HKBU teachers recognised by the UGC Teaching Award in all three categories

Teaching and learning excellence at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has received profound and comprehensive recognition at the 2024 University Grants Committee (UGC) Teaching Award.

Each year, the UGC presents two individual and one team awards to outstanding teachers of the UGC-funded institutions. This year marks the first time for HKBU teachers to clinch BOTH individual awards, and one teacher is represented in the team award.

Dr Kristen Li Yuanxi, Lecturer of the Department of Computer Science, has received the award in the General Faculty Members category; Ms Anna Qin Lai-yin, Assistant Professor of the Academy of Visual Arts, has clinched the award in the Early Career Faculty Members category; Dr Theresa Kwong, Director of the Centre for Holistic Teaching and Learning, has garnered the award in the Collaborative Teams category as a member of the Holistic Competency and Virtues Education (HAVE) Team.

The awardees received the accolades from Mr Tim Lui, Chairman of the UGC, at an award presentation ceremony held today (7 October).

Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU, stated that the encouraging results of this year's UGC Teaching Award reflect not only the outstanding achievements of individual educators at HKBU, but also the University's sustained dedication to quality learning and teaching as well as the best student experience.

"In recent years, HKBU has adopted a forward-looking strategy to strengthen transdisciplinary learning and teaching, with the aim of nurturing all-rounded, future-shaping talents. Educators at HKBU adopt learner-centred approaches, and work steadfastly in the fit-for-purpose application of technologies in learning and teaching, the introduction of novel education pedagogies, and the diversification of learning experiences to broaden the vision of students. The award winners at HKBU truly exemplify the University's commitment to excellence and innovation in learning and teaching," said Professor Wai.

Dr Kristen Li is commended for her relentless pursuit of integrating effective educational design with advanced technologies which has profoundly influenced the education landscape and inspired her students. As an innovative educator, she employs a unique 5D design framework - Discover, Define, Develop, Debate, and Deliver - that emphasises a student-centred approach, fostering creativity and critical thinking.

Dr Li has inspired diverse thoughts through impactful projects and redefined the senior-level General Education course into a comprehensive transdisciplinary capstone experience. Her students are equipped to thrive in globally connected environments, promoting collaboration and the development of solutions for societal challenges. The success of her teaching methods is evident in the creative output of her students, culminating in the global hackathon series where they tackle global sustainability issues, earning international acclaim.

Ms Anna Qin is a versatile professional known for her significant contributions in academia and industry, notably her role in designing the Landing Chair for the Shenzhou space missions. She is praised for her teaching of design thinking which blends practical and research-based experiences to cultivate Creative Artspreneurs, emphasising social relevance and planet-centric design principles.

Ms Qin integrates a 5-step design thinking process into her curriculum, enriching designs with cultural and technological narratives, encouraging students to create meaningful stories through their work. Using her 4C framework - Content, Context, Culture, and Collaborator - she empowers students to tackle design challenges and develop critical thinking skills. Her commitment to project-based learning and service-oriented designs enhances students' educational experiences and equips them with real-world skills.

Dr Theresa Kwong is a member of the Holistic Competency and Virtues Education (HAVE) Team. HAVE is a cross-institutional programme in Hong Kong which cultivates holistic competencies in students, making these competencies more visible in their study and life, enabling them to flourish in an ever-changing world beyond the confines of their discipline. These competencies include leadership, teamwork, communication, lifelong-learning, creativity, problem-solving and critical thinking.

Introduced in 2011, the annual UGC Teaching Award aims to honour those who excel in teaching in the UGC sector. The Award not only recognises the teachers' past and present teaching performance and achievements, but also their leadership in scholarly contribution to teaching and learning within and across universities.

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