Research@HSUHK

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) at The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK), has achieved a major international milestone.

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.

This latest Q1 achievement in two major categories underscores HSUHK's growing strength in public policy and management research. It also highlights the University's commitment to producing influential scholarship with both regional significance and global relevance. 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.

Research Project on Talent Attraction and Retention Promotes Dialogue with Hong Kong's Social Service Sector

Wed, 20 May 2026 09:26:10 +0000

On 19 May, Professor Joshua Mok Ka-ho was invited by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) to share insights from the recently funded research project under the Public Policy Research Funding Scheme of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, "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" (Project No. E2025.B1201).

The invitation reflected the relevance of the project to ongoing discussions on the integration, well-being and long-term retention of incoming talents and their family members in Hong Kong. During the sharing session, Professor Mok presented the project's key findings and discussed their policy implications with the representatives from the social service sector.

HSUHK deepens strategic ties with Shandong institution through high-level dialogue and new partnership

Tue, 19 May 2026 10:09:32 +0000

On 19 May 2026, The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK) underscored its pivotal role in regional academic integration by participating in the high-profile "Roundtable on Deepening the Integration of Talent, Education, and Industry in Shandong, Hong Kong, and Macao". This significant event coincided with a high-level Forum for the Shandong-Hong Kong-Macau Higher Education Alliance, which brings together 17 leading member institutions across the regions to co-promote student learning, academic and research collaborations, and university-industry-business engagements.

Held at the Renaissance Hong Kong Harbour View Hotel during the Hong Kong-Macau-Shandong Week (18-22 May 2026), the Forum and Roundtable were hosted by high-level provincial authorities, including the Shandong Provincial Education Department and Shandong University. The event was officiated by key government officials from both the HKSAR Government and the Government of Shandong, with Dr Jeff Sze, Under Secretary for Education of the HKSAR Government, delivering an opening speech.

Professor Mok Ka-ho, Provost and Vice-President (Academic and Research) and Dean of the Graduate School, and Professor Mark Shuttleworth, Dean of the School of Translation and Foreign Languages (STFL) of HSUHK, representing HSUHK to engage in strategic discussions with government leaders and university heads, exploring synergistic opportunities in cross-border talent cultivation and the "Triple Helix" integration of education, science, and industry. During the Forum, Professor Mok was also interviewed by mainland media, sharing insights on how HSUHK can work creatively with universities in Shandong to enhance the internationalization of higher education and foster wider engagements in the Asian region.

Formalizing Collaboration: The HSUHK-SDVUFA MoU Signing

The morning reached a significant milestone with the official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between HSUHK and the Shandong Vocational University of Foreign Affairs (SDVUFA) to promote student and staff exchanges, academic and research collaborations, and other forms of inter-university partnerships.

Following the signing ceremony, Professor Mok and President Sun from SDVUFA, alongside representatives from both universities, engaged in deep, in-depth discussions on future collaborations. They agreed to actively kickstart this institutional partnership by promoting a student mobility programme in the coming summer of 2026, which will lay the groundwork for subsequent academic and research initiatives. Key areas of focus also included international education and the joint development of faculty members.

Participants in these discussions included Mr. Dannie Cheung, member of the HSUHK Council; Professor Mark Shuttleworth, Dean of STFL at HSUHK; Ms. Audrey Jiang, Founder of the Butterfly Development Education Foundation; Ms. Emily Wong, Manager from the Graduate School; and Ms. Scarlett Leung, Senior Manager of STFL. Their involvement underscored the broad, multi-sectoral support underpinning this promising new alliance.

From Dialogue to Discovery: Immersive Campus Experience

The engagement transitioned from strategic dialogue to immersive experience as HSUHK hosted a campus tour for the SDVUFA delegation at our main campus in Shatin. Led by the School of Translation and Foreign Languages and supported by the Global Affairs Office, the visit allowed Ms. Zhang Jie, Director of Global Affairs at SDVUFA, and Ms. Audrey Jiang, Founder of the Butterfly Development Education Foundation, to witness firsthand HSUHK's unique "Liberal + Professional" education model and its state-of-the-art facilities.

This comprehensive day of engagement not only solidifies HSUHK's presence within the newly reinforced Hong Kong-Macao-Shandong higher education institutions network but also paves the way for transformative educational collaborations that will benefit students and faculty across both regions.

