Welcoming Remarks by Chairman, UGC at the Presentation Ceremony of the 2025 UGC Teaching Award (29.9.2025)

2025 UGC Teaching Award
Welcoming Remarks by
Chairman, UGC at the Presentation Ceremony of the 2025 UGC Teaching Award (29.9.2025)

Council Chairmen, Presidents, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon. It is a delight to welcome you all to our annual Presentation Ceremony of the 2025 UGC Teaching Award. This has been one of our highlight events where we gather to celebrate the remarkable achievements and dedication of our outstanding educators, whose contributions have profoundly impacted their students and the higher education landscape.

2. As always, the selection process for this year’s UGC Teaching Award was a rigorous and thoughtful endeavour. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Selection Panel, led by Mr Philip Tsai, along with Professor Arnoud De Meyer, Mr Dieter Yih, Professor Cecilia Chan Ka-yuk, and Professor Tina Overton. Their commitment and keen insight in identifying the most exceptional candidates from a pool of over 20 nominations are truly commendable.

3. I am pleased to see the effort of all the nominees to purposeful teaching, their passion for nurturing the personal growth and sharing of knowledge with our students. Their willingness to go above and beyond to unlock their students’ potential is nothing short of inspiring. Please join me in applauding these remarkable educators for their dedication and hard work.

4. The UGC is equally dedicated to enhancing teaching and learning as the core mission of our higher education sector. We have been supporting teaching and learning initiatives for decades. For the 2025-28 triennium, the Teaching Development and Language Enhancement Grant (TDLEG) has reached the record high of $919.8 million, a $100 million increase from 2022-25 triennium, with $50 million allocated specifically for inter-institutional collaborative activities. In the past few years, this Grant encouraged universities to work on key themes such as integrating generative AI into pedagogy, sharing exemplary practices identified during the third audit cycle, and prioritising student well-being and personal growth.

5. By leveraging these resources, universities can foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation that benefits all students. The emphasis on collaboration and the sharing of best practices will not only foster a more extensive network which aims to enhance the quality of education, but also help build Hong Kong as a leading international hub for higher education. Together, we can navigate the evolving educational landscape and ensure that our students are well-prepared for the future.

6. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to the Hong Kong Teaching Excellence Alliance (HKTEA), under the leadership of Dr Julia Chen. The HKTEA has played a vital role in cultivating a supportive network and community of Award Fellows to promote teaching excellence within and beyond the UGC sector.

7. I note as part of the Third Strategic and Action Plan of HKTEA (2024-27), HKTEA is also placing a stronger emphasis to make a more prominent presence in the international arena, which echoes the Government’s vision of developing Hong Kong into an international education hub. I often heard compliments about excellent teaching and learning effort by our local educators and I am glad that all your hard work would be shared beyond Hong Kong. The sharing HKTEA had on teaching and learning in the NAFSA 2025 and EAIE 2025 is indeed an excellent illustration of our efforts in supporting teaching excellence to a global audience. We are delighted that the collaboration between the HKTEA and UGC to showcase our dedication and commitment to quality education in the international arena has been making good progress.

8. Before I pass the floor to Mr Philip Tsai, Chair of the Selection Panel, who will announce the results of the 2025 UGC Teaching Award, I would like to congratulate this year’s finalists and, of course, the exceptional awardees for their outstanding achievements and dedication to promoting teaching excellence. I also want to thank all the council chairmen and university presidents for their unwavering support of this special event. I wish you all a wonderful evening and a successful year ahead. Thank you.