Research@HSUHK

Scholars worldwide explore pathways for social policy innovation at HSUHK conference

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 03:34:05 +0000

Over 200 scholars and policy researchers from 121 prestigious institutions worldwide gathered at The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK) for the 2026 EASP Annual Conference on 17 and 18 July 2026 to explore pathways for social policy innovation in an era of intensifying crises.

Organised by the Graduate School of HSUHK in collaboration with the East Asian Social Policy (EASP) Research Network, the Conference was convened under the theme "Social Policy in Asia in an Era of Multiple Disruptions", with more than 195 papers presented and five panel sessions held across 16 thematic streams.

At its core, the Conference addressed a pressing global concern: the growing tendency of contemporary societies to prioritise economic and instrumental goals at the expense of the human dimension of development. It sought to re‑centre policy conversations on people, values, equity, and the broader purpose of progress in a rapidly evolving world.

The opening ceremony was officiated by Dr the Honourable Ko Wing-man, Chairman of the Social Welfare Advisory Committee of the HKSAR Government; Mr Edward To Wing-hang, the Director of Social Welfare of the HKSAR Government; Professor Kim Bo-yung, Chairman of EASP; and Professor Joshua Mok, Provost and Vice-President (Academic and Research) of HSUHK.

At his officiating speech, Dr the Honourable Ko Wing-man said, "The East Asian context offers valuable lessons here. While our societies differ, we share cultural traditions that emphasise family responsibility, community solidarity, respect for older persons, and collective well-being. This provides a strong foundation for policy innovation. At the same time, we must adapt these traditions to the contemporary realities of changing demographics and social expectations. This is precisely why conferences like today's are so important. They bring together policymakers, practitioners, and researchers for meaningful, cross-disciplinary dialogue. Academic research provides evidence, community practitioners contribute practical insights, and government leaders help translate these ideas into policy. Innovation flourishes when these perspectives converge."

Mr Edward To, the Director of Social Welfare, delivered a keynote speech for the conference to elaborate the targeted poverty alleviation strategy of the HKSAR Government in supporting and empowering those most in need in the society, thereby fostering a greater sense of achievement, belonging and satisfaction among grassroots families.

A core highlight of the opening day was the Roundtable Forum titled "Reimagining Care and Resilience: Policy Innovations for Ageing Societies in Hong Kong and East Asia", where panellists Professor Cecilia Chan Lai-wan, Emeritus Professor of the University of Hong Kong; Dr Fan Ning, Founder of Health in Action; Dr Qian Jiwei, Senior Research Fellow at the National University of Singapore; and Professor Joshua Mok engaged in an in-depth discussion on institutional innovations, cross-border care models and resilience strategies for rapidly ageing societies.

The exchange was further enriched by three keynote presentations from world-renowned academics. Professor M Ramesh, Professor and UNESCO Chair on Social Policy Design in Asia at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, spoke on "Beyond Universal Health Coverage in Ageing Asia: Reorganising Health Systems for Chronic and Long-term Care". Professor John Hudson, Dean of the School for Business and Society at the University of York, examined how social policy teaching and curricula have evolved across the UK and East Asian universities. Professor Choi Young-jun, Professor in the Department of Public Policy and Management at Yonsei University, presented "Toward a Post-Scarcity Welfare State: AI, Redistribution, and the Politics of Serenity.

The 2026 EASP Annual Conference was co-organised by the Department of Applied Social Sciences of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the School of Transdisciplinary Studies and the Centre for Public Policy Research of HSUHK.

For further details, please visit the official conference webpage at https://gs.hsu.edu.hk/en/easp-2026 .

HSUHK research explores how AI is transforming historical newspaper preservation and research

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 07:38:30 +0000

A new study by researchers at The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK) examines how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the preservation, accessibility, and analysis of historical newspapers.

Authored by Dr Howard Song and Dr Cheung Kwok-wai, Associate Professors at HSUHK's School of Communication, and Jia Ziyun, the paper Transforming Historical Newspaper Research and Preservation Through AI: A Global Perspective, explores how emerging technologies can help libraries, archives, and researchers preserve and unlock valuable historical records. It was published in the international academic journal Journalism and Media, Volume 7, Issue 1 (2026).

