Vice-President (Teaching and Learning)

Message from Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning)

Dear colleagues and students

I am very pleased to announce the recipients of the University’s Teaching Excellence Awards 2024. The Selection Panel was deeply impressed with the awardees’ dedication to teaching, their tireless and creative efforts to make learning enjoyable and challenging, and the impact they have made on student learning.

University Distinguished Teaching Award

• Dr. Chun Kit Chui, Faculty of Engineering

Outstanding Teaching Award

• Dr. Chao Ding, Faculty of Business and Economics
• Dr. Ka Ho Law, Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science
• Dr. Kin Yi Leung, Faculty of Education
• Professor Eunice M.F. Seng, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture
• Professor Thomas H.K. Tsang, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture
• Dr. Dana Vackova, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine

Early Career Teaching Award

• Professor Wesley L. Attewell, Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences
• Ms. Stephanie Biedermann, Faculty of Law
• Dr. Chun Sing Lam, School of Nursing, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
• Professor Phoebe P.Y. Lam, Faculty of Dentistry
• Dr. Ann K.Y. Leung, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
• Professor Monica L. Steinberg, School of Modern Languages and Cultures, Faculty of Arts
• Professor Philip H. Li, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
• Professor Zhengyan Li, Department of Politics and Public Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences

I would like to thank our external assessor, Professor Moira Fischbacher-Smith (Vice-Principal (Learning and Teaching) of the University of Glasgow), for providing us with expert advice during the final selection process. I would also like to thank the other panel members: Professor Pauline Chiu, Dr. Jannie Roed, and Miss Chloe Cheung (student representative) for their assistance in this important exercise.

Please join me in congratulating the awardees!

Professor Ian Holliday
Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning)
Chair, Selection Panel for Teaching Excellence Awards 2024

Message from Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning)

 Dear colleagues and students

 I’m delighted to share with you the exciting news that the Holistic Competency and Virtues Education (HAVE) Team led by Professor Cecilia Chan (Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre / Faculty of Education) has won the prestigious 2024 UGC Teaching Award (Collaborative Teams Category). The HAVE Team also comprises Professor Samson Tse (Dean of Student Affairs), Professor Albert Ko (Lingnan University), Professor Ben Chan (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) and Dr. Theresa Kwong (Hong Kong Baptist University).

 Since 2016, the HAVE Team has spearheaded numerous initiatives seeking to integrate competencies such as critical thinking and adaptability into university curricula, transcending traditional educational boundaries to equip students for global challenges and opportunities. Notable examples include an AI-driven Career Future-Readiness Platform, which aims to align students’ career aspirations with essential competencies, and a Community of Practice, which facilitates knowledge sharing and innovative pedagogies across institutions. The Team has also developed a Holistic Competency Development Framework for experiential learning that has reached thousands of students across multiple institutions. Additionally, it has established the International Holistic Competency Foundation to accredit courses with holistic competencies. All these efforts stand as a testament to the Team’s dedication to fostering innovation and students’ holistic development in an interconnected world.

Please join me in extending our warm congratulations to Cecilia and the HAVE Team!

Best wishes, Ian

Professor Ian Holliday
Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor
(Teaching and Learning)

Link: HKU Press Release

Message from Professor Ian Holliday, Vice-President (Teaching and Learning)

Dear colleagues, students and alumni

The Quality Assurance Council (QAC) of the University Grants Committee (UGC) has published its Report on the third institutional Quality Audit of the University of Hong Kong. I am very pleased to inform you that the Report is highly positive.

The QAC Audit Panel acknowledges the University’s efforts in reviewing and enriching our education provision and enhancing our quality mechanisms. Its Report notes that the University has effective systems in place for managing academic standards and quality across all programme levels. It recognises our strengths in external engagement, as well as global and local benchmarking. It also acknowledges our comprehensive policies and procedures for programme development, approval, monitoring and review, and the clear academic governance frameworks at the University and HKU SPACE.

Regarding teaching and learning (T&L) enhancement, the Panel recognises the University’s commitment to continuously reviewing and improving T&L in both face-to-face and virtual T&L contexts, noting the effectiveness of the University’s arrangements in this regard.

The University values the Panel’s acknowledgment that externality is comprehensively embedded within quality assurance processes, resulting in significant local and global benchmarking that enhances programmes and the curricula. The Panel also highlights the array of professional development activities offered by the Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre (TALIC) to effectively support academic staff throughout their careers, as well as the quality support services provided by the Centre of Development and Resources for Students. The University is committed to fair, transparent and rigorous assessment. We are very pleased to note the Panel’s compliments of TALIC’s comprehensive support which enhances the diversification of assessment practice across the University, and of the robust regulatory processes of HKU and HKU SPACE. The Panel views the development of the Student Information System and its integration with the Learning Management System positively for identifying students who may need additional support.

The Audit Report, along with the University’s response, is accessible on the Teaching and Learning website (https://tl.hku.hk/tl/quality-assurance/hku-qac-audit-2023). This Audit has provided us with a very constructive opportunity to reflect on our T&L provision at all levels and showcase our collective efforts and achievements. I extend my gratitude to all for your dedication to T&L excellence, and for enhancing the quality of our academic programmes and services.

Best wishes, Ian

Professor Ian Holliday
Vice-President (Teaching and Learning)
The University of Hong Kong

Message from Professor Ian Holliday, Vice-President (Teaching & Learning)

Dear colleagues,

Just a couple of teaching matters to bring to your attention ahead of the new academic session.

Plagiarism

The University is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity, and has in place a Policy on Student Plagiarism in Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate Curricula. Please do inform your students about proper academic practice. Relevant resources can be found on the plagiarism website.

Assessment

Assessment is an important vehicle for supporting and guiding student learning. The University has an overarching assessment policy which sets out the philosophy and principles that guide and regulate assessment practice. The key principle is that students should be assessed in an appropriate, fair, rigorous and transparent manner. Solid and timely feedback, not restricted to scores or grades, should be provided. The QAC Audit Panel advised us to enhance students’ understanding of the grade descriptors used in undergraduate and taught postgraduate courses, and to provide better feedback.

I’m therefore writing to ask you at the start of each semester to talk students through the grade descriptors used in your courses, so that they understand the level of performance expected of them. Please also give timely feedback on assignments and written examinations, to enable students to learn from what they have done well and what they have done badly.

The Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre (TALIC) will continue to work on enhancing assessment practice and providing good feedback to students. If you have any thoughts or need any help, please contact the TALIC staff liaison for your Faculty/Office:

Happy teaching!

Best wishes, Ian

Professor Ian Holliday
Vice-President (Teaching and Learning)

Message from Professor Ian Holliday, Vice-President (Teaching & Learning) <coopedu@hku.hk>

Dear colleagues

During our Faculty Board visits earlier this semester, we floated the idea of a new undergraduate Co-op programme. We’ve since worked up the idea into a draft Senate paper, which can be viewed at https://intraweb.hku.hk/reserved_2/cdqa/doc/draft_Co-op_Education.pdf (HKU Portal login required). We’re writing to seek your comments on the draft.

We’ll also be hosting an open forum next week. Please join us if you’d like to be part of the debate. These are the details:

Date: May 14, 2024 (Tuesday)

Time: 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.

Venue: Room 223, 2/F, Knowles Building (Main Campus)

Many thanks in advance for your feedback!

Best wishes
Ian and Pauline

Professor Ian Holliday
Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor
(Teaching and Learning)

Professor Pauline Chiu
Associate Vice-President
(Teaching and Learning)