Media Interview:

Media Report:

北京日报｜聚力鲁港澳教育协同共谱校际间合作新篇｜22/05/26

教育在线｜山东外事职业大学校长孙承武参加鲁港澳座谈会并与香港恒生大学签署合作协议｜22/05/26

大众新闻｜港澳山东周｜莫家豪：希望与内地学校深入合作，促进鲁港澳教育资源互融互通｜19/05/26

HSUHK study reveals inadequate support for youth micro-entrepreneurs with non-tech sectors hardest hit

Tue, 19 May 2026 09:17:26 +0000

A latest study by The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK) has found that youth micro-entrepreneurs generally face inadequate funding and support, with the problem being particularly acute in non-technology sectors such as retail, food and beverage, creative industries, freelancing, and professional services. The research team urges the Government to develop a more inclusive, entrepreneurial ecosystem-oriented, stage-specific policy framework for youth entrepreneurship that can respond more precisely to entrepreneurs' needs at different stages of development.

The study, titled "A Multifaceted Analysis of Strengthening Stage-Specific Support System for Youth Micro-Entrepreneurship in Hong Kong," is funded by the Public Policy Research Funding Scheme of the HKSAR Government (Project No. 2024.B12.009.24D, project in progress). Commencing in March 2025 and spanning one year and three months, the project began with a comparative policy analysis drawing on the experiences of London and Beijing. The analysis concluded that Hong Kong should strengthen policy integration and implementation while providing support for young entrepreneurs in both the technology and non-technology sectors that better reflect their practical needs. The research team then adopted a mixed-methods approach, conducted in-depth interviews with 25 youth micro-entrepreneurs and 20 support providers, as well as collected 627 online questionnaire responses from youth micro-entrepreneurs. By combining statistical findings with qualitative data, the study examined the experiences of young entrepreneurs.

Micro-entrepreneurship refers to a business model with small capital investment and a small number of employees. The study showed that youth entrepreneurship generally goes through stages such as existence, survival, success, take-off, and maturity, with each stage involving distinct needs and challenges. Funding shortages were recognised as a consistent issue across all stages of the entrepreneurial journey. Nearly 70% of respondents identified insufficient funding as the main challenge at the existence stage; the proportion was 54.1% among those in the survival or success stage, and 45% among those in the take-off or maturity stage.

The study further highlighted a clear resource gap for non-tech sectors in Hong Kong's entrepreneurship support landscape. Respondents generally believed that existing entrepreneurship policies and support programmes place excessive emphasis on artificial intelligence, deep tech, innovation-labelled, and rapidly scalable startups, leaving youth micro-enterprises in retail, food and beverage, creative industries, and service sectors easily overlooked. Close to 10% of respondents believed that existing support policies were sufficient to meet their needs. Over 80% hoped for low-threshold and easily accessible funding subsidies; 44.3% wanted simpler application procedures for funding schemes; 43.9% hoped for greater marketing support; and 37.3% expected access to mentors or advisory services.

Many respondents believed that informal support—such as startup funding, emotional support, practical help, and operational advice provided by family members, friends, peers, and partners—was more accessible than formal support, which includes assistance provided through government, NGOs, universities, business-sponsored schemes, innovation competitions, courses, and angel investment. More than 46% of respondents mainly relied on informal support, while only about 18.2% mainly relied on formal support. Close to 95% used personal savings as startup capital, and 62.7% had received financial support from family members.

Although respondents generally believed that the Greater Bay Area (GBA) offers a larger market, more complete industrial chains, and more business-matching opportunities, their willingness to expand there remained clearly low. 66.2% were uncertain about whether they would enter the GBA market, 22.5% did not plan to do so, and only 11.3% either planned to enter or had successfully expanded into the market. The main barriers identified were, in descending order: cost pressure (57.9%), insufficient market knowledge (56.5%), regulatory differences (48.3%), lack of local networks (44.0%), and language or cultural barriers (35.3%).

The study also found that 57.4% of respondents experienced linear or stable business growth, while around 40% were in non-linear development trajectories characterised by fluctuation, interruption, or instability. Many respondents held broader definitions of success, including maintaining stable income, flexible work arrangements, work-life balance, and sustaining an independent livelihood. The survey results reflect this diversity of orientation: 39% prioritised business expansion, nearly 30% valued stable income, 20.8% prioritised work-life balance, and 7.5% emphasised the social impact of their business.

