Project Reference No.: UGC/IDS11/15
Project Title: Establishment of Healthcare Research Centre (Caritas)

Abstract
Hong Kong is now facing a serious problem of fast ageing population with increased life expectancy. Caritas - Hong Kong, the sponsoring body of Caritas Institute of Higher Education (the Institute), devotes to resolving this problem through its Medical Services Division and Social Services Division which are two of its four major servicing areas. The Institute shares its mission and vision as our sponsoring body and has identified healthcare as its strategic area for development. The School of Health Sciences (the School) was established to focus on the education of healthcare professionals.

The Institute proposes to establish a Healthcare Research Centre (the Centre) as a flagship research centre at the Institute. The Centre aims to provide a powerful research infrastructure in healthcare and related areas. The Centre will promote and coordinate the research activities in this strategic area to produce synergy effect among all its research projects. It is expected that this area of research will enhance development and delivery of healthcare programmes in the School.

The Institute has planned the following Programme on Research at the Centre.
1. The Centre will collaborate with the Medical Services Division and the Social Services Division of its sponsoring body to collect data in their service units and develop a database for big data of health information for healthcare research.
2. The Centre will set up a big data analytics platform with high-performance computing facilities and state-of-the-art big data analytics software and visualization tools to support sophisticated analysis of health information big data. Workshops on big data analysis will be organised to enhance faculty members' generic research capabilities.
3. The Centre will help faculty members at the School of Health Sciences to design analytic models for big data of health information. The Research Fellow employed will assist faculty members to analyse health information.
4. The Centre will conduct some showcase research activities in order to demonstrate these research ideas to faculty members. Selected faculty members will be motivated and invited to join the research team with the aim of cultivating and polishing their research skills.
5. The Centre will provide medical consultation and services to its visitors with the aim to facilitate the faculty members' research in healthcare and the collection of first hand data for their experiments.
6. The Centre will invite renowned scholars in the field of healthcare and health informatics to conduct research workshops on the latest research information in the area. These workshops will help faculty members in the School of Health Sciences and other affiliated members of the Centre to develop their research emphases, for example, formulate their research ideas, exchange their research information with experts in the areas, etc.
7. The Centre will organise reflection workshops for colleagues in the School of Health Sciences and other schools in the Institute. We will connect researchers from different schools in the Institute to promote cross-disciplinary research collaboration.

Summing up the above, the Healthcare Research Centre will play a major role in facilitating and overseeing all research activities in healthcare and related areas. We expect that these research activities will have a positive impact on the teaching of healthcare programmes in the Institute. As a long term prospect, the Centre will also seek to contribute to the efforts of the Hong Kong community in addressing various issues arising from its ageing population.

 

Project Reference No.: UGC/IDS12/15
Project Title: Building an Interdisciplinary Research and Knowledge Exchange Platform (Centennial)

Abstract
This proposal is to support the building of a research platform that would facilitate both interdisciplinary research and knowledge exchange. Two areas of development are identified. First, the research support programmes comprise three key initiatives, namely, the visiting scholars programme, the research development programme, and a regular research seminar series. These are all designed to foster a stronger research culture of the College with opportunities for scholarly exchange as well as collaborative research, and to enhance the research capacity and capability of our staff by providing research training specific to their research interests and needs. In addition, an annual Research and Knowledge Exchange Workshop will provide a platform for the dissemination of our research findings as well as the opportunities for interactions amongst researchers, students, practitioners and the larger community. Second, an Office of Research Services (ORS) will be established to manage the on-going building of research infrastructure within the College. Apart from supporting and coordinating the above initiatives, the ORS will have an important role in ensuring the effective implementation of all research policies, as well as streamlining the provision of resources.

It is believed that the development of this research platform would, in the long-run, greatly enhance the research capacity of the College, particularly in terms of interdisciplinary research. Development of the research platform should also enrich the teaching-research nexus and develop a research-oriented learning environment where students would benefit from being immersed in a culture that encourages critical, independent and reflective thinking.