Drawing on international case studies, the research examines how AI technologies, including optical character recognition (OCR), natural language processing (NLP), and large language models (LLMs) can significantly enhance text extraction, image restoration, metadata generation, and semantic enrichment. For example, advanced OCR systems using deep learning outperform traditional OCR, especially when processing degraded documents or complex layouts, while AI-powered OCR tools can process multilingual texts with layout analysis, reducing manual preprocessing. LLMs are used for post-OCR correction, significantly reducing character error rates, while image restoration employs generative adversarial networks (GANs) to remove noise, sharpen images, and reconstruct damaged visuals, improving OCR accuracy.

Through qualitative case studies and comparative analysis of projects worldwide, this research demonstrates how AI not only improves the accuracy and efficiency of preservation workflows but also enables novel forms of computational inquiry such as cross-lingual analysis, sentiment detection, and discourse tracking.

The findings underscore AI's transformative role in unlocking historical newspaper archives for both scholarly and public use, thereby fostering a deeper understanding of cultural heritage and historical narratives worldwide.

The paper also discusses challenges associated with AI adoption, including bias, authenticity and the need for responsible implementation. It argues that human oversight remains essential for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of historical records.

According to Dr Howard Song, such developments offer valuable lessons for Hong Kong and other Asian institutions seeking to preserve their newspaper collections. "AI enables researchers to transform historical newspapers from static images into searchable and analysable datasets," he explains. "At the same time, it can make historical knowledge more accessible to educators, students, journalists and the wider public."

The study forms part of an RGC-funded project, Business News Treasures in the Vanishing Old Newspapers in Hong Kong, led by Dr Song. The project seeks to document and preserve Hong Kong's business journalism heritage, much of which is increasingly threatened by the deterioration, fragmentation and disappearance of historical newspaper collections. "Hong Kong has more than 160 years of business journalism history, yet many newspapers have ceased publication, and some archival materials have already been lost," notes Dr Song. "Preserving these vanishing records has become an urgent priority."

By making historical newspapers more accessible and usable, AI has the potential to democratise access to history and strengthen public engagement with cultural heritage, Dr Song adds. The research contributes to the growing fields of digital humanities and computational archival science while supporting efforts to preserve Hong Kong's historical newspaper legacy.

HSUHK research highlights complex attitudes towards gender diversity content in children's books among Hong Kong Chinese readers

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 07:07:20 +0000

A new study by scholars at The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK) reveals that while many Chinese readers in Hong Kong regularly engage with digital children's books, a strong majority of those surveyed would not actively seek children's eBooks featuring gender diversity and inclusive content for themselves or their children.

Conducted by Dr Anna Tso, Head and Associate Professor in the Department of English, and Dr Beatrice Ma, Senior Lecturer in the Department of English, the study examines attitudes towards gender inclusivity and diversity in children's eBooks. The paper, Does Pride Matter for Kids? A Study of Chinese Readers' Attitude towards Gender Inclusive eBooks for Children will be published in the forthcoming Springer volume The Vistas of Inclusive Innovations in Educational Communications and Technology: Opportunities and Challenges in September 2026.

Drawing on survey data from 68 undergraduate and postgraduate students aged 14-48 and focus-group interviews with six participants, the research explores how cultural values, educational experiences, and social perspectives influence responses to LGBTQ+ themes in children's literature. The findings show that over 77% of respondents regularly read digital children's books. Approximately 60% expressed neutrality regarding familiarity with LGBTQ+ pride content in children's literature, while the rest indicated unfamiliarity. Over 80% stated they would not actively seek out such eBooks, with around 10% showing interest.

On the importance of LGBTQ+ pride content for fostering diversity and equity in children's literature, a large majority (88%) disagreed or strongly disagreed, with 6% agreeing and 6% remaining neutral. In the focus-group interviews, five out of six participants expressed negative or cautious views, citing concerns about age-appropriateness, cultural clashes with traditional Chinese norms, and the need to shield children from such content until adulthood. Participants also highlighted cultural barriers, including calls for greater sensibility in libraries and schools, while one participant advocated for guided exposure to promote empathy and broader social awareness.

