IPO Teaching Excellence Award 2018
In recognition of instructors who have made substantial contribution to the design and teaching of courses of Interdisciplinary Programs Office (IPO) and outstanding contributions to the learning experience and success of students, IPO establishes the “IPO Teaching Excellence Award”. Each year, an instructor or a team of instructors of IPO undergraduate and postgraduate courses will be awarded respectively.
For 2018, Prof. James Kenneth PONG, Adjunct Professor of the Division of Environment & Sustainability (ENVR), is awarded at undergraduate category. Prof. PONG has been the instructor of ENVR 3420 “Environmental Law and Regulations” for 7 years and received positive feedbacks from students. As the former Chief Prosecution Officer of Environmental Protection Department, HKSAR, Prof. PONG endeavors to share first-hand personal knowledge with students so that they would not find legal study too remote from them. He lets students walk through legal principles with their daily experience. He uses practical examples and arranges students to visit the Court of Appeal and attend court trials. Many students were inspired by his teaching and empowered to pursue Juris Doctor in law after graduation from HKUST.
Prof. Stanley C K LAU, Associate Professor of ENVR, is awarded at postgraduate category. Prof. LAU is the instructor of ENVR 5210 “Environmental Microbiology”. He demonstrated the ability of catering diverse academic background of students in his class. Students commented that Prof. LAU’s explanation was very clear and he made the class very comprehensible even for students without biology background. Prof. LAU engaged in both undergraduate and postgraduate education in ENVR and also provided services to promote science education to high schools. He can give students a different aspect of biology to learn.
The awards were presented by Prof. King L. CHOW, Director of IPO, at the Faculty Board Meeting on 26 November 2018. Certificates and crystal trophies were presented to Prof. PONG and Prof. LAU as a token of appreciation.
About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (www.ust.hk) is a world-class research university that focuses on science, technology and business as well as humanities and social science. HKUST offers an international campus, and a holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy to nurture well-rounded graduates with global vision, a strong entrepreneurial spirit and innovative thinking. HKUST attained the highest proportion of internationally excellent research work in the Research Assessment Exercise 2014 of Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee, and is ranked as the world’s best young university in Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings 2019. Its graduates were ranked 16th worldwide and top in Greater China in Global University Employability Survey 2018.
