First-ever welcoming tea reception-cum-social function held for RPg students
From left to right: Professor Song Yanjie from MIT, Dr Bob Sun Fenghua from HPE, Professor Philip Yu Leung-ho from MIT, Professor Bill Yeung Chi-ho from SES and Professor Daniel Chow Hung-kay from HPE release balloons to kick off a series of enrichment and social activities organised for our RPg students. FLASS believes these activities can help our research students maintain a healthy work-life balance, which is conducive to high-quality research.
Attending RPg students pose with their supervisors at the kick-off party.
On 30 September, more than 30 research students and faculty members, along with faculty administrative staff, attended the first-ever welcoming tea reception held for FLASS research postgraduate (RPg) students and their supervisors. The reception also marked the beginning of a series of enrichment and social activities for our RPg students.
Professor Daniel Chow Hung-kay, Associate Dean (Research and Postgraduate Studies) of FLASS and Chair Professor of Health and Sports Science from the Department of Health and Physical Education (HPE), officiated at the event. He started his talk with an introduction about the faculty management team and organisational structure, before highlighting several key points that research students should consider during their studies.
Professor Daniel Chow Hung-kay, Associate Dean (Research and Postgraduate Studies) of FLASS, explains to RPg students that the faculty offers various financial supports to assist them in publishing papers and attending academic conferences.
Professor Chow said that research students are expected to assist in teaching and even deliver stand-up lectures. “As many of you will teach at higher education institutions after graduation, serving as an assistant teacher not only helps you know how well your understanding of academic knowledge is, but also enables you to know how to teach your students effectively,” he said. The faculty offers the Best RPg Student Teaching Award to recognise the teaching efforts of our research students.
The professor continued to explain that the faculty offers different award schemes like the Outstanding Research Postgraduate Student Award (OPSA) to support FLASS’ research students to take part in academic conferences. “I encourage you to make use of the faculty’s financial and administrative support for attending conferences. The exposure will enable you to learn about the research work of your peers and expand your network,” he advised.
Dr Nicole Yang Yin, now a Research Assistant Professor at MIT, shares her experiences of conducting doctoral research at MIT. She particularly thanks her supervisor, Professor Song Yanjie, for supporting her throughout her PhD studies.
To offer more opportunities for our research students to share their findings, FLASS organises the Faculty Postgraduate Seminar twice a year with the next one to be held in November. The faculty also assigns each RPg student with an academic advisor to provide essential support for their academic studies and guidance for their career development.
Dr Nicole Yang Yin, Research Assistant Professor from the Department of Mathematics and Information Technology and recipient of the OPSA for the 2022/23 academic year, shared her experience as an RPg student at FLASS. She said attending academic activities like the Faculty Postgraduate Seminar has boosted her confidence in public presentation and aided her academic career development. “I would especially like to thank my supervisor Professor Song Yanjie for encouraging me to participate in academic activities organised by the faculty. Research work is just part of your lives, you should also devote time to personal growth and self-discovery,” Dr Yang advised RPg students at the reception.
Latte time: students learn how to steam milk and pour it into different patterns. Dr Yang, third from left, and Professor Song, right, toast their lattes with the instructor.
After Professor Chow and Dr Yang’s presentations, a latte art workshop was organised where RPg students and their supervisors were divided into groups to learn about the art of steaming milk and pouring designs. As the first social activity held for our research students, the workshop provided a refreshing break from their usual busy research schedules, allowing students and supervisors to unwind, enjoy themselves, and boost overall morale within our research team.
A total of 19 RPg students and 11 principal supervisors attended the event. Supervisors joining the activity included Professor Daniel Chow Hung-kay, Dr Bob Sun Fenghua and Dr Carman Leung Ka-man from the Department of Health and Physical Education; Professor Philip Yu Leung-ho, Professor Song Yanjie, Dr Anthony Suen Chun-kit, Dr Chiu Mei-choi, Dr Sun Daner, Dr David Chan Tse-tin from the Department of Mathematics and Information Technology; as well as Professor Bill Yeung Chi-ho and Dr Cheng Jinping from the Department of Science and Environmental Studies.
