MIT Academics Honoured with President’s Awards for Outstanding Performance 2025/26
The Department of Mathematics and Information Technology (MIT) is proud to announce that two esteemed members of our department have been recognized in the President’s Awards for Outstanding Performance 2025/26.
Dr Sun Daner
Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics and Information Technology (MIT)
Associate Co-Director, Global Institute for Emerging Technologies (GIET)
Awardee of the President’s Award for Outstanding Performance in Knowledge Transfer (Achievements in Creating Social Impacts and Sustainability in the Community)
The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) is pleased to announce that Dr Sun Daner has been honoured with this award for the 2025/26 cycle. This award recognises Dr Sun’s exceptional commitment to translating cutting-edge research into tangible community benefit, particularly through scalable, AI-driven educational solutions that address pressing issues in educational equity and STEM talent cultivation.
Bridging Research and Practice
Dr Sun has demonstrated remarkable success in moving research from the laboratory into real-world classroom settings. She led the development of AIScaffoldiaMaths, an AI-powered personalised learning platform that was patented in 2024. The platform has since been implemented in four Hong Kong primary schools and two schools in the Greater Bay Area, directly benefiting more than 500 students from under-resourced backgrounds.
Supported by HK$1,000,000 in CRAC funding, the innovation exemplifies Dr Sun’s ability to bridge research and practice both within and beyond Hong Kong. In parallel, her SDG‑focused outreach workshops have provided free robotics and drone education to students from local schools and NGOs, further extending the social reach of her work.
Scholarly Leadership with Global Influence
Beyond direct community engagement, Dr Sun’s knowledge transfer impact is underpinned by exceptional scholarly leadership. As Principal Investigator, she has secured competitive external funding, including two GRF projects and a UGC Research Matching Grant.
Her academic output has been both prolific and influential: since 2022 alone, she has published 60 papers and taken on editorial leadership roles. Dr Sun has delivered 21 keynote and invited addresses across eight countries, sharing insights with over 2,000 academics and policymakers worldwide. Her service as Chairperson of the Global Chinese Conference on Computers in Education (GCCCE) 2025 and her leadership role in the Asia‑Pacific Society for Computers in Education (APSCE) have significantly elevated EdUHK’s international profile in the field of educational technology.
A Model for Equitable, Forward‑Looking Education
Dr Sun’s sustained and strategic commitment to knowledge transfer seamlessly integrates technological ingenuity with demonstrable social impact. Through the development of scalable educational platforms, distinguished international academic leadership, and dedicated research mentorship, she has forged transferable models for equitable, forward‑looking education across Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, and the broader international community.
Her accomplishments stand as a compelling embodiment of the University’s mission: to translate rigorous research into enduring societal benefit.
Dr Manpreet Singh
Awardee of the President’s Award for Outstanding Performance in Teaching (Early Career Faculty Member Category)
Dr Manpreet SINGH, Lecturer I in the Department of Mathematics and Information Technology, has been selected for the President's Award for Outstanding Performance in Teaching for 2025/26. The award recognizes his strong teaching excellence and innovative teaching philosophy, which emphasize the integration of virtual environments with STEM technologies. Dr Singh has developed a suite of custom virtual platforms to support inquiry-driven and experiential learning in STEAM courses, effectively enhancing students' 21st-century competencies, including creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. Central to his philosophy is the pivotal role of live teacher intervention and real-time scaffolding, where he strategically employs educational technologies during classroom interactions to guide learning. This approach has enabled the creation of highly immersive, engaging, and student-centered learning environments, significantly enriching students' learning experiences and outcomes.
Congratulations to Dr Sun and Dr Singh on these well-deserved recognitions!
