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Research

Our research focuses on assessment & feedback, development and assessment of holistic competencies i.e. 21st century skills, attitudes and values and experiential learning for higher education and school levels. We welcome graduates with excellent academic records to apply for PhD and post-doctoral positions with us, as well as research collaborations and consultations on teaching, learning and research related matters. Please contact Dr. Chan directly to discuss in more details.

Our ResearchResearch GrantsResearch ProjectsProfessional Services

Higher Education

Assessment & Feedback

  • Collecting good practices in teaching and learning in Business, Engineering and Science disciplines from prestigious research intensive universities around the world

Generic Skills

  • Developing the Holistic Competency Model (Chan’s HCD model)
  • Collecting good practices which contributes to the cultivation of holistic competencies
  • Developing an evidence-based pedagogical driven online system for teachers and students to evaluate their performance or demonstration of relevant generic skills in different out of class activities
  • Examining students’ and teachers’ perceptions of holistic competencies development in engineering education in Hong Kong universities

Experiential Learning

  • Research on residential education to facilitate the development of a staff training programme, and to enhance the quality of student learning
  • Research on the assessment of experiential learning especially in internship, community service and capstone experiences in Engineering
  • Collecting good practices in experiential learning

School Education

  • Developing and Assessing holistic competencies for school students
  • Have, U Can programme
  • Secondary School Students Career Aspirations in Science and Engineering
  • Parental Preference on Primary School Selection in Hong Kong

Research Grants

2020 – 2023

General Research Fund 2020/2021
Title: Assessing generic skills in a specific STEM discipline in higher education
Amount: HK$753,000
Role: PI

2020

UGC Research Matching Grant Scheme
Title: Development and Assessment of holistic competencies in education
Amount: HK$1,156,750
Role: PI

2020

External donations in support of research and development
Amount: HK$2,313,500

2019 – 2020

Knowledge Exchange (KE) Funding
Title: Train the Trainers – Engaging Extra-curricular Activities Organisations to Enhance Students’ Holistic Competencies
Amount: HK$100,000
Role: PI

2019

HKU Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research
Title: Assessing generic skills in STEM disciplines in higher education
Amount: HK$49,500
Role: PI

2019 – 2021

Knowledge Exchange (KE) Funding
Title: Enhancing Generic Competencies in Engineering Industries
Amount: HK$186,000
Role: PI

2018/19

Knowledge Exchange (KE) Funding
Title: Career Dating Programme for Teachers, Parents and the Public to Aspire Engineering as Career Profession for Our Next Generation in Asia
Amount: HK$100,000
Role: PI

2016 – 2019

Funding for Teaching and Learning from UGC
Title: Driving Cultural and Educational Shift: Providing Support, Activities and Professional Development in the Pedagogy, Assessment and Evidence of Student Learning in Holistic Competencies.
Collaborating UGC Institutions: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Lingnan University, The Education University of Hong Kong
Amount: HK$8,947,836
Role: PI

2017/18

Knowledge Exchange (KE) Funding
Title: Promoting and Developing Holistic Competencies of Students in Hong Kong
Amount: HK$100,000
Role: PI

2017

2017 Teaching Development Grant (18 months)
Title: Assessment Resources for Experiential Learning at HKU
Amount: HK$250,000
Role: PI

2016 – 2017

Knowledge Exchange (KE) Funding Exercise
Title: Changing Mind, Changing Practice and Shifting Culture in Engineering, Science and Business Education from Leading Research Intensive Universities
Amount: HK$100,000
Role: PI

2016

36th Round Post-doctoral Fellow Scheme (Research Area: Generic Skills in Education)

2016

2016 HKU Outstanding Young Researcher Award
Amount: HK$3 00,000

2016

2015 HKU Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research
Title: The Challenges of Assessing and Certifying Generic Skills in a Discipline-Specific Context for Hong Kong Higher Education – How can this be achieved?
Amount: HK$ 56,625
Role: PI

2015 – 2017

General Research Fund 2015
Title:The Development of Generic Skills Competency: A conceptual evidence-based model to effectively engage students from out-of-class, extra-curricular and in-class learning experiences in a discipline-specific context (A cross-institutional project in collaboration with CUHK and HKUST, which can be considered as an extension of the previous General Research Fund project (2011) on engineering students’ generic skills development. It is also closely related to a Teaching Development Grant supported project on building an Engineering Education Community of Practice.)
Amount: HK$ 895,000
Role: PI

2015 – 2017

Special Funding for Teaching & Learning from UGC
Title:Developing, Assessing and Providing Direct Evidence of Student Learning in Generic Skills in the Context of Engineering Higher Education in Hong Kong (A cross-institutional project in collaboration with CUHK, HKUST and BU, which is again closely related to the two projects on engineering students’ generic skills development supported by the General Research Fund, but may have a more direct implication on the policy in reviewing direct evidence of student learning in the respective higher education institutions.)
Amount: HK$ 4,992,555
Role: PI

