Two exemplary faculty members were honoured with Teaching Excellence Awards (TEA) for 2018 at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) in recognition of their innovative and influential teaching.

The winners were Professor Henry Chung Shu-hung from the Department of Electronic Engineering (EE) and Dr Lam Miu-ling, Assistant Professor in the School of Creative Media (SCM).

Pioneer in promoting problem-based learning

Professor Chung is dedicated to inspiring students to realise real industrial problems and guiding them to develop solutions and products that address market needs. These innovative products are beneficial to society and well recognised by the government.

Two devices currently produced by students under the guidance of Professor Chung demonstrate the effectiveness of his teaching strategy. They are the smart thermostat for central air-conditioning systems, which can save more than 10% on power, and the smart real-time battery state and health diagnostics system, which can enhance the efficiency of battery monitoring.

Both projects have been granted patents, allowing students to transfer the knowledge and concepts that they acquired at CityU to commercial products, and thereby contribute to the well-being of society.

Professor Chung’s excellent connections with industry have facilitated internship opportunities for EE students, too.

“We have to encourage students to develop multidimensional and multidisciplinary strengths that can adapt well to the fast-changing environment, especially to rapid technological changes. When inspired, students can become change-makers and obtain great career success in the future,” he said.

Professor Chung also initiated the peer-tutoring scheme in EE that assigns strongly performing senior students as tutors to assist the learning of junior students. The scheme not only emphasises training so that both tutors and tutees benefit, but also serves as a platform for enhancing interactions among students in the EE community, thus improving their interpersonal skill.

Knowledge in context for a meaningful life

Dr Lam, who trained as a mechanical engineer, plays a unique role in SCM where she bridges the arts and science, motivating art students to implement innovative technologies that demonstrate their creativity.

As programme leader for the Bachelor of Arts and Science in New Media, she develops courses that are customised for art students who lack training and knowledge on coding and engineering. 

“I teach students how to put the scientific and technological knowledge into new cultural and social contexts that are meaningful to them and connected to their lives,” she said.

The impact of her work extends to society. She advocates social-technological innovation. In charge of the CityU Wearable Innovation Lab, she motivates students to synergise and prototype novel wearable inventions that can improve quality of life and productivity. 

She realises students may not know if their creative ideas for using technology to help people in need will work. To fill the gap, she takes students to the community and to NGOs for better direct communication. 

“I believe that students will be more engaged if they find learning technology to be meaningful,” said Dr Lam.

She has also contributed to coordinating the programme “Technologies for the Elderly and Disabled People by Youths” (TEDY) under the “Jockey Club Enhancing Youth Empathy Project through Immersive Visualisation”, working with NGOs to create custom-designed rehabilitations aids for the needy.

Each TEA awardee will receive a cash prize of HK$15,000 for staff development and related purposes, and a grant of HK$150,000 to undertake a teaching development project of their choice.