Professor Helen Hongyan GENG

Recipient of 2026 UGC Teaching Award

Category
General Faculty Members

Affiliation at the time of the award
Assistant Professor of Teaching, Division of Science, Lingnan University

Award Citation
Professor Helen Hongyan Geng is a dedicated educator in sustainability science whose pedagogy is driven by a clear mission to cultivate proactive, self-directed graduates who are confident in translating knowledge into impactful action. Her teaching philosophy is embodied in her C.O.R.E. framework (Co-creation, Operationalisation, Realisation and Empowerment), a learner-centred approach that progressively engages students in shaping their learning journeys, applying academic knowledge within authentic contexts and developing into purpose-driven agents of change. Her distinct pedagogical strengths are defined by her expertise in AI-integrated curriculum design, interdisciplinary inquiry, and systemic community engagement.

Professor Geng's innovative service-learning initiatives, including a textile waste project in partnership with NGOs and the Rujiang Project supporting left-behind children in Sichuan Province, have engaged 107 university mentors and benefited 1,213 children across 22 communities. These initiatives empower students to bridge theory with practice, cultivating core competencies in cross-cultural collaboration, empathy, and civic responsibility, while directly advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Through her C.O.R.E. framework, innovative curriculum design and commitment to bridging interdisciplinary learning with community practice, Professor Geng has made a meaningful contribution to sustainability and experiential education, empowering students to translate knowledge into purposeful action.

Video on Teaching Philosophies