2014 – 2016

Special Funding for Teaching & Learning from UGC
Title:Professional Development and Capacity Building for Residential Education (A cross-institutional project, which also involves invitation of international speakers to share their expertise and experience in hall education with local residential education practitioners.)
Amount: HK$ 2,230,000
Role: Co-I

2013 – 2015

General Research Fund 2013
Title:Aspiring to Become an Engineer: engineering education experiences affecting secondary school studentspursuit of an engineering career in Hong Kong, China and the UK
Amount: HK$ 329,458

2013 – 2015

HKU Teaching Development Grant 
Title: Assessment and Feedback – Develop Discipline-Based Assessment and Feedback Resources by Identifying Good Practices in the Faculty of Business and Economics (B&E) and the Faculty of Science at HKU and Other Overseas Universities
Amount: HK$680,400
Role: PI
Co-Investigators: Prof. Pauline Chiu, Prof. Alice Wong, Dr. Gavin Porter, Dr. Rachel Lui, Dr. Michael Chau, Dr. Hsiao-Hui Lee, Ms. Joanna Lee, Dr. Suki Ekaratne, Ms. Lillian Luk
Advisor:Prof. Bennett, Chi Kin Yim

HKU Teaching Development Grant 
Title: Project-Based Experiential Learning for Sustainability Embedded Higher Education
Amount: HK$216,491
Role: Co-I
Principal Investigators: Dr. Wei Pan
Co-Investigators: Dr Kaimin Shih, Prof C.K. Mak, 

2011 – 2014 General Research Fund 2011
Title:The Development of Generic Skills: A curriculum design framework adapting student and teacher perspectives and approaches to learning in a discipline-specific context for Hong Kong higher education.
Amount: HK$753,594
Role: PI
Co-Investigators: Prof. M. Prosser

2013 – 2014

HKU Teaching Development Grant 
Title: Technology Enhanced Tools for Large Class Engagement and Assessment for Learning 
Amount: 398,337
Role: Co-I
Principal Investigators: Dr. Wilton Fok
Co-Investigators: Prof. Patrick Chau,Dr. George Wong

2011 – 2012 King’s/HKU Fellowship Awards
Amount: HK$50,000
Role: PI

2010 – 2012 HKU Teaching Development Grant 
Title: Tackling Action Plans from HKUSLEQ Faculty Report by Building an Engineering Education Research Community to share Good Practices in Engineering Education
Amount: HK$583,476
Role: PI
Co-Investigators: Dr. Scott Smith, Dr. Wilton Fok, Dr. Siu Ming Yiu, Dr. Alfred Yu, Dr. Vincent Tam, Dr. Marian Choy, Dr. Yuan Lin, Dr. Min Yang, Dr. Ben Young, Dr. Min Zeng, Dr. Henry Lau, Dr. Kenneth Kin-Yip Wong, Dr. Thomas Ng, Dr. Edmund Y. Lam

2009 – 2011 HKU Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research 
Title: Student and Teacher Perceptions of Transferable Skills in Engineering in relation to Learning Outcomes, Delivery and Assessment
Amount: HK$240,000
Role: PI

2010 – 2011 HKU Common Core Grant 
Title: The Oceans: Science and Society
Amount: HK$100,000.00
Role: Co(I) with Dr. Nathalie Goodkin in Earth Sciences as PI

2009 – 2011 HKU Teaching Development Grant 
Title: HKU Assessment Resource Centre
Amount: HK$482,396
Role: PI
Co-investigators: Prof. M. Prosser; Prof. E. Corbet.

2009 – 2011 HKU Teaching Development Grant 
Title: Developing Transferable Skills Facilitation Strategies for Improving Integrative Project Courses in Engineering
Amount: HK$238,718
Role: Co(I) with Dr. Alfred Yu in Engineering as PI

2006 – 2007 DIT Funding Award for Teaching, Learning & Assessment Projects
Title: Enhancing Keyskills and Career Speed Dating  
Amount: €10,000
Role: PI 

Mar 2006 – Jun 2006 Science Foundation Ireland: Institute Planning Award
Title: To conduct a self-assessment proposal of women’s participation in Science and Engineering Research Activities and Research Management within DIT
Amount: €10,000
Role: Team Lead in Engineering

2005 – 2007 DIT Team Research Scheme TERS
Title: HEART Project Health Informatics
Amount: €50,000
Role: Team Member 

Oct 2005 – Present Higher Education Authority: Technological Sector Research, Strand I Post-Graduate R&D
Title: Development of a Novel, Integrated Control System Prototype for Industrial Fungal Fermentation Processes Using Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy and On-Line Image Analysis
Amount: €34,000                                                                                
Role: PI at DIT Engineering (cross faculty collaboration)

2004 – 2005 DIT Funding Award for Teaching, Learning & Assessment Projects
Title: Natural, Creative, Brainstorming “Scrapyard Challenge” Design – to allow student to explore their natural thinking hats
Amount: €10,000                                                                             
Role: PI

