Q1: Please briefly introduce yourself.
A: I joined the School of General Education and Languages (SGEL) of THEi in 2014 and am currently the Subject Leader of General Education Team and the Coordinator of General Education Elective Modules. I teach both General Education Core and Elective Modules. I trained as a biochemist, my research specialties include microbial physiology, antifungal intervention, and translational and applied research studies on microbial enzymes with industrial and environmental relevance. Serving as Principal Investigator, I have obtained eight external competitive research grants (over HK$4.7M) from Research Grants Council (RGC) or Food and Health Bureau. By now, I have published over 35 scientific papers and disseminated original research findings in more than 50 regional and international conferences and symposia to educators and researchers. I have supervised three PhD and four MPhil students.
Q2: How can the General Education help students to cope with challenges?
A: The core values of General Education (GE) for THEi undergraduates is to widen students’ horizons and to develop a broader perspective and understanding of issues that they will face in their daily and professional lives. THEi’s GE curriculum engages students in cross-disciplinary collaboration to foster creative and innovative ideas and helps students to be immersed to a wider scope of learning not only related to, but also outside their own discipline.
As a leading institution in vocational and professional education and training (VPET), THEi promotes professional and creativity training that works for the students and society. To this end, the GE curriculum has been strengthened to enhance the capability of students to accomplish “THEi Graduate Attributes”, “THEi Focuses”, and “Framework for Student Learning as a 21st Century Learner”. Specifically, SGEL’s Colleagues integrate the core concepts and applications of “Design Thinking” into the new GE Core modules. “Design Thinking” is an iterative process that understands users’ needs, challenges assumptions, redefines problems, and creates innovative solutions. One major element in “Design Thinking” is “Empathy” – a human-centered approach that gains deep insights into users’ needs. It is especially important to THEi students and the society as “Design Thinking” can be integrated into problem solving via driving of creative alternatives and innovative ideas.
Q3: What are your hobbies?
A: In leisure time, I like playing lego bricks with my kids and build MOC (my own creation). During the weekend, I go out with my family for jogging, swimming, and camping. I play soccer and a “superfan” of Liverpool. Like other Kopites, he is expecting the Club’s 1st Premier League Title in the season 2019-20