Dr Victor Chan Chi-ming, Principal Investigator of the project and Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Science at HSUHK, said, "Youth micro-entrepreneurs are highly important to Hong Kong's economy. They promote innovation, create employment opportunities, and enhance young people's self-reliance and social mobility."

He noted that, in response to the challenges faced by young people at different stages of entrepreneurship, the research team recommends that the Government:

develop a stage-specific support framework, including support measures tailored to different development stages and a one-stop platform offering flexible support;
better coordinate formal and informal support, including the integration of advisors, dedicated officers, and peer support, as well as allocating resources to community and family workshops;
close support gaps in non-tech sectors, including the provision of dedicated non-tech funding, incubation, marketing, legal, and operational support, and revising assessment criteria so that they are no longer confined to technology-oriented growth indicators;
adopt a broader definition of entrepreneurial success in policy and support programmes, placing value on business survival, autonomy, resilience, work-life balance, and social contribution;
reform entrepreneurship education, by strengthening entrepreneurship education in secondary and higher education to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset early on; and
strengthen collaboration among governments across GBA cities to create more practical development pathways, including city-specific operational guidelines, compliance support, and trusted network-matching services.

Click here for the PowerPoint presented at the press briefing.

HSUHK strengthens global footprint through strategic partnerships with top Malaysian universities

Thu, 14 May 2026 09:42:00 +0000

In a significant move to bolster its international standing, The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK) recently embarked on a high-level mission to Malaysia to cultivate strategic academic alliances. On 14 May 2026, Professor Joshua Mok, Provost and Vice-President (Academic and Research) and Dean of the Graduate School, visited Sunway University, Malaysia's premier private institution. Welcomed by President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Sibrandes Poppema and his senior leadership team, the visit served as a platform to align the strategic visions of both institutions. Professor Mok highlighted HSUHK's unique "Liberal + Professional" education model, which cultivates caring professionals equipped with global perspectives and responsible leadership skills.

The visit culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between HSUHK and Sunway University. This landmark agreement paves the way for enhanced student learning experiences, alongside robust academic and research synergies. Beyond the formal signing, Professor Mok delivered a compelling presentation on Hong Kong's evolution into an international higher education hub, offering a comparative analysis of Singapore, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom. He expressed profound admiration for Sunway's state-of-the-art campus and the immense potential for future collaborative innovation between the two universities.

Expanding horizons through collaborative research and talent mobility

Continuing the momentum on 15 May 2026, Professor Mok visited the University of Malaya (UM), the nation's leading public research university. The discussions yielded highly productive outcomes, most notably the establishment of joint research and knowledge transfer initiatives. HSUHK and UM will co-lead regional studies on Age-Friendly Cities and Wellbeing, focusing on critical social issues across Southeast and East Asia. This partnership underscores HSUHK's commitment to addressing real-world challenges through cross-border intellectual exchange and impactful research.

Engagement with the UM academic community also extended to the next generation of scholars. Professor Mok held in-depth discussions with faculty members and doctoral students regarding international student mobility and talent attraction. He delivered an invited seminar examining talent management from a comparative perspective, which was met with an enthusiastic reception. To further enrich the student experience, both HSUHK and UM agreed to prioritize student mobility programs, ensuring that students from both institutions benefit from diverse cultural and academic environments.

A multifaceted approach to internationalisation

These strategic engagements underscore a multifaceted approach to internationalisation, bridging the gap between high-level policy and tangible student benefits. The partnership with Sunway University serves as a cornerstone for student exchange and the promotion of HSUHK's unique liberal arts philosophy, while the alliance with the University of Malaya anchors the university's commitment to high-impact research in areas such as regional wellbeing and urban aging.

Furthermore, by integrating Professor Mok's academic seminars into the visits, HSUHK has reinforced its role as a thought leader in comparative higher education and regional talent management. Collectively, these milestones represent a significant leap forward in HSUHK's mission to foster a vibrant, globally-connected academic community and to establish itself as a leading private university with a truly global impact.

HSUHK strengthens global higher education ties with Malaysian universities

Thu, 14 May 2026 09:14:04 +0000

HSUHK signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sunway University (SU) in Malaysia on 14 May 2026 to enhance student learning experiences, academic exchange, and research collaboration between the two institutions. Professor Joshua Mok, Provost and Vice-President (Academic and Research), represented HSUHK at the MoU signing. A leading private university in Malaysia, SU ranked first in the AppliedHE Private University Ranking ASEAN 2026.

