-based violence, gender inequality and discrimination. The women are trained and employed to create accessories, clothing and home décor products. The students’ task was to develop ideas that would add value to the NGO’s work. They made formal proposals and presentations on ideas such as creating Instagram posts and a LinkedIn marketing channel and recruiting student interns to help with work overloads. Some 182 students participated in the Common Core’s virtual co-curricular programmes in 2022. The resumption of in-person teaching in autumn 2022 will enable the Common Core to expand opportunities for students to engage both physically and digitally with impactful projects. ENRICHMENT YEAR GRADS ON WHAT THEY HAVE GAINED ENGAGING WITH THE WORLD Professor Lau Chak Sing (first from left) was joined by members of the first class to complete the Enrichment Year. A virtual classroom session on art and well-being in a Common Core research project in collaboration with the University of Queensland and Griffith University, Australia. Luo Wenhao Bachelor of Economics and Finance Year 4 Sanjana Bharti Bachelor of Business and Administration Year 3 Allison Tai spent her Enrichment Year at the University of Bristol. HKU has made it a priority for students to engage beyond their chosen discipline, whether as part of their programme of study or through the cross-curricular Common Core. NEW PERSPECTIVES others took courses in areas completely unrelated to medicine, did internships, and / or worked with local, national or international charities. In all cases, the Faculty helped students make meaningful selections and guided them throughout their third year. Gladys Sit, for instance, spent a semester at the University of Edinburgh taking courses in public health, biology and economics, then went to Yunnan province to collaborate with a team from Fudan University to research smoking among healthcare professionals and patients. The experience helped improve her communication skills. “As a doctor, we might think we’re explaining something clearly, but in fact we frequently use technical terms,” she said. “We can’t blame patients for not understanding or asking lots of questions. I learned to be more patient and more considerate of the patient.” Allison Tai completed a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Sciences at the University of Bristol where she learned how to apply research techniques in clinical medicine. “This experience taught me that research is not just about numbers, but that it can tell you about a patient’s life experiences. It definitely serves as a good reminder for me as a doctor.” The EY curriculum was developed by the current Dean of Medicine, Professor Lau Chak Sing, Daniel C K Yu Professor in Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, when he was Assistant Dean. “It has been very satisfying to watch students grow professionally and personally with the help of our unique EY curriculum,” he said. The highlight of my experience was communicating and collaborating with the Davis College students. Afterwards we talked about refugees, China-Africa relations and women in STEM fields, all of which benefitted me a lot. We did experience difficulties both in terms of language and time differences, but this experience allowed me to learn how to be patient and work on a team virtually.
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION 27 26 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2022 INNOVATING BEYOND DISCIPLINES RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION 29 28 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2022 PHYSICAL GROWTH TALENT GROWTH The most visible evidence of our trajectory is the expansion of our physical research space. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in July 2022 for the Tech Landmark, a complex of four buildings that will open in 2024 to accommodate at least 12 institutes focussing on interdisciplinary research across all disciplines, including non-STEM fields. Earlier in the year, the Institute of Data Science became the first institute to formally be launched (see page 36). However, the Tech Landmark is only a prelude to our ambitions. In 2022 we also announced the Global Innovation Centre, which would be located near the Medical Campus and provide a world-class facility for deep technology research, and we made progress on the planned HKU-Shenzhen Campus to strengthen our regional presence. Both facilities would substantially increase HKU’s research footprint and capabilities. Collaboration is also a big part of our growth plans. In June 2022 we signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Qianhai Authority that will step up talent cultivation, scientific research and technology transfer through interdisciplinary and STEM initiatives. The University is experiencing unprecedented opportunities to contribute original, innovative research to the development of the region and the world. To maximise our impact, we have been increasing investment in physical space and human resources and deepening our engagement in the Greater Bay Area. These measures will increase our capacity to develop cuttingedge research, attract top-flight scholars and bring different disciplines together to address major challenges in fields ranging from fintech and cancer to biotechnology and climate change. The Tech Landmark is a complex of four buildings targeted to open in 2024. Newly recruited research talents at the Institute of Data Science. HKU’s strong bank of talent is evident in the global recognition that our scholars receive across all disciplines, including 38 Highly Cited Researchers named in Clarivate’s 2022 list, the most ever and a significant increase over last year’s 31. We now rank 26th globally in terms of the number of Highly Cited Researchers. Nonetheless, there is potential to do even better, especially given our expansion plans. We have therefore been recruiting top talents and nurturing promising ones. The HKU Global Professoriate Recruitment Campaign aims to bring 100 world-class scholars in emerging fields to HKU. As of autumn 2022, more than 40 distinguished scholars had been recruited from institutes such as Stanford, Princeton and Yale Universities and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. HKU has also done very well in the government’s Global STEM Professorship Scheme, securing the highest proportion of professorships among the eight local universities. We are developing young research talent through several programmes, including the new Interdisciplinary PhD Programmes that will admit students from 2023–24 from multidisciplinary backgrounds; the new Dissertation Year Fellowship that will support selected outstanding PhD students to pursue an additional year of training after they submit their thesis; and new funds to award research postgraduate students for publication in a high-quality journal and for innovation initiatives. All told, these measures will boost our attractiveness to promising young scholars. 