EdUHK President’s Awards Recognise Outstanding Achievements in Teaching, Research, Knowledge Transfer and Administrative Services

17 Jun 2026

The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) hosted the 2025/26 President’s Awards presentation ceremony on 17 June. The event celebrated the exceptional performance of nine individual staff members and two teams, with eight additional Certificates of Merit conferred. The awards were presented by EdUHK President Professor John Lee Chi-Kin.

Professor Lee said, “As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of EdUHK’s retitling, it is particularly meaningful to honour our outstanding staff members. Your tireless dedication to teaching, research and knowledge transfer have been instrumental in transforming EdUHK from an education-focused institution into a diverse and vibrant university. Looking ahead, let us continue to work together under the vision of ‘Education Futures’ to write an even more brilliant chapter for the University’s next decade.”

Outstanding Performance in Teaching (Individual Award)

Dr Carman Leung Ka-man, Associate Professor, Department of Health and Physical Education
Dr Manpreet Singh, Lecturer I, Department of Mathematics and Information Technology

Dr Leung is commended for her research-informed, learner-centred teaching that integrates motivational coaching, experiential learning and community engagement. Her leadership in programme development and interdisciplinary course design has trained thousands of coaches and created sustainable impact in sports education and beyond. Dr Singh is recognised for his innovative SHaPER framework (STEM Education through Hands-on Activities based on the Pedagogy of Experiential Learning using Emerging Technologies with Real-time Teacher Scaffolding), which revitalises STEM education in the GenAI era by fostering creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and communication. His approach has measurably improved student engagement and achievement.

Outstanding Performance in Research (Individual Award)

Professor Chou Kee-lee, Chair Professor of Social Policy, Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies
Dr Jane Zhan Ying, Associate Professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Dr Zoran Poposki, Associate Professor, Department of Cultural and Creative Arts
Dr Michael Yeung Kin-chung, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology
Dr Cheng Jinping, Assistant Professor, Department of Science and Environmental Studies

Professor Chou is recognised for his pioneering research that addresses loneliness among older adults and alleviates stress for dementia caregivers. He has completed three major projects and is leading five ongoing studies, publishing over 40 articles in leading journals such as The Lancet Healthy Longevity and JAMA Network Open, his work has achieved significant academic and societal impact, including wide media coverage and international collaborations. Dr Zhan is honoured for her groundbreaking contributions to educational assessment and feedback literacy. She developed the world’s first scale measuring student feedback literacy, now adopted internationally. Dr Poposki is commended for his interdisciplinary research at the nexus of computational linguistics, sustainability, and cultural globalisation, integrating scholarship with creative practice. He has produced high-impact publications and received international recognition. Dr Yeung is recognised for his pioneering research in cognitive neuropsychology, advancing understanding of executive control and prefrontal cortex functions through innovative neuroimaging methods. Dr Cheng is commended for her groundbreaking work in environmental health and sustainable development, having secured major awards and earned international recognition for her inventions.

Outstanding Performance in Knowledge Transfer (Individual Award)

Professor Sin Kuen-fung Kenneth, Research Professor, Department of Special Education and Counselling/ Executive Director, Institute of Special Needs and Inclusive Education
Dr Sun Daner, Associate Head and Associate Professor of the Department of Mathematics and Information Technology/ Associate Co-Director, Global Institute for Emerging Technologies

Professor Sin has driven innovation in education over the past decade, particularly in supporting students with special educational needs (SEN). His large-scale initiatives, the “Supporting & Maximising Individual Learning Efficacy” (SMILE) and “Supporting Unit for Special Educational Needs” (SuSEN) projects, predated the introduction of on-site SEN policies and have provided vital support to Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs), parents, and preschool children with SEN. These efforts laid the foundation for applying cutting-edge technology and bridging service gaps to promote equity in Hong Kong’s education system. Dr Sun led the development of ScaffoldiaMyMaths, an AI empowered platform that provides effective cognitive tools for learners requiring support in mathematics, with the aim of cultivating AI literacy and creative thinking. This innovation has been implemented in multiple schools, directly benefiting hundreds of under-resourced students across the Greater Bay Area.

