Welcoming Remarks by Chairman, UGC at 2026 UGC Teaching Award Presentation Ceremony (29.9.2026)

Welcoming Remarks by Chairman, UGC
at 2026 UGC Teaching Award Presentation Ceremony
(29.9.2026)

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

Good afternoon. It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to the Presentation Ceremony of the 2026 UGC Teaching Award. This annual occasion provides a valuable opportunity to celebrate the remarkable achievements and dedication of our outstanding educators, whose commitment to teaching excellence has make a profound impact on their students and contributed to quality learning in Hong Kong's higher education sector.

The Selection Process

2. The outstanding quality of our nominees has once again made the selection a challenging task. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Selection Panel, led by Mr Dieter Yih, together with Professor Shearer West, Professor Patrick Yeung, Professor Shirley Ngai and Professor Tina Overton for bringing their expertise, experience and careful consideration to the process. The Panel has devoted considerable time and effort to reviewing the nominations and engaging with our finalists. We are deeply grateful for their expert advice and dedication in identifying educators whose work truly exemplifies teaching excellence in our universities.

3. I am also deeply impressed by the unwavering dedication of all our nominees to impactful teaching and learning as well as their passion for fostering both the intellectual and personal development of our students. Their commitment extends far beyond imparting knowledge. They inspire curiosity, motivate students to discover their potential and consistently pursue innovative methods to enrich the learning experience of our students. Equally commendable is their willingness to share their insights with their peers, which amplifies quality learning beyond their own classrooms. Please join me in applauding all our nominees for their remarkable dedication and contribution to teaching excellence.

Emphasis on Teaching Quality

4. The UGC remains firmly committed to investing in the future of teaching and learning. To provide an impetus for universities to harness innovative and breakthrough technologies in transforming pedagogies and enriching student learning experiences in the digital economy, the Fund for Innovative Technology-in-Education (FITE) will continue to support our universities in harnessing innovative and breakthrough technologies in transforming student learning in the 2026/27 to 2028/29 academic years with an increased allocation of $120 million, including $30 million earmarked for inter-institutional collaborative activities. At the same time, the award grants for each UGC Teaching Award have been increased from $750,000 to $1,000,000, enabling our awardees to extend the impact of their excellent work and best practices in teaching excellence in our universities.

5. By making effective use of these resources, our universities can continue to foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement that benefits students in our higher education sector. The UGC also encourages institutions to collaborate more closely and share effective practices, so that successful ideas can generate impact beyond individual projects or campuses. Through this collective effort, we can further enhance the quality of teaching and learning, broaden the reach of pedagogical innovation and reinforce Hong Kong's position as a leading international hub for higher education.

Thanking the HKTEA

6. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to the team at the Hong Kong Teaching Excellence Alliance (HKTEA), under the leadership of Dr Julia Chen, for their continued dedication and contribution to teaching excellence in our community of outstanding teachers. Over the years, HKTEA has worked closely with our Award Fellows and educators across institutions to bring together passionate educators, facilitate professional exchange, share good practices and promote our teaching excellence locally, nationally and internationally.

Closing

7. Before I invite Mr Dieter Yih, Chair of the Selection Panel, to announce the results of the 2026 UGC Teaching Award, let me once again congratulate all the nominees, finalists and, of course, the exceptional awardees. I trust that the recognition does not only celebrate what you have achieved, but also provides further impetus for you to continue sharing your experience and inspiring excellence among educators and students.

8. Finally, I would like to thank all the Council Chairmen, University Presidents and distinguished guests who are joining us on this special occasion and for your continued support for teaching excellence. I wish you all a memorable and enjoyable ceremony. Thank you.