Speakers | Teaching and Learning Innovation Expo 2025, CUHK

Speakers

Keynote Speakers

Keynote Address I

Mr Adam FINGRUT

Recipient of the University Education Award 2025 (General Faculty Members)

School of Architecture

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Date of Presentation

[Event Day 1] 01 December 2025, from 14:15 to 14:55 (HKT)

Presentation Title

CRAFT Learning: Iterative Design Thinking and Technology Integration

in Architecture Education

Presentation Abstract

What if failure isn’t a setback, but the most powerful learning tool we have? This talk introduces CRAFT—a learner-centered teaching framework that stands for Create, Reflect, Adapt, Fabricate, Test. Developed over a decade of studio-based teaching at CUHK, CRAFT redefines architectural education by shifting emphasis from finality to iterative, evidence-based learning. It integrates Design Thinking (DT) principles with hands-on prototyping and technology exploration, enabling a dynamic environment where students learn through cycles of making, testing, reflecting and revising.

The approach addresses critical challenges in higher education: GPA-driven behaviour, risk aversion, and post-pandemic disengagement. By embedding technology as a substrate for problem-solving, CRAFT empowers students to think ambidextrously about analogue and digital tools, raising confidence, creativity, and resilience. Through transdisciplinary collaborations students translate abstract ideas into real-world functional prototypes.

This talk shares insights from teaching practices, showcases transformative student projects, and explores how haptic learning can be generalized across disciplines. Participants will gain strategies for cultivating intellectual risk-taking, integrating emerging technologies, and designing inclusive learning experiences that prepare graduates for leadership in an increasingly complex, technology-driven world.

Keynote Address II

Professor Christina CHEUNG

Recipient of the University Education Award 2025 (Early Career Faculty Members)

Department of Anthropology / Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Date of Presentation

[Event Day 1] 01 December 2025, from 14:55 to 15:35 (HKT)

Presentation Title

Interdisciplinary Learning: Promises and Challenges

Presentation Abstract

Recent years have seen a growing emphasis on interdisciplinarity in education and research. At universities, we are expected to provide interdisciplinary training to students. But how effective is that, and what are some of the difficulties in implementing such programs? I will explore the promises of interdisciplinary learning, including enhanced problem-solving skills and innovative thinking, while also addressing the challenges, such as diverse student backgrounds and faculty collaboration. By examining these dynamics, I invite us to reflect on how best to cultivate and support a truly interdisciplinary educational environment.

Keynote Address III

Professor

Patrick IP

Professor

Guy LJ CHEN

Professor

Jason CS YAM

Professor

Clement CY THAM

Professor

Ting Fan LEUNG

The team led by Professor Jason CS YAM of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and comprising members from CUHK and the other UGC-funded institution

Recipients of the University Education Award 2025 (Collaborative Teams), The Chinese University of Hong Kong

(Team Leader)

Professor Jason CS YAM

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

(Team Members)

Professor Guy LJ CHEN

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Professor Patrick IP

Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine

The University of Hong Kong

Professor Clement CY THAM

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Professor Ting Fan LEUNG

Department of Paediatrics

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Date of Presentation

[Event Day 1] 01 December 2025, from 16:00 to 16:50 (HKT)

Presentation Title

Hong Kong Children Eye Care Programme: An Innovative Service-Learning Model Integrating Education, Service, and Research

Presentation Abstract

The Hong Kong Children Eye Care Programme (HKCECP), launched in 2015, is a territory-wide public health initiative dedicated to preventing childhood eye diseases and promoting paediatric health. Built on an innovative "three-in-one" model, it seamlessly integrates whole-person education, community service, and research. This open and inclusive approach supports participants of Multigeneration, Multidiscipline, Multi-ethnicity, Multi-level abilities via Multimodal teaching and Multifaceted opportunities to achieve Multiplying impact.

Over the past decade, HKCECP has actively engaged over 8,000 students from various disciplines and universities, alongside hundreds of healthcare professionals and volunteers. It has been formally incorporated into the curricula of multiple institutions and adopted by other teams. Through more than 600 service days, the Programme has delivered comprehensive eye examinations and health education to over 50,000 children and their families. Academically, HKCECP has produced over 70 scientific publications, with students being first authors in 40 articles and co-authors in all publications. Furthermore, the Programme has yielded 34 international individual awards for students in recognition of their research excellence and community contributions. By engaging students in real-world operations, the Programme helps them To See (Vision), To Learn (Self-initiation), To Encourage (Motivation), To Care (Compassion), To Serve (Empowerment), and To Grow (Development).