100 world-class scholars in emerging fields to HKU. The HKU Global Professoriate Recruitment Campaign aims to bring
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION 31 30 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2022 A major indicator of the quality of our research talent is our consistent success in competitive research funding exercises, where we continued to lead all other Hong Kong universities in 2021–22. Highlights include receiving the largest share of the Research Grants Council’s (RGC) General Research Fund (HK$225.29 million for 247 projects, excluding on-costs); leading five of the eight projects awarded under the RGC’s 12th round of the Theme-based Research Scheme, receiving total funding of HK$168 million (including on-costs); and leading one of only two Areas of Excellence projects awarded in 2022 (total funding of HK$74.8 million, including on-costs). In the past, that might have been the welcome sum of our government funding support, but HKU has also been performing strongly in Mainland funding exercises. In 2021–22, our scholars received more than RMB26 million via HKU’s Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation and RMB25.7 million directly via HKU from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Guangdong and Shenzhen funding bodies. In addition, 10 young OPPORTUNITY GROWTH HKU scientists were awarded under the 2022 Excellent Young Scientists Fund (Hong Kong and Macau), the highest among peer institutions for the fourth consecutive year (see page 38). With growing financial support, talent development and physical expansion, the University has high expectations of magnifying its research impact in the coming years. These investments aim to position us as a truly world-leading university that not only contributes to the development of new and innovative economic industries in Hong Kong but provides solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing our world. With growing financial support, talent development and physical expansion, the University has high expectations of magnifying its research impact in the coming years. HK$585.6 million funding from UGC and RGC 5/8theme-based research projects HKU professors lead these projects which received a total of HK$168 million (including on-costs). HK$760 million funding from other sources for new research projects in 2021–22
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION 33 32 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2022 ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS A record 38 HKU scholars made Clarivate’s global list of Highly Cited Researchers, having produced multiple studies ranked in the top 1% in their fields based on citations. HKU is 26th globally in terms of the number of scientists on the list. Professor Xiang Zhang Faculty of Engineering; Faculty of Science; President’s Office Professor Huang Kaibin Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering RECORD NUMBER OF HIGHLY CITED RESEARCHERS Professor Yuen Kwok Yung Department of Microbiology Dr Jasper Chan Fuk Woo Department of Microbiology Dr Kelvin To Kai Wang Department of Microbiology IMMUNOLOGY, MICROBIOLOGY PHYSICS Professor Yao Wang Department of Physics Professor Yin Xiaobo Faculty of Engineering; Faculty of Science; President’s Office Professor Zhang Shuang Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Department of Physics Professor Zhao Guochun Department of Earth Sciences GEOSCIENCES Professor Benjamin John Cowling School of Public Health Professor Leo Poon Lit Man School of Public Health Professor Zhang Tong Department of Civil Engineering MICROBIOLOGY COMPUTER SCIENCE Professor Li Lain Jong Department of Mechanical Engineering Professor Ivan Hung Fan Ngai Department of Medicine Mr Cai Jianpiao Department of Microbiology IMMUNOLOGY Dr Chan Kwok Hung Department of Microbiology Dr Chu Hin Department of Microbiology Professor Kevin Zhou Zheng Faculty of Business and Economics MATERIALS SCIENCE
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION 35 34 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2022 Dr Yuan Shuofeng Department of Microbiology Dr Cyril Yip Chik Yan Department of Microbiology Dr Yen Hui Ling School of Public Health Professor Joseph Wu Tsz Kei School of Public Health Professor Tang Chuyang Department of Civil Engineering Professor Joseph Sriyal Malik Peiris School of Public Health Professor Liang Shunlin Department of Geography Professor Li Yuguo Department of Mechanical Engineering Professor Dennis Leung Yiu Cheong Department of Mechanical Engineering Professor Ester Cerin School of Public Health Professor Chen Zhiwei Department of Microbiology Professor Vincent Cheng Chi Chung Department of Microbiology Dr Wu Peng School of Public Health Professor Gong Peng Faculty of Science; Faculty of Social Sciences; President’s Office Dr Anna Zhang Jinxia Department of Microbiology Professor Mak Tak Wah Department of Pathology Professor Jin Dongyan School of Biomedical Sciences Dr Kok Kin Hang Department of Microbiology Dr Eric Lau Ho Yin School of Public Health Professor Gabriel Matthew Leung School of Public Health 1% Top in their fields CROSS-FIELD 26th HKU ranks globally in terms of the number of Highly Cited Researchers on the list.
