The following is issued on behalf of the University Grants Committee:
      
     The University Grants Committee (UGC) held a presentation ceremony for the 2025 UGC Teaching Award today (September 29) to honour academics from UGC-funded universities for their outstanding teaching performances and achievements, as well as their leadership and scholarly contributions to teaching and learning within and outside their campuses.

     Through a rigorous process, the Award Selection Panel selected the following three recipients from among over 20 outstanding nominees for the Award:

General Faculty Members
--------------------------------
Professor Shirley Ngai, Associate Head and Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)

Early Career Faculty Members
--------------------------------------
Professor Jeffrey Leung, Assistant Professor, School of Optometry, PolyU

Collaborative Teams
--------------------------------------
Transdisciplinary Innovation Team, Hong Kong Baptist University, led by Professor William Cheung (Associate Vice-President (Transdisciplinary Education) and Professor, Department of Computer Science), with Dr Glos Ho (Director and Principal Lecturer, Division of Transdisciplinary Undergraduate Programmes), Professor Kingsley Ng (Associate Professor, Academy of Visual Arts), Professor Wendy Huang (Professor, Academy of Wellness and Human Development) and Professor Nick Zhang (Assistant Professor, Department of Journalism) as team members. 

     The citations of the awardees are in the Annex.

     The Chairman of the UGC, Mr Tim Lui, congratulated the awardees, finalists, and nominees for their remarkable achievements and expressed gratitude to all UGC-funded universities for their support of the UGC Teaching Award. He said, "The UGC is committed to enhancing teaching and learning, which lies at the heart of our higher education mission. By effectively utilising available resources, universities can cultivate a culture of continuous improvement and innovation that benefits all students. Our focus on collaboration and the sharing of best practices will not only elevate the quality of education but also uphold Hong Kong's status as a leading international hub for higher education. Together, we can adapt to the evolving educational landscape and ensure our students are well-prepared for the future challenges."

     The Chair of the 2025 UGC Teaching Award Selection Panel and member of the UGC, Mr Philip Tsai, remarked, "The panel was highly impressed by the awardees' remarkable skill, innovation, and passion for teaching. Professor Ngai's visionary leadership in physiotherapy education has transformed the field through pioneering medical simulation and integrating advanced technologies such as virtual reality and augmented reality. Professor Leung's innovative AI-assisted clinical skill assessment system further enhances diagnostic training, showcasing his dedication to advancing healthcare education and fostering well-rounded, compassionate professionals. The Transdisciplinary Innovation Team unites faculty members, community leaders, and global partners to empower students in addressing real-world challenges aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals."

     The presentation ceremony was attended by members of the UGC and the Quality Assurance Council, council chairmen and senior management of UGC-funded universities, as well as nominees for the Awards.  

     The UGC has also produced a series of short video clips to promote best practices by showcasing the teaching approach of the 2025 UGC Teaching Award recipients. The clips, together with the selection criteria and the composition of the Selection Panel, as well as the list of other finalists, are available on the UGC website www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/ugc/activity/ugc_teaching_award/result.html.

Ends/Monday, September 29, 2025
Issued at HKT 19:16

NNNN