On 16 May 2025, the School of Law, CityUHK conducted a Research Camp with the aim to collect feedback and suggestions to effectively conduct the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).

The Research Camp began with a welcoming address by Prof Thomas Crofts (Associate Dean). The Camp featured two key sessions, each focusing on distinct topics:

• Updates on the RAE 2026 preparation progress
• Staff sharing: enhancing the environment statement

To start with, Prof Thomas Crofts shared updates on the preparations for the RAE 2026 and outlined on-going and future plans to enhance research outputs, impact case studies, and environment statement. Noting that the School has made notable improvements, efforts will continue to support and produce more high-quality and impactful research that will place the School well for the RAE 2026 and beyond.

The second session, led by Prof Mark Hsiao (Associate Professor), focused on enhancing the research environment and how this can be reflected in the environment statement. Prof Hsiao briefly recaptured the statistics of RAE 2020 and compared them with peer universities, highlighting key aspects of a successful environment statement for RAE 2026. He encouraged faculty members to review and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the UK REF environment statements.

The Research Camp ended with a discussion session where members exchanged insights on effective practices adopted by UK universities and strategies to refine the School’s environment statement. This Camp laid the basis for nurturing the School’s research initiatives.