Professor Mok also visited the University of Malaya (UM), where HSUHK and UM agreed to co-lead regional studies on Age-Friendly Cities and Wellbeing, focusing on critical social issues across Southeast and East Asia.

Supply Chain Management student clinches HKIE Best Student Paper Award

Wed, 13 May 2026 09:35:50 +0000

Ko Tsun-ming (BBA (Hons) in Supply Chain Management, Year 4 in 2024-25) won the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) Best Student Paper Award 2025.

Organised by The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers – Logistics and Transportation Division, the competition aims to promote innovative ideas, encourage research on the design and implementation of sustainable logistics and transportation systems, and recognise outstanding students in the field. This year's theme focused on innovation-related topics in transportation or logistics. Ko Tsun-ming won the award with his paper titled "Integrating Machine Learning for Demand Forecasting to Improve Inventory Management".

HSUHK Research Reframes Ageing, Care and Connectivity in a Transnational City

Tue, 05 May 2026 09:51:49 +0000

As Hong Kong confronts rapid population ageing alongside sustained outward migration, new research from The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK) offers a timely and evidence-based rethinking of how care, family and technology intersect across borders. Led by Professor Lucille Ngan Lok-sun of the School of Humanities and Social Science, the research demonstrates that older adults are not passive recipients of care, but active agents who use digital technologies to sustain family life, autonomy and wellbeing in transnational contexts.

From Distance to Connection: Rethinking Care in Mobile Society

Hong Kong's demographic trajectory is stark – by the mid-2040s, one in three residents is projected to be aged 65 or above. At the same time, many adult children have settled overseas, giving rise to a growing number of transnational families. Conventional models of eldercare, which build on assumptions of geographic proximity and face-to-face support, are increasingly misaligned with these realities.

Professor Ngan's multi-year research programme addresses this gap head-on. Integrating a Faculty Development Scheme (FDS)-funded project on navigating caregiving in transnational families with internationally peer-reviewed scholarship on digital technologies and transnational ageing, the research offers a coherent and forward-looking account of how families adapt care practices across borders.

Key Findings: Ageing, Technology and Shared Responsibility

Drawing on in-depth qualitative research with older Hong Kong adults whose children live abroad, the studies reveal several critical insights:

Older adults as active decision-makers: Far from being dependent or disengaged, many seniors take an active role in shaping their own care arrangements – e.g., coordinating support, making informed choices, and negotiating responsibilities within extended family networks.
Digital tools as caregiving infrastructure: Everyday technologies, such as video calls, messaging platforms, online services and smart home applications, now function as practical and emotional bridges. They enable remote monitoring, healthcare coordination and sustained intimacy, mitigating the constraints of physical distance.
Learning as empowering: Continuous engagement with digital learning enhances seniors' confidence, sense of purpose and social participation. Many older adults not only acquire new skills but also support peers, reinforcing community resilience.
Care as a shared, cross-border practice: Caregiving emerges not as a one-way flow, but as a negotiated, collaborative process involving older adults, overseas family members and local support systems.

Collectively, these findings challenge entrenched assumptions that quality eldercare must be local and that older people are resistant to technology. Instead, they present a more nuanced picture of capability, adaptability and shared responsibility.

Academic Impact with Public Relevance

Published in leading international journals and supported by competitive external funding, Professor Ngan's research advances scholarship in migration studies, gerontology and digital sociology. Equally important, it has resonated beyond academia, informing public debate on ageing, digital inclusion and family policy, underscoring the public value of university‑led research.

Policy Implications – Towards Digital Inclusion and Age-Friendly Futures

The research carries clear implications for policymakers and service providers. Targeted digital literacy initiatives, age‑friendly technology design and support for long‑distance caregivers can help narrow digital divides and strengthen transnational care arrangements. As Hong Kong plans for an ageing future, integrating digital inclusion into social and eldercare policy will be essential.

HSUHK's Role: Research for Social Transformation

This work exemplifies HSUHK's commitment to "research with impact, impact with care" that responds to pressing societal challenges. By connecting rigorous scholarship with lived experience, Professor Ngan's research contributes actionable insights to one of Hong Kong's most urgent questions – how to ensure dignity, connection and care in later life amid mobility and change.

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