The annual Discovery Festival at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) is currently showcasing the University’s strengths in discovery and innovation, and promoting teaching excellence.

 

The three-week-long festival, held from 24 February to 14 March, displays some of the most exciting teaching and learning outcomes originating from our unique Discovery-enriched Curriculum (DEC), allowing teachers and students to share their experiences and discoveries.

 

An Opening Ceremony cum Teaching Excellence Awards Presentation on 3 March was officiated by Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, Secretary for Transport and Housing of the HKSAR Government, Professor Way Kuo, CityU President, Professor Arthur Ellis, Provost of CityU, Professor Horace Ip Ho-sing, Vice-President (Student Affairs) of CityU, and Mr Cedri Cheng Cheuk-him, Vice Chairman of Convocation of CityU.

 

Professor Kuo said the DEC ignited a passion for knowledge and discovery among students. “Our teachers are positioning discovery, innovation and creativity at the front and centre of their courses in order to build a strong foundation for students to initiate original work. At the same time, students are exploring and gaining new knowledge, and thus contributing to society,” he said. He encouraged staff and students to continue to innovate and make discoveries both in and out of class.

 

The ceremony also saw the presentation of this year’s Teaching Excellence Awards to three outstanding teachers who have contributed to raising the quality of teaching at CityU. The three exemplary teachers are:

 

·         Dr Elaine Au Liu Suk-ching, Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Social Studies

·         Mr Scott Hessels, Associate Professor in the School of Creative Media

·         Dr Samson Young Kar-fai, Assistant Professor in the School of Creative Media

 

In addition, awards were presented to 23 student participants on the Antarctica Expedition, to students who created winning Internationalisation Scheme projects, and to the winners of “My Own Discovery Contest”. They have all successfully made original discoveries while at CityU.

 

The festival consists of two major sections: the Majors & Minors Fair, and Teaching&Learning@CityU. The Majors & Minors Fair provides information and academic advice to Year 1 students on selecting majors and minors, and the Teaching&Learning@CityU showcases innovative teaching and learning at CityU. Major activities include the e-Learning and m-Learning Fair, which introduces how Cloud Services have promoted student collaboration, social learning and active learning at CityU, and sharing sessions by awardees who have received Teaching Development Grants and funds through the Idea Incubator Scheme, Campus Sustainability Fund, and Communities of Practice.

 

Other highlights of the festival include the Matchmaking Symposium, a platform for staff and students to find out how to commercialise their innovations or new product ideas; the IP talk which provides students with basic knowledge about intellectual property rights; the Antarctica Expedition and Exhibition which introduces artists, researchers and scientists working together to collect and interpret environmental data using new forms of creativity and visualisation; competitions and performances; and much more.

 

 

 

Media enquiries: Cathy Lau, Communications and Public Relations Office (Tel: 3442 6304 or 9289 4060)