2025 UGC Teaching Award honours excellent teachers

The University Grants Committee (UGC) held a presentation ceremony for the 2025 UGC Teaching Award today (September 29) to honour academics from UGC-funded universities for their outstanding teaching performances and achievements, as well as their leadership and scholarly contributions to teaching and learning within and outside their campuses.

Through a rigorous process, the Award Selection Panel selected the following three recipients from among over 20 outstanding nominees for the Award:
 

General Faculty Members
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Professor Shirley Ngai, Associate Head and Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)

Early Career Faculty Members
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Professor Jeffrey Leung, Assistant Professor, School of Optometry, PolyU

Collaborative Teams
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Transdisciplinary Innovation Team, Hong Kong Baptist University, led by Professor William Cheung (Associate Vice-President (Transdisciplinary Education) and Professor, Department of Computer Science), with Dr Glos Ho (Director and Principal Lecturer, Division of Transdisciplinary Undergraduate Programmes), Professor Kingsley Ng (Associate Professor, Academy of Visual Arts), Professor Wendy Huang (Professor, Academy of Wellness and Human Development) and Professor Nick Zhang (Assistant Professor, Department of Journalism) as team members.

The citations of the awardees are in the Annex.

The Chairman of the UGC, Mr Tim Lui, congratulated the awardees, finalists, and nominees for their remarkable achievements and expressed gratitude to all UGC-funded universities for their support of the UGC Teaching Award. He said, "The UGC is committed to enhancing teaching and learning, which lies at the heart of our higher education mission. By effectively utilising available resources, universities can cultivate a culture of continuous improvement and innovation that benefits all students. Our focus on collaboration and the sharing of best practices will not only elevate the quality of education but also uphold Hong Kong's status as a leading international hub for higher education. Together, we can adapt to the evolving educational landscape and ensure our students are well-prepared for the future challenges."

The Chair of the 2025 UGC Teaching Award Selection Panel and member of the UGC, Mr Philip Tsai, remarked, "The panel was highly impressed by the awardees' remarkable skill, innovation, and passion for teaching. Professor Ngai's visionary leadership in physiotherapy education has transformed the field through pioneering medical simulation and integrating advanced technologies such as virtual reality and augmented reality. Professor Leung's innovative AI-assisted clinical skill assessment system further enhances diagnostic training, showcasing his dedication to advancing healthcare education and fostering well-rounded, compassionate professionals. The Transdisciplinary Innovation Team unites faculty members, community leaders, and global partners to empower students in addressing real-world challenges aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals."

The presentation ceremony was attended by members of the UGC and the Quality Assurance Council, council chairmen and senior management of UGC-funded universities, as well as nominees for the Awards.

TThe UGC has also produced a series of short video clips to promote best practices by showcasing the teaching approach of the 2025 UGC Teaching Award recipients. The clips, together with the selection criteria and the composition of the Selection Panel, as well as the list of other finalists, are available on the UGC website www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/ugc/activity/ugc_teaching_award/result.html.

Annex

2025 UGC Teaching Award Citations

Professor Shirley NGAI, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Professor Shirley Ngai has earned widespread recognition for her extraordinary leadership and transformative impact on physiotherapy education. Awarded the UGC Teaching Award in the Early Career Faculty Members Category as early as 2016, she continues to make outstanding contributions to healthcare education and beyond.

Professor Ngai has revolutionised competency-based clinical training by introducing medical simulation into physiotherapy education in Hong Kong. Her innovative initiatives, including mobile learning apps and self-learning e-books, and adoption of advance technology such as Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality, have prepared students well for real-world clinical environments and markedly improved clinical placement outcomes. Her vision for holistic education is reflected in the development of online learning modules and a globally recognised online course, fostering cultural competence, empathy, and interprofessional collaboration among thousands of learners from over 130 regions worldwide.

Demonstrating exceptional leadership in faculty development, Professor Ngai fosters a culture of scholarly teaching and learning and elevates international standards in rehabilitation education. Her unwavering passion and commitment to nurturing future leaders make her an exemplary educator and scholar. This year, she is honoured with the UGC Teaching Award, in the General Faculty Members Category, becoming the first individual to receive this prestigious accolade twice.

Professor Jeffrey Tsz-wing LEUNG, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Professor Jeffrey Tsz-wing Leung is a visionary and student-centred educator who integrates technical expertise with interpersonal skills. Since joining the university in 2020, he has nurtured creative, compassionate, and adaptable professionals prepared to meet the rapidly evolving demands of quality healthcare.

Grounded in experiential and transformative learning, Professor Leung engages optometry students through immersive, real-world projects that foster critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication. He has transformed traditional assignments into dynamic group projects and led interdisciplinary collaborations with education students to improve paediatric eye care for children with special educational needs. These initiatives significantly enhance students' empathy, social responsibility, and understanding of diverse patient needs.

Demonstrating innovation, Professor Leung developed an AI-assisted clinical skill assessment system that provides instant and objective feedback, elevating diagnostic training. His contributions to interdisciplinary collaboration and curriculum transformation have established him as an exceptional early-career scholar, with a transformative influence on both academic and professional communities.

Transdisciplinary Innovation Team, Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU)

The Transdisciplinary Innovation Team, led by Professor William Cheung and including Dr Glos Ho, Professor Kingsley Ng, Professor Wendy Huang, and Professor Nick Zhang, is dedicated to equipping students with diverse knowledge and skills to address global challenges. The team brings together faculty members from multiple disciplines, community leaders from various sectors, and international collaborators to guide students in real-world projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

A hallmark of their work is the individualised major programme, which empowers students to design their own study pathways and tackle complex, mission-driven problems. Complementing this, the team has developed three additional transdisciplinary programmes, each with its own distinctive focus.

Embodying innovation, collaboration, and an unwavering dedication to student growth, the team has spearheaded transdisciplinary education at HKBU. Their efforts have significantly enhanced the student experience and inspired meaningful dialogue and educational innovation across the region.