Charting new paths: HPE steps onto Peking University’s big stage

Professor Amy Ha Sau-ching, Head of the Department of Health and Physical Education (HPE), together with Dr Gary Chow Chi-ching, Dr Claudia Wong Ming-yu, and Dr Zheng Chen, led 20 HPE students on a seven-day academic visit to Peking University from 26 October to 1 November 2025. The visit was supported by the “Ten Thousand People Plan” (萬人計劃) under the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. An opening ceremony was held on the morning of 27 October to officially inaugurate the academic trip.

During the one-week visit, HPE representatives participated in activities organized by Peking University, including observing high-level athletic team training sessions, attending classes alongside Peking University students, visiting physical education classes at local primary and secondary schools, and exchanging insights with experts in sports and physical education. The delegation also visited the university’s history museum and observed physical education classes at its affiliated primary and secondary schools.

A highlight of the visit was HPE’s participation in the forum titled “第十屆北大人文體育高層論壇—智動未來：AI時代的人文體育精神” (The 10th Peking University High-Level Forum in Humanities and Sports — Future of Smart Automation: The Spirit of Humanities and Sports in the AI Era), hosted by the Department of PE at Peking University on 31 October.

Professor Ha delivered a keynote speech alongside several distinguished experts from universities in the Chinese Mainland. In her keynote titled “Incorporating technology and big data analyses in sports pedagogy to support quality physical education”, she commented and discussed the integration of technology and big data in sports, the significance of physical activity, developments in sports education in Hong Kong, and cutting-edge applications of AI in motion screening and health promotion.

Several panel sessions were held alongside the forum, where HPE faculty members Dr Gary Chow, Dr Claudia Wong, and Dr Zheng Chen, together with PhD students Mr Kong Yu-hin and Ms Jaclyn Tsang, presented key findings from their research on the topic “AI賦能：運動與身心健康促進” (Empowerment by AI: Sports and the Promotion of Physical and Mental Health). Their presentation received recognition from both the audience and fellow researchers. Professor Ha also led other HPE scholars to attend a roundtable discussion on “高水平運動員人才培養模式新探索” (Exploring New Training Models for High-Calibre Athlete Talent).

“We are very glad to have such a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas with scholars from Peking University and other universities in the Chinese Mainland. The visit not only strengthened academic connections in the field of sports between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland but also provided a solid foundation for future research collaboration and student exchange. We look forward to deepening our partnership with the Department of PE, Peking University,” Professor Ha said.