The research highlights the complexity of attitudes towards gender-inclusive literature within Hong Kong's unique cultural environment, where Western influences intersect with traditional values. Dr Tso noted that perceptions of gender-inclusive narratives are shaped by a combination of cultural values, social experiences, and educational backgrounds, underscoring the importance of understanding these perspectives when fostering discussions about diversity, equity, and inclusion in educational settings.

The study also identified opportunities for children's literature to encourage empathy and dialogue, with 6% of respondents recognising the potential of inclusive narratives to introduce young readers to different life experiences and perspectives. As children's literature continues to evolve, the research suggests that accessible digital formats can serve as platforms for exploring contemporary issues and supporting inclusive learning in culturally responsive ways.

The research contributes to growing international scholarship on inclusive education, digital learning, and children's literature. Positioned within broader discussions of inclusive educational technologies and accessible learning environments, its findings may inform future curriculum development, literacy initiatives, publishing practices, and educational policy discussions concerning gender representation and cultural sensitivity in contexts where traditional and contemporary values coexist.

HSUHK School of Transdisciplinary Studies Research Team presents at Taipei University of Technology

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 01:25:41 +0000

The research team led by Professor Joshua Mok, Provost and Vice-President (Academic & Research) and concurrently Director of the School of Transdisciplinary Studies (STS) at the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK), was invited to co-organize the conference, "Responses to the Growing Impact of AI, Aging Society, and Global Competition: Critical Reflections on the Role of Higher Education," on 26 June 2026. The event was held in collaboration with the Taiwan Association for Institutional Research and Taipei University of Technology, and was supported by the Asia Pacific Higher Education Research Partnership (APHERP).

President Yi-Jun Jen of Taipei University of Technology and Professor Joshua Mok delivered the opening addresses. Following the opening ceremony, the conference commenced with the first panel, titled "Internationalization of Higher Education and University Governance". Professor Mok presented a paper on "The quest for an international higher education hub in Hong Kong: Comparative perspectives and university governance." This was followed by presentations from speakers representing National Chengchi University, City University of Hong Kong, HSUHK, and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Their presentations focused respectively on the new trajectory of international education destinations during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, world-class university aspirations and strategies in the Taiwan region, and the attraction and retention of global doctoral students in Hong Kong through an analysis of student voices on social media.

The Hong Kong research team also actively engaged with the audience while presenting topics related to AI, aging societies, and their implications for higher education. Dr. Shirie Ho from HSUHK – STS delivered a paper entitled "From perinatal care to lifelong learning: Leveraging AI for older adults' wellbeing and education," while Professor Colin Zhai from Lingnan University presented a paper on "The rise of AI and its impact on education for older adults." Additionally, scholars from Peking University shared research regarding how GenAI improves international publications and its subsequent effects on PhD students. In the afternoon, colleagues from Taipei University of Technology highlighted their recent experiences in integrating AI into institutional research and university administration. Overall, the conference provided an excellent platform for colleagues from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, and the Taiwan region to discuss the rise of AI and its profound impact on education, research, and university management.

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Professor Joshua Mok shares policy insights on Hong Kong's role as a global higher education hub, as invited by the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 06:07:03 +0000

Professor Joshua Mok Ka Ho, Provost and Vice-President (Academic and Research) of The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK), was invited by the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR to deliver a policy-focused presentation on 16 June 2026, examining Hong Kong's evolving position as an international hub for higher education.

Drawing on his research, funded by the Chief Executive's Policy Unit (CEPU) under the Public Policy Research Funding Scheme (PPRFS), Professor Mok presented a rigorous analysis of strategies to attract and retain high-calibre doctoral talents. The study, titled "Strategies to Attract and Retain High-calibre Talents to Pursue Further Studies at Doctorate Level in Hong Kong for Nurturing Specialised Talents that will Contribute to Hong Kong's Development", explores how the city can sharpen its competitive edge in cultivating advanced research talent amid intensifying global competition.

