Research Projects

Towards a Cross-Cultural Understanding of Learning by Senior Adults: Hong Kong and Australia

GRF project (2012-2014) Principal Investigator: Dr. Maureen Tam

The world’s population is ageing rapidly. The ageing of populations has a strong impact on all aspects of human life, including its social, economic, cultural and political domains. Understanding and providing for ageing is an important issue worldwide for the twenty-first century. Recent research suggests that learning is critical for active ageing. To date, very little research has assessed the impact of cultural influences on elder learning, and none has examined learning for and by the elderly within and across different cultural contexts. Our research should go a long way towards filling this gap.

The research is structured around four objectives. The first is to examine and elucidate conceptualizations of learning by elders in Hong Kong and Australia. The second is to investigate why and how senior adults engage, or do not engage, in learning, by comparing within the Hong Kong and Australian samples the differences between the study and non-study groups in their conceptualizations of learning, and the facilitators or barriers to participation. The third is to identify and examine key learning issues for elders in the two cultures, including their needs, motivations, interests and instructional preferences. The fourth is to compare among elders across and within the two cultural contexts the similarities and differences in their conceptualizations of learning, engagement in learning, and other important elder learning issues. The resulting comparisons will provide insights into the experience and views of elders concerning learning, including reasons for non-participation. This will serve to inform policy and the development of learning activities and programmes for active ageing in the two locations.

Models of Trilingual Education in Ethnic Minority Regions of China

GRF project (2012-2014) Principal Investigator: Prof Bob Adamson

This research project offers a holistic and descriptive account of trilingualism and trilingual education in China. Policy changes have led to the introduction of English language teaching and learning in primary schools. These reforms pose particular challenges to communities in ethnic minority areas, where Putonghua often competes with the minority language, and English is often taught in under-resourced schools with teachers with the requisite training in short supply.

The project involves extensive and intensive research comprising investigations into school- and community-level practices, policies and perceptions relating to trilingualism in such key regions as Xinjiang, Yunnan, Inner Mongolia, Sichuan, Gansu, Guizhou, Guangxi, Qinghai, Jilin, Tibet and Guangdong. Using first-hand data collected from each region, the researchers examine language policies and curricula, as well as language allocation in the classroom and in the community, and analyse them in their specific historical, socio-political, demographical, economic, geographical and cultural contexts.

Education and Skills for Inclusive Growth and Green Jobs

Principal Investigator: Hon Prof Rupert Maclean   Co-Investigator: Dr Margarita Pavlova

Project Resource Person: Mr Will Douglas

The key objective of this research project is to increase the knowledge and capacity of the four DMCs being examined (India, Indonesia, Viet Nam and Sri Lanka) to match education and skills training to jobs, including for green occupations. The project aims to assist these four DMCs put in place timely and effective policies and strategies for skills development. It seeks to facilitate dialogue and networking between the public sector, business and sector councils, industry and occupational associations, and employee associations to assess gaps in policy and practice for the development of skills and to anticipate future needs. The research project addresses both technology-oriented high-end skills as well as middle and lower-end skills to ensure that issues of inclusiveness are addressed in the context of rapidly growing economic sectors, including greening sectors. 

Challenges and Opportunities in Skills Building for Innovation: Human Resource Dimensions of Hong Kong's Green Innovation

Principal Investigator: Dr Margarita Pavlova

This project focuses on the processes of innovation diffusion and on the role of human capital in facilitating these dissemination processes. The aim of the project is to contribute to increased efficiency of government spending on R&D by examining the role of skills in the implementation of the results of R&D programmes in the delivery of public services. The overall question that is answered by the project is how to improve diffusion by addressing needs in a broad range of skills that are essential to facilitate effective change and ensure an active involvement of people at the work place in the innovation processes? The case studies developed by the project examine how innovation, and green innovation in particular, is related to on-job skills development and training programs of vocational institutions. 

Demand for Continuing Education: Addressing Green Skills Requirements

Principal Investigator: Dr Margarita Pavlova

This project explores policies and practices of green skills development in TVET in three major cities in Russia. It employs a survey instrument previously developed by the author and validated through a big scale study supported by the Asian Development Bank Education and Skills for Inclusive Growth and Green Jobs in Asia (2012-2014) that involved four countries India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Viet Nam. 

Preparing Urban Youth for Further Study and Careers: An International Study Involving Hong Kong

Principal Investigator: Prof John LEE Chi Kin   Co-Investigator: Dr Margarita Pavlova

This is a multi-level study that seeks to contextualize Hong Kong students’ key experiences and attributes and the effect of these on school transitions. The aim of the study is to develop a theoretical framework that can account for the post-school destinations of students in Hong Kong. Such a framework will have a local dimension, making it distinctive within the cross-national study of which this is a part. This study is located within a broader international context. In particular, this research tests whether high achievers in Hong Kong do better than in other countries in their transition to the most advantageous study destinations, and whether low achievers do as well or better than low achievers elsewhere. Examining specifically high and low achievers offers the potential for much more theoretical insight and policy leverage, which will be the key contributions of this project. 