Teacher Panel Discussion

Panel Moderator & Panellists

Professor Paul LAM

Associate Professor

Centre for Learning Enhancement And Research

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Panel Moderator

Panellists

(In Alphabetical Order of Surnames)

Dr Sarah CHAN

Senior Lecturer

School of Chinese Medicine

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Ms Ada HUNG

Lecturer

School of Chinese Medicine

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Dr Ann LAU

Assistant Dean

(Health Sciences Education)

Principal Lecturer

School of Biomedical Sciences

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Dr Christopher SEE

Lecturer

School of Biomedical Sciences

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Date of Presentation

[Event Day 2] 02 December 2025, from 09:35 to 10:35 (HKT)

Panel Discussion Topic

Beyond Tradition: Innovating Pedagogy with AI, Technology, and Student Engagement

Across various disciplines, educators are navigating complex landscape where digital tools, experiential learning, and evolving teacher–student relationships converge in groundbreaking ways. These innovations—ranging from AI-enhanced classrooms to new forms of service learning—point towards a shared challenge: how to reimagine pedagogy while preserving its essential human core effectively. This panel invites thoughtful reflection on the diverse ways teachers adapt their roles to meet these changes, students become active partners in shaping their own learning experiences, and how institutions strive to uphold quality and ethics amidst the whirlwind of rapid transformation. Together, the discussion will explore the broader and pressing questions of what it truly means to teach, learn, and innovate in higher education today.

Discussion Questions

How are the roles of teachers and students evolving as pedagogy incorporates new technologies and approaches?
In an era of digital tools and AI, how can educators ensure that teaching remains a profoundly human and relational practice?
What principles should guide the responsible and sustainable use of technology in education? Beyond facilitation, how can students be meaningfully involved in shaping learning experiences?
How can universities support and sustain innovation so that it becomes an embedded practice rather than isolated experiments?

Student Panel Discussion

Panel Moderator & Panellists

Professor Vivian LEE

Associate Professor

Centre for Learning Enhancement And Research

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Panel Moderator

Panellists

(In Alphabetical Order of Surnames)

Cathy CHAN

Undergraduate Year 4

Environmental Sciences

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Muhammad DANISH

Postgraduate Year 3

Statistics and Data Science

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Sam LAU

Undergraduate Year 4

Earth and Environmental Sciences

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Ellison PONG

Undergraduate Year 3

Psychology

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Date of Presentation

[Event Day 2] 02 December 2025, from 10:35 to 11:20 (HKT)

Panel Discussion Topic

Students as Educators: Empowerment, Leadership, and the Future of Learning

This panel highlights the transformative potential of engaging students as educators, leaders, and partners in teaching and learning. Across CUHK, students are increasingly stepping into roles as peer trainers, learning circle facilitators, ambassadors, and communicators, extending their influence beyond traditional classroom boundaries. These teaching and training practices demonstrate how student empowerment enriches learning experiences, strengthens institutional culture, and fosters skills in leadership, communication, and collaboration. During the discussion, student panellists will share their journeys of stepping into educator roles, reflecting on how these opportunities enhanced their confidence, professional growth, and sense of ownership in learning. Their voices will illustrate the value of student‑faculty collaboration in fostering creativity, responsibility, and resilience, while also pointing to challenges and lessons learned. By amplifying student perspectives, the panel invites the CUHK community to consider how empowering students as educators can shape the future of higher education.

Discussion Questions

What project or programme in students as educators have you taken part in, and how did you contribute to it?
In what ways has stepping into the role of educator or trainer changed your perspective on learning and teaching?
What skills, mindsets, or forms of confidence have you developed through leading peers or mentoring others?
What obstacles did you encounter when taking on educator or trainer responsibilities, and how did you navigate them?
How can student‑led teaching and training practices be sustained and expanded to benefit more learners and educators?
What advice would you offer to educators seeking to empower their students more meaningfully as leaders and partners in shaping learning?