In his address, Professor Mok assessed the HKSAR Government's ongoing efforts to strengthen Hong Kong's standing as a leading international education hub, covering recent policies/initiatives in attracting and retaining global talent to study and work in the city. He highlighted the importance of aligning higher education development with broader policy priorities in innovation and talent cultivation, noting that institutional excellence must be complemented by strong international linkages, regional integration, and clear, attractive pathways for global students and early-career researchers.

Drawing competition with higher education systems in the United Kingdom, Singapore and Malaysia, Professor Mok reflected on policy approaches that could further enhance Hong Kong's international appeal. These comparative insights underscored the need for a coordinated strategy that integrates education, research, and innovation ecosystems, positioning Hong Kong as a dynamic platform for global knowledge exchange.

The invited presentation also demonstrated the critical role of policy-oriented research in informing long-term development. By translating empirical and comparative analysis into actionable insights, Professor Mok's work contributes to ongoing dialogue on how Hong Kong might leverage its global outlook, institutional strengths, and strategic location within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to reinforce its position as a centre for higher education and talent development.

The engagement provided a valuable opportunity for professional exchange with representatives of the Liaison Office and reaffirmed HSUHK's commitment to contributing rigorous, research-driven perspectives to public policy discourse and societal advancement.

HSUHK Participates in HERA 2026 Conference Co-hosted by Peking University and Tsinghua University

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 10:10:35 +0000

Source: Photo courtesy of Higher Education Research Association

Professor Joshua Mok, Provost and Vice-President (Academic and Research) of the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK), participated in the Higher Education Research Association (HERA) 2026 Conference, successfully co-hosted by Peking University and Tsinghua University in Beijing on 13–14 June 2026.

The conference, themed "Asian Higher Education in a Changing Global Context," gathered leading scholars to discuss the evolving landscape of higher education amid geopolitical, technological, and economic shifts. Professor Mok was invited to present at the event. He spoke on the panel "Geopolitics and Higher Education: China and the World," chaired by Professor Gerard Postiglione of The University of Hong Kong.

In his paper titled "Questing for Knowledge in Balance: Navigating China-West Relations in Higher Education," Professor Mok examined how geopolitics increasingly influences international student mobility and cross-border research collaboration. Collaborating with Professor Ma Yin, he applied neorealism, securitization theory, soft power theory, and a modified liberal institutionalism framework to analyse the impact on cultural exchange, talent circulation, and academic diplomacy. He emphasised the importance of balancing legitimate security concerns with the pursuit of scientific progress and educational exchange.

Professor Mok also chaired the panel "Higher Education Hubs, Internationalization and Collaboration," which included speakers from The University of Hong Kong, The Education University of Hong Kong, Peking University, and HSUHK. He presented his research paper "Questing for Higher Education Hubs: Challenges and Opportunities for Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia," offering a comparative analysis of policies and practices in these three Asian higher education hubs.

Furthermore, Professor Mok served as a discussant at Tsinghua University's Doctoral Student Forum on the panel "Generative AI, Digital-intelligent Education, and Responsible Governance," where young scholars from the UK, Chinese Mainland, and Macau SAR presented their work.

The visit concluded with productive discussions on strengthening collaborations between HSUHK and leading institutions, including Peking University, Tsinghua University, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Cheng Chi University, and Ming Chuan University.

Source: Photo courtesy of Higher Education Research Association

HSUHK participates in HERA 2026 Conference co-hosted by Peking University and Tsinghua University

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 09:44:15 +0000

Source: Photo courtesy of Higher Education Research Association

HSUHK Scholar Empowers Youth-led Research on Family Dynamics and Adolescent Mental Health

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 07:30:44 +0000

Source: Photo courtesy of Save the Children Hong Kong

A research study titled Hearing Children: How Family Interactions Affect Youth Mental health was officially released in late May 2026, shedding night on the critical role of parent-child relationships in sharping adolescent well-being.

Initiated by Save the Children Hong Kong and supported by a research team led by Dr Gary Tang, Associate Professor in the Department of Social Science at The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK), the project stands out for its innovative youth-led approach. Dr Tang's team provided professional expertise in research design, questionnaire development, and data analysis, while guiding a "Youth Research Group" of six adolescents. Through extensive partner networks and school outreach, the team successfully gathered 408 valid responses from young people aged 13 to 18.