2004, 2005 DIT President’s Funding Award
Title: Student Awards and Career Information Night
Amount: €2,000 + external funding from industries
Role: PI 

2003 – 2006 HEA’s Information Technology Investment Fund
Title: To improve Student Learning, Student Retention, Student Motivation, Student Recruitment 
Amount: €350,000
Role: Coordinator 

Research Projects

Please refer to the research projects section of the CETL website for more contents: https://www.cetl.hku.hk/category/research-projects/

2016 – 2019 Driving Cultural and Educational Shift: Providing Support, Activities and Professional Development in the Pedagogy, Assessment and Evidence of Student Learning in Holistic Competencies
2016 – 2017 Changing Mind, Changing Practice and Shifting Culture in Engineering, Science and Business Education from Leading Research Intensive Universities
2016 – The Challenges of Assessing and Certifying Generic Skills in a Discipline-Specific Context for Hong Kong Higher Education – How can this be achieved?
2015 – 2017 The Development of Generic Skills Competency: A conceptual evidence-based model to effectively engage students from out-of-class, extra-curricular and in-class learning experiences in a discipline-specific context
2015 – 2017 Developing, Assessing and Providing Direct Evidence of Student Learning in Generic Skills in the Context of Engineering Higher Education in Hong Kong
2014 – 2016 Professional Development and Capacity Building for Residential Education
2013 – 2015 Assessment and Feedback – Develop Discipline-Based Assessment and Feedback Resources by Identifying Good Practices in the Faculty of Business and Economics (B&E) and the Faculty of Science at HKU and Other Overseas Universities
2013 – 2015 Aspiring to Become an Engineer: engineering education experiences affecting secondary school students pursuit of an engineering career in Hong Kong, China and the UK
2011 – 2014 The Development of Generic Skills: A curriculum design framework adapting student and teacher perspectives and approaches to learning in a discipline-specific context for Hong Kong higher education
2010 – 2012 Tackling Action Plans from HKUSLEQ Faculty Report by Building an Engineering Education Research Community to share Good Practices in Engineering Education

Professional Services

Conference Organizing Committees
Position Name of Conference Period of Appointment
Conference Committee Virtual Conference – Online Internationalisation
https://www.cetl.hku.hk/vconf2020/
November 2020
Chairperson International Virtual Forum in Teaching & Learning
https://www.cetl.hku.hk/iforum2020/
September 2020
Showcase Chair Teaching and Learning Excellence Showcase
https://www.cetl.hku.hk/symp2018/
December 2018
Conference Committee Co-Constructing Excellence: Recognising, Scaffolding and Building Excellence in University Learning and Teaching
https://www.cetl.hku.hk/conf2018/
December 2018
Programme Committee U21 Educational Innovation Leadership Summit 2018
https://universitas21.com/news-and-events/events/u21-educational-innovation-leadership-symposium
October 2018
Conference Reviewer Learning & Teaching @ EdUHK Festival
https://www.eduhk.hk/lttc/LT2017/
March 2017
Chairperson Influencing Teaching and Learning Practice: Achieving the Ripple Effect
https://www.cetl.hku.hk/conf201703/
March 2017
Conference Committee International Conference: Beyond the Formal Curriculum in Universities 2016
https://tl.hku.hk/2016/08/international-conference-beyond-the-formal-curriculum-in-universities/
August 2016
Chairperson Network for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in research-intensive universities (NETL) 2016
https://www.cetl.hku.hk/netl2016/
March 2016
Chairperson International Conference – Assessment for Learning in Higher Education 2015
https://www.cetl.hku.hk/conf2015/
May 2015
Technical Programme Conference Committee IEEE International Conference on Teaching, Assessment and Learning for Engineering 2012, IEEE, Hong Kong.
http://www.tale-conference.org/tale2012/
August 2012
International Advisory Committee International Joint Journal Conference in Engineering, IJJCE Since 2009 – Present
Vice-Chairperson Enhancing Learning Experiences in Higher Education: International Conference
https://www.cetl.hku.hk/conference2010/
December 2010
Conference Reviewer Scholarship Of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Commons Conference Georgia, USA
https://academics.georgiasouthern.edu/sotlgsu/commons/
2010 & 2011
Conference Reviewer International Conference on Engineering Education, Instructional Technology, Assessment, and E-learning (EIAE) 2009 & 2010
Editorships, editorial board membership
Position Name of Journal Period of Appointment
Associate Editor Journal of Engineering Education (JEE) 2020 – 2023
Editorial Board International Journal of Electrical, Electronics and Computer Systems (IJEECS) 2011 – Present
Reviewer Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education On-going
Reviewer Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education On-going
Reviewer Studies in Educational Evaluation On-going
Reviewer IEEE Transactions on Education On-going
Reviewer The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher On-going
Reviewer European Journal of Engineering Education On-going