 

Project Reference No.: UGC/IDS14/15
Project Title: Set up a Research Institute for Business (Hang Seng)

Abstract
The proposed project is to set up a Research Institute for Business. The proposed research institute is to provide support and to coordinate research efforts in business research so that HSMC can advance the understanding of business practices with a focus of local relevance. The Research Institute for Business targets to enhance HSMC's research capability in business.

The Research Institute will organize academic conference, seminars, workshops and symposiums to disseminate the research findings. Within the Research Institute, a Computerized Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) system will be installed. The CATI system aims to perform opinion surveys so that HSMC can have the state-of-the-art survey technology to conduct research in behavioral studies.

The Research Institute also has the goal of integrating research findings into sound pedagogical practices and curriculum development. This will benefit the Society through better business education in the long term.

 

Project Reference No.: UGC/IDS16/15
Project Title: Second Phase of Institutional Research Capacity Development - Establishment of Three Research Institutes (OUHK)

Abstract
The proposed programme aims to strengthen the research capacity of the Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK) in three strategic research areas established or emerging in the University. Three research institutes will be set up, one in the strategic areas of international business and governance, one in bilingual learning and teaching, and the other in open and innovative education. For the institutes, renowned academics with a strong research record in the relevant areas will be appointed as Distinguished Professors. As drivers of research capacity development, the Distinguished Professors will lead various scholarly activities to nurture and develop academic staff's capability to initiate and conduct research. The institutes will organize academic activities, such as conferences, seminars and workshops, for academics to become familiar with the latest development in the strategic research areas and facilitate them to generate research ideas and studies. The key points concerning the plans for the three institutes are summarized below.

 

Project Reference No.: UGC/IDS21/15
Project Title: Practice Research Programme of the Practice Centre for Social Development and Innovation (CTIHE)

Abstract
HKCT Institute of Higher Education (CTIHE) strives to become a preferred degree awarding institution with focus on disciplines related to Social Sciences, nurturing students who aspire to contribute to the betterment of society and be committed to sustainable personal and professional growth with a global perspective upon graduation. The Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons) in Social Development Studies (BSScSDS) programme has been introduced since September 2014 while the "Practice Centre for Social Development and Innovation" has been established to develop evidence informed pilot practices and practice research to support the teaching programme.

The first objective of the "Practice Research Programme" is to build CTIHE's capacity in practice research methodologies and thematic researches in social development interventions and social innovations which informs teaching. The second is to help to identify, develop and disseminate evidence-informed practices that keep teaching in the state-of-the-art social development interventions and innovations. The third is to build intensive academic-practitioner partnerships between CTIHE and social development practitioners to achieve a closer collaboration with the social development community in Hong Kong and the Mainland China.

To achieve these objectives, the "Practice Research Programme" formulates five strategies of research support activities, namely collaborative practice research workshop series, social development conferences, academic exchanges, social development seminars, and practice research resource centre.

Through these research strategies, this "Practice Research Programme" will help to develop synergy among faculty members in practice research methodologies, develop a community of practice between CTIHE and the social development community of Hong Kong and the Mainland China, and develop inter-institutional collaboration with practice research experts in HK, Mainland China and Taiwan. Consequently, this "Practice Research Programme" can further reinforce the integration between research on state-of-the-art social development practices and students' learning experiences of the learning programmes of CTIHE, for promoting sustainable development in Hong Kong and the Mainland China.

 

Project Reference No.: UGC/IDS23/15
Project Title: Multi-disciplinary Research Centre (MRC) (HKBU SCE)

Abstract
The School of Continuing Education (SCE), Hong Kong Baptist University proposes establishing a Multi-disciplinary Research Centre (MRC) to create a research avenue for faculty members and researchers to come together to conduct multidisciplinary research. The new research laboratory will help SCE continuously maintain our high academic standard among renowned universities locally and globally. The laboratory infuses cooperative-based research, teaching and learning in a laboratory-oriented environment and provides access to specialized research infrastructure (computers, software and other hardware equipment) and research space (specific and multi-purpose locales) that are of imminent need to the School.
SCE plans for setting up the educational-research labs and proposes equipment that fits the curriculum in current and approaching technologies. The existing curriculum calls for three laboratories: the Active Living Lab, the Testing and Analytical Lab, and the Social Science Research Lab. It is expected that teaching, learning and research activities in many programmes in different academic units of the School will be enhanced and strengthened through the formation of these research laboratories.