The findings reveal a concerning picture of family life for many Hong Kong adolescents. Frequent belittling remarks, unfavourable peer or sibling comparisons, and excessively high parental expectations are significantly associated with diminished self-esteem and emotional distress. Affected youth reported feelings of inferiority along with physical and psychological symptoms such as insomnia and heightened anxiety. Alarmingly, the vast majority of respondents indicated they would not proactively seek support from their parents when facing emotional difficulties.

"These results underscore the urgent need to transform parent-child communication patterns," the report emphasises.

Save the Children Hong Kong plans to translate the research insights into actionable initiatives, including parent education programmes, school counselling training, and community workshops. The organisation aims to promote positive, affirming communication styles grounded in active listening and validation.

Dr Tang supported the entire research process, from methodological design to data interpretation, providing a robust empirical foundation for identifying risk factors in family interactions. This collaboration exemplifies HSUHK's commitment to impactful, community-engaged research that bridges academic expertise with real-world social challenges.

HSUHK Research: Journal of Asian Public Policy Ranked Among World's Top Journals

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 07:17:46 +0000

Recently, the Journal of Asian Public Policy (JAPP), co-founded and co-edited by Professor Mok Ka-ho, Provost and Vice-President (Academic and Research) of The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK), has achieved a major international milestone.

In addition to its established recognition, JAPP has attained an Impact Factor of 2.9, and is now ranked 9th out of 184 journals in the field of Area Studies, placing it among the very top journals globally in this domain. This latest milestone reinforces the journal's growing influence and academic excellence on the international stage.

According to the latest CiteScore metrics released by Scopus, JAPP has been ranked Q1 in both the "Public Administration" and "Sociology and Political Science" categories, placing it among the world's leading journals in these fields.

Established in 2008 at the University of Bristol and published by Routledge, JAPP has grown into a flagship journal in Asian public policy studies. As a long-standing Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) Q1 journal, it is widely recognized for its high-quality interdisciplinary and comparative research on Asian policy issues, spanning public management, policy science, social development, and governance.

These achievements not only underscore the journal's continued upward trajectory but also highlight HSUHK's growing strength and international visibility in public policy and management research. They reflect the University's sustained commitment to advancing high-impact scholarship with both regional relevance and global significance. HSUHK will continue to invest in high-impact research and strengthen its role as a leading voice in Asian public policy studies.

HSUHK scholar's AI animated short film receives multiple international festival recognitions

Thu, 21 May 2026 08:33:51 +0000

An AI animated short film, Sushi Party, directed by Dr Sobel Chan, Senior Lecturer at the School of Communication (SCOM) of The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK), has garnered a series of international recognitions across art-tech, AI cinema and animation film festivals. The film has been invited to participate in the Miami Art-Tech Summit 2025, AI Film Awards Cannes 2025, AI Short Film Festival Larissa Lumina 2025, and the Brighton International Animation Festival (BIAF) 2026. It has also been shortlisted for the finals of the Neu Wave AI Film Festival 2025, demonstrating strong international recognition from the professional film festival community.

Sushi Party was selected for the "You've Got to Laugh" comedy animation programme of BIAF 2026, and was screened at the Brighton Dome Studio Theatre in the UK on 25 April 2026. This selection is particularly meaningful as BIAF is a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA)-qualifying animation festival, further affirming the film's international exposure and professional acclaim.

Dr Chan said that Sushi Party incorporates a wide range of AI technologies, with AI tools used throughout the creative process — from content development and visual design to sound production. The short film's songs, transition effects and some layered visual sequences were also generated with AI assistance, showcasing the vast potential of AI in audiovisual creation. He noted that the project is not only a technical experiment, but also an exploration of storytelling, animation and comedic expression through generative AI. Looking ahead, he plans to adopt an even broader range of AI tools in future short film production, while inspiring students to broaden their creative horizons, experiment boldly with diverse short film formats, and explore more possibilities in the integration of AI and creative media.