Skills for Life

Principal Investigator: Prof Bob Adamson

The objective of this project is to provide an alternative learning platform where students can learn skills that are truly valued by employers and thus increase their opportunities for worthwhile employment.

Effects of Liberal Studies on Hong Kong Students’ Environmental Knowledge and Behaviour

Principal Investigators: Dr Tamara Savelyeva,  Mr Will Douglas

This involved surveying 2 year's of new cohort first year students on the influence of the NSSC Liberal Studies course on their environmental/sustainability knowledge and actions. Approximately 700 questionnaires were completed. This will be a longitudinal study conducted for each new intake of students at the University.

Out of School Children, International Study

Principal Investigator: Hon Prof Rupert Maclean Project Resource Person: Mr Will Douglas

UNICEF and the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) launched a Global Initiative on Out-of-School Children at the beginning of 2010. The Initiative worked with 25 countries. Professor Maclean managed the Tajikistan country study for UNICEF. The objective was to improve statistical information and analysis on OOSC and to scrutinize factors of exclusion from schooling and existing policies related to enhanced participation (addressing the data, analysis and policy gaps). The goal is to introduce a more systematic approach to address the problem of out-of-school children and guide concrete education sector reforms in this regard.

Building Capacity for a Low-Carbon Green Economy, Approach to a Climate-Change Responsive Curriculum in Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Hong Kong

Principal Investigator: Prof Rupert Maclean Project Resource Persons: Mr Will Douglas, Dr Eric Tsang

The objective of this ongoing research project is to develop the theory and practice needed to enhance the capacities of policy makers, managers and staff in technical and vocational education and training (VET) in Hong Kong so that they can respond effectively to the curriculum planning and teaching challenges being brought about by climate change, and the emerging carbon-constrained economy. Initial funding was provided by the Education University of Hong Kong.

Social Inequality and Post-school Transition in the Hong Kong Secondary School System: A Comparative Analysis with Other School Systems Internationally

Principal Investigator: Hon Prof Rupert Maclean

This multi-level study seeks to contextualize Hong Kong students’ key experiences and attributes and the effect of these on school transitions. The aim of the study is to develop a theoretical framework that can account for the post-school destinations of students in Hong Kong. Such a framework will have a local dimension, making it distinctive within the cross-national study of which this is a part. Initial funding provided by the Education University of Hong Kong.

A Critical Review of Policies and Provisions for Later-life Learning in Hong Kong 

Principal Investigator: Dr. Maureen Tam

This project aims to examine policy development related to the provisions of elder learning in Hong Kong and to critically review the effectiveness and adequacy of the policies and provisions for implications to inform government policy and improve programmes for elders in Hong Kong. 

UNESCO Feasibility Study Mission, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Project Lead: Hon Prof. Rupert Maclean Project Resource Person: Mr Will Douglas

The purpose of the mission was to evaluate the proposal submitted to UNESCO by the Sri Lankan Government for the establishment of a Regional Centre for Teacher Development in Sri Lanka under the auspices of UNESCO (Category 2) with particular reference to the: vision, mission, objectives, strategies, activities, governance, partners, legal status, financing, monitoring and evaluation, impact analysis of the proposed centre; the contribution of the Centre to UNESCO’s key priority areas, notably its teacher education programmes; the relevance of the Centre to the Asia-Pacific region, and to South Asia in particular, with regard to strengthening and upgrading teacher education and development; type and nature of the cooperation the Centre aims to maintain with UNESCO; the responsibility of the Centre and all relevant and concerned governmental agencies; technical capacity of the Centre in light of the programmes it aims to deliver; physical facilities at the disposal of the Centre; sustainability of the Centre; steps to be taken by the proponents to establish the Centre, and their readiness for the process; and the interest and support of the UNESCO Member States in South Asia to Sri Lanka’s proposal.

Forum on Skills Development for Green Jobs in Hong Kong

Project Lead: Hon Prof. Rupert Maclean Project Resource Person: Mr Will Douglas

This was a knowledge forum with a specific Hong Kong focus on matching skills with employment in a job market that is adapting to a carbon constrained future. This forum brought together around 50 active participants and 20 observers representing key stakeholders in TVET policy development, TVET provision, government representatives, green NGOs, employers’ associations, national qualifications standards, Industry Training Advisory Committees, and employers.