Specifically, the Active Living Lab (ALL) serves as a research laboratory for faculty and students engaged in educational and research activities to inspire the community, of all generations, on the importance of a healthier lifestyle and to become more active and enjoy healthy living. Active living is a way of life in which people are physically active during their daily routines, such as walking or cycling to work, to school or simply to go around town.

The Testing and Analytical Lab (TAL) provides faculty and students an pedagogy with a wide range of equipment and instruments for investigating environmental and geological issues, particularly in the study of pollutants (e.g. persistent organic pollutants (POPs)) and emerging contaminants, and examining the management of environmental hazards (e.g. tree risk and assessment).

The Social Science Research Lab (SSRL) is an essential resource for faculty and students who use the experimental methodology to investigate a broad range of social phenomena. The SSRL equips researchers and students with the necessary devices for carrying out survey, interview and data analysis which could serve different academic units. In this environment, researchers and students can customize data with the devices during interview, which offers a unique opportunity for doing interviews in modern instructional methods and learning spaces.

This proposed Multi-disciplinary Research Centre will also serve as an outreach arm of the School to facilitate knowledge-transfer to the wider community by way of conducting consultancy projects for external bodies such as the Government, NGOs, and other organizations, and collaborating with the academics within and outside of SCE to undertake research and organize research seminars, workshops, conferences and related endeavors.

This is a large-scale, collaborative and interdepartmental three-year project with a series of outcome activities such as conferences, post-conference publications, workshops and newsletters materializing to facilitate further researches.

 

Project Reference No.: UGC/IDS25/15
Project Title: Research on Sustainable Living: Phase One of the Capacity Building Plan (THEi)

Abstract
The Technological and Higher Education Institute (the Institute) of Hong Kong is a member institution of the Vocational Training Council (VTC). The Institute provides locally accredited degree-level vocational education for secondary school graduates. In line with the Institute's "learn and do" approach to teaching and learning, our research is primarily applied, with the goal of influencing policy-making and practice within the wider community. The Institute has developed a 5-year strategic research plan on the theme of "Sustainable Living" to guide the research direction of its academic units. Its research capacity will be built to support this, using a two-pronged parallel approach. One prong will consist of strengthening Institute-wide general research capacity, and the other on developing the resources of individual academic units to conduct research in the area of sustainable living. The present proposal presents the plan for general research development and the first phase of focused development in the setting up of an applied research centre on waste and resource management under the Faculty of Science and Technology.

The general development plan includes the establishment of a central Research Office, staffed by two administrative personnel, to provide research support for the whole institution. The existing manual, paper-based research administration system will be upgraded to an electronic one to increase the efficiency, accountability and quality of pre- and post-award research management, and to enhance knowledge exchange in the long run. Research tools and library resources fundamental to conducting academic research will be added or expanded. Training workshops and research seminars will be held by the Research Office for all the academic staff to enhance their general research knowledge and skills, and to cultivate a vibrant research atmosphere in the Institute.

The first phase of focused research capacity-building is to establish a Research Centre for Waste and Resource Management (the Centre). The Centre, equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, will be managed by the team of environmental engineers and research support staff from the Faculty of Science and Technology. Its scope of work includes: (1) application-oriented research and development work, (2) technology development and transfer, and (3) education and training. Over a proposed period of three years, the Centre will deal with problem identification, engineering-solution development, technology improvement and transfer, as well as public education and training to create awareness, relating to municipal solid waste and resource management (i.e. waste reduction, recovery, reuse and recycling) of great local and regional concerns. The Centre will also attend to the philosophical, cultural and educational underpinnings of social and industrial action on behavioural changes and other environmental awareness. In the long run, it aims to (1) develop practical technologies and solutions for Hong Kong and eventually the Pearl River Delta (PRD) Region to resolve wastes disposal and management problems, and enable sustainable development; and (2) improve public awareness of solid wastes management and strategies, so as to encourage the public to participate in a green lifestyle and an eco-friendly society.