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION 37 36 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2022 Data is no longer a tool confined to STEM subjects and the University is promoting the application of data sciences across multiple disciplines. APPLYING DATA ACROSS DISCIPLINES NEW INSTITUTES TAKE ROOT UNDER TECH LANDMARK BANNER APPLYING BIG DATA TO CHINA’S HISTORY The Tech Landmark, opening in 2024, will house at least 12 interdisciplinary research institutes and kick-start a much-needed expansion in research space at HKU. But its impact is already being felt. Several institutes have been formed and are actively recruiting and establishing their presence. The most prominent is the HKU Musketeers Foundation Institute of Data Science (IDS), which has received a HK$150 million donation from the Musketeers Education and Culture Charitable Foundation. The IDS aims to be a world-class, interdisciplinary centre that explores frontier research and applications in data science, computing, mathematics and statistics – but also looks beyond traditional STEM subjects to the application of data in wider society. Data science is playing a growing role in non-STEM fields, where the ability to compute and analyse huge quantities of information is yielding new insights. A case in point is HKU’s Quantitative History of China project, awarded HK$67.32 million in 2022 under the Areas of Excellence (AoE) Scheme. Professor Chen Zhiwu, Chair Professor and Cheng Yu-Tung Professor in Finance, is leading the project which will examine four key dimensions of China’s and Hong Kong’s development: ancient roots; culture; state capacity and institutions; and finance, trade and Hong Kong’s rise. The project is built around China’s rich tradition of record-keeping. “One major focus will be digital social sciences and how we can contribute to complex industrial, business and societal issues,” said Vice-President and ProVice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Max Shen, who leads the IDS. “The large-scale databases available across Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area will give us a unique advantage in producing impactful and novel research.” The IDS was formally established in January 2022 in a temporary office in the Graduate House and has been recruiting new talent as IDS scholars on joint appointments with various departments at HKU. It has three research clusters to start with: Fundamental Data Science to develop novel methodologies for analysing Formally established in January 2022, the Institute of Data Science has a temporary office in the Graduate House, with members from all 10 faculties at HKU. Dean of HKU Business School Professor Cai Hongbin (second from right) with some research team members – Project Coordinator Professor Chen Zhiwu (second from left), Professor Lin Chen (first from right) and Dr Ma Chicheng (first from left). large volumes of data; Explainable AI and Human-Machine Interplays to deepen understanding of how AI systems make decisions and improve the power, accuracy and transparency of these decisions; and Smart Society, which will make use of sensors and connected devices to advance research on sustainable development, on resilience and responses to 21stcentury challenges, and on hard and soft infrastructure for data systems and strategies. Three other institutes were announced in 2022 and are in the very early stages of development – the Institute for Advanced Quantum Study, the Institute for Climate and Carbon Neutrality, and the Urban Systems Institute. As with the IDS, they bring together scholars from a variety of disciplines to break down disciplinary boundaries and promote deeper collaboration on issues of global importance. “Uniquely among nations, China has a wealth of historical and archaeological archives covering almost all aspects of society, from politics to business, law and regulation, crime and unrest, family and lineage, culture and customs, religion and social organisation, and science,” Professor Chen said. “The digitalisation of these records offers quantitative historians an unprecedented opportunity to re-examine various aspects of China’s past.” The project has an interdisciplinary and international team that includes members of HKU’s QUANTITATIVE HISTORY OF CHINA: HISTORICAL ROOTS OF RECENT SUCCESS AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENT Culture, Religion and Long-term Consequences State Capacity, Institutions and Development Ancient Roots from Quantitative Perspectives Financial History, Trade and the Rise of Hong Kong 4 CLUSTERS Business School and Faculty of Law as well as scholars from Oxford University, Renmin University of China, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Lingnan University. Members of the team have already published widely on the quantitative history of China, constructed historical databases and held symposia to promote their approach since 2013. The AoE will consolidate their expertise to establish a Centre for Quantitative History at HKU that will coordinate research, enhance teaching and learning, and contribute insights on policymaking and improved business practices. The grant under the AoE Scheme has also been topped up with additional funding from HKU to bring the total funding to HK$74.8 million.
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