Extract of Congratulatory Message by Chair, 2026 UGC Teaching Award Selection Panel at the Presentation Ceremony of the 2026 UGC Teaching Award (29.9.2026)

Extract of Congratulatory Message by Selection Panel Chair
at 2026 UGC Teaching Award Presentation Ceremony
(29.9.2026)

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

Good afternoon. It is a great honor to welcome you all to the 2026 UGC Teaching Award Presentation Ceremony. Today, we gather to recognise and honor the visionary educators who are redefining teaching excellence across the UGC sector.

2. This year, our Selection Panel was entrusted with evaluating over 20 exceptional nominations put forward by our UGC-funded universities. The sheer caliber of this year’s pool made our task both inspiring and daunting. Eight outstanding finalists subsequently emerged—each embodying the highest standards of pedagogical innovation, dedication, and impact. Please give a round of applause to our finalists to celebrate their achievements.

3. Now, the moment we have all been anticipating. It is my privilege and pleasure to officially announce the recipients of the 2026 UGC Teaching Award:

4. First, the award for the General Faculty Members Category: the award goes to Professor Helen Hongyan Geng from the Lingnan University, Division of Science. Through her learner-centred approach, supported with expertise in AI-integrated curriculum design and technology-enhanced learning, she has made a meaningful contribution to sustainability and experiential education, empowering students to translate knowledge into purposeful action. Her service-learning projects have benefited over 1,200 children locally and outside Hong Kong while advancing UN Sustainable Development Goals. Professor Geng continues to strengthen Lingnan University and Hong Kong as global leaders in AI-enhanced, community-engaged education.

5. Next, the award for the Early Career Faculty Members category: the award goes to Dr Michael Rivera from The University of Hong Kong, Faculty of Social Sciences. Central to his philosophy is creating both "brave spaces" for experimentation and "safe spaces" grounded in compassion, helping students build resilience and critical thinking. He emphasises bridging classroom knowledge with the real world through innovative assessments that develop students' communication skills. His care for students and passion for anthropology establish him as an outstanding early-career educator with remarkable impact.

6. Finally, the UGC Teaching Award for the Collaborative Teams category: the award goes to the Eye Learn, I.Care: Joint-University Eye Care Ambassador Training Scheme led by Professor Kelvin KL Chong from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), with Professor Arthur Tsang from CUHK, Dr Sharron Leung from the Hong Kong Baptist University and Ms Stephany Tai from CUHK. The team embodies the philosophy "Volunteer to Learn, Learn to Volunteer", combining interdisciplinary learning with community services. Guided by its learner-centred REST Framework—Research, Education, Service, and Technology—the Scheme equips students from UGC-funded universities, other tertiary institutions, and secondary schools with knowledge and skills as Eye Care Ambassadors. It enabled students to connect academic knowledge with authentic healthcare settings and exemplifies how tertiary education can generate tangible societal impact while nurturing lifelong learners committed to empathy, compassion, and social responsibility.

7. Once again, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the awardees for this year. Your unwavering passion and continuous commitment to educational excellence are highly appreciated. In closing, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my colleagues on the Selection Panel for generously sharing their expertise and for their valuable support throughout the process.

8. Thank you, and please enjoy the rest of this celebratory evening.