RGC honours outstanding research academics in Hong Kong
The Research Grants Council (RGC) today (November 24) organised an award presentation ceremony to honour academics from the University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities for their distinguished research achievements and significant contribution to the higher education sector.
Among the awardees were the inaugural cohorts of the RGC Senior Research Fellowship Scheme (SRFS), RGC Research Fellow Scheme (RFS) and RGC Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme (PDFS), all three of which were introduced last year with recurrent funding support of $190 million per annum committed by the Government.
Today’s ceremony also celebrated the achievements of a group of outstanding researchers who received awards under the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) Prestigious Fellowship Scheme and Early Career Scheme.
Officiating at the ceremony, the Permanent Secretary for Education, Ms Michelle Li, said, “I am confident that the awardees will continue to contribute to Hong Kong’s academic research efforts, produce amazing work that extends the frontier of knowledge, further improves our lives, and inspires the next generations to join the research community one day. I look forward to witnessing the development of both stronger research capacity and richer research culture in Hong Kong in the years to come.”
The Chairman of the RGC, Professor Joseph Lee, also congratulated the awardees and thanked the UGC-funded universities for their support. Professor Lee said, “We are very much encouraged by the success of the inaugural exercise for the three new fellowship schemes. The nominees displayed qualities highly commended by the selection panel. For our experienced and renowned HSS fellows, I hope that the research support in the form of extended time-off and supporting funds will enable them to focus on their research work and writing. I am also confident that our young outstanding researchers will shine internationally.”
Professor Lee expressed his gratitude to the panel members and international experts for their valuable time in joining the assessment of applications amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
The recipients of the awards were selected through a rigorous process and keen competition overseen by RGC selection panels. Their award citations are displayed on the RGC website (https://www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/about/events/).
Due to the pandemic, the Ceremony was mainly held in a virtual setting with more than 80 awardees and guests joining the celebration via video-conferencing. The 10 RGC Senior Research Fellows received the awards in person at the UGC Secretariat’s office.