Outstanding Performance in Administrative Services (Team Award)

Department of Early Childhood Education (ECE) - Professor Alfredo Bautista, Assistant Marketing Manager Mr Eric Cheng Yu-lung, Project Officer Ms Sofie Chua Shuyi, Research Assistant I Miss Yana Cheng Ting-yan
Department of Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) - Assistant Professor of Teaching Dr Ellen Zhang Yuefeng, Project Officer Mr Evan Li Yip-wang, Project Officer Miss Joice Liu Zhuangyan, Teaching Assistant Miss Corrina Wu Zihui

The Internationalisation Team of ECE has strengthened EdUHK’s global engagement through initiatives such as a US$1.2 million World Bank-funded project (2020–2026) to enhance early childhood education in Cambodia, alongside international conferences, summer schools, and online forums. The Master of Teaching (MTeach) Programme Office of C&I has pioneered a holistic, practice-oriented pathway for nurturing future educators. Through integrated initiatives, MTeach connects students across local and international contexts, establishing itself as a distinctive and highly regarded model for preparing high-quality teachers in Hong Kong and beyond.

Established in 2011/12, the President’s Awards recognise and encourage excellence across teaching, research, knowledge transfer and administrative services, reinforcing the University’s commitment to a performance driven culture.

The full list of awardees is as follows:

Outstanding Performance in Teaching
Individual Award (General Faculty Member Category)

Dr Carman Leung Ka-man, Associate Professor, Department of Health and Physical Education/ Warden, Grantham Hall

Individual Award (Early Career Faculty Member Category)

Dr Manpreet Singh, Lecturer I, Department of Mathematics and Information Technology

Certificate of Merit (General Faculty Member Category)

Dr Jin Mengyao, Lecturer I, Department of Chinese Language Studies/ Co-Director, Centre for Classical Chinese Education
Dr Katie Law Kit-ying, Senior Lecturer II, Department of Early Childhood Education

Outstanding Performance in Research
Individual Award (Distinguished Research Achievement Award)

Professor Chou Kee-lee, Chair Professor of Social Policy, Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies

Individual Award (Outstanding Research Award)

Dr Jane Zhan Ying, Associate Professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Individual Award (Outstanding Early Career Research Award)

Dr Zoran Poposki, Associate Professor, Department of Cultural and Creative Arts
Dr Michael Yeung Kin-chung, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology
Dr Cheng Jinping, Assistant Professor, Department of Science and Environmental Studies

Certificate of Merit (Outstanding Research Award)

Professor Kenneth Sin Kuen-fung, Research Professor, Department of Special Education and Counselling / Executive Director, Institute of Special Needs and Inclusive Education

Outstanding Performance in Knowledge Transfer
Individual Award (Distinguished Knowledge Transfer Achievement Award)

Professor Kenneth Sin Kuen-fung, Research Professor, Department of Special Education and Counselling/ Executive Director, Institute of Special Needs and Inclusive Education

Individual Award (Achievements in Creating Social Impacts and Sustainability in the Community)

Dr Sun Daner, Associate Head and Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics and Information Technology/ Associate Co-Director, Global Institute for Emerging Technologies

Certificate of Merit (Achievements in Commercialising Research Outputs)

Professor Susanna Yeung Siu-sze, Associate Vice President (Quality Assurance) cum Professor, Department of Psychology

Certificate of Merit (Achievements in Creating Social Impacts and Sustainability in the Community)

Dr Liu Duo, Associate Professor, Department of Special Education and Counselling

Outstanding Performance in Administrative Services

Team Award
Department of Early Childhood Education

Professor Alfredo Bautista, Professor
Mr Eric Cheng Yu-lung, Assistant Marketing Manager
Ms Sofie Chua Shuyi, Project Officer
Miss Yana Cheng Ting-yan, Research Assistant I

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Dr Ellen Zhang Yuefeng, Assistant Professor of Teaching
Mr Evan Li Yip-wang, Project Officer
Miss Joice Liu Zhuangyan, Project Officer
Miss Corrina Wu Zihui, Teaching Assistant

Certificate of Merit (Team Award)
Communications Office

Ms Helen Gai Hui Xia, Associate Vice President (Mainland Engagement and Development) cum Director of Communications and Engagement
Ms Irene Ho Suk-yee, Senior Communications Manager
Ms Sylva Gu Xiaoyan, Senior Engagement Manager
Ms Cindy Cheung Ching-yi, Assistant Communications Manager
Ms Irene To Kit-sum, Manager (Media Relations)

Knowledge Transfer Sub-office, Research & Development Office