Academic Adventures: SSPS Meets Kingston University London and The University of Leicester
Dr Norman Cheung and Dr Andrew Miles from the University of Leicester exchanges ideas on how to enhance the design of the field trip to the UK for EdUHK students taking the BEd(Geog) programme.
The Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies (SSPS) places great importance on international academic exchanges, including talks given by overseas scholars and field trips. We believe such exchanges can expose students to varied teaching styles and academic perspectives, stimulating their thoughts. Consequently, the department arranged for Dr Peter Hooda, Associate Professor of Land and Water Environmental Science from Kingston University London, to deliver two talks in October 2024. Dr Norman Cheung Kin-wai from the department also visited the Kingston University London and University of Leicester to give talks and discuss ways to improve future field trips for enhancing learning outcomes.
As an expert in biogeochemistry with extensive research experience in land and water quality and contamination, Dr Hooda shared his research findings and analyses on a range of environmental issues during these talks. While Dr Fox Hu Zhiyong, acting head of SSPS, led other academic staff to meet and greet him, the UK professor gave two talks to students from the Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Geography (BEd(Geog)), Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Integrated Environmental Management (BSc(IEM)), and Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Global and Environmental Studies (BSocSc(GES)) programmes on 29 and 31 October.
Dr Peter Hooda, an expert in land and water quality and contamination, shares his research findings on water contamination with students from the BEd(Geog) programme.
Drawing on relevant experiences in the UK, Dr Hooda’s enlightening presentation on water contamination focusing on the environmental damages caused by pharmaceuticals, personal healthcare products, and microplastics not only provided our students with invaluable exposure to cutting-edge research and diverse perspectives, but also raised their awareness of the global challenges associated with water contamination.
Dr Hooda’s visit to SSPS was organised by Dr Norman Cheung Kin-wai, who has taken up the role of the subject coordinator of BEd(Geog) programme in January 2025. Dr Cheung stated, “Dr Hooda’s presence underscores the importance of academic mobility, as it bridges gaps between institutions and cultivates a vibrant scholarly community dedicated to addressing pressing global concerns. His visit also helped SSPS strengthen its international research and teaching network.”
Dr Norman Cheung gives a talk at Kingston University London, pointing out that unrestrained climate change triggers significant climatic disasters. In response, he advocates for the development of comprehensive hazards and disaster management plans to prepare for the worst.
Dr Norman Cheung visited Kingston University London (KUL) to give a talk on tropical cyclone climatology in October 2024. As a trained climatologist with years of experience addressing regional and global climate change issues, Dr Cheung’s insightful presentation not only deepened KUL students’ understanding of these complex weather phenomena but also sparked engaging discussions about their implications for disaster management and resilience.
During his trip, Dr Cheung also held discussions with Dr Andrew Miles at the University of Leicester, a UK collaborator for SSPS’ BEd(Geog) programme. Dr Miles gave a talk about geology of the UK to a group of students from the programme during their field trip to UK in June 2024. During their discussions, Dr Miles gave feedback to the current field trip arrangement and shared his views on enhancing the field trip design to provide participating students with more opportunities to gain practical hands-on experience informed by global perspectives from future trips.
Dr Andrew Miles discusses how to design a field visit to Bradgate Park in Leicester. Having a long history as a deer park, Bradgate Park features a rich variety of oak trees. Dr Miles suggests that interactive activities like nature walks, wildlife observation, and historical exploration can make learning more dynamic.
The rich geological features and biodiversity of the park could be an ideal site for future field trips for the BEd(Geog) programme.
Dr Miles also took Dr Cheung for a proposed route including a site visit to Bradgate Park near the University of Leicester. The park has been famous for being a habitat for deer since medieval times and features some of the oldest oaks in England. It is also home to some of the oldest fossils and rocks in the country. “The rich geological features and biodiversity of the park could be an ideal site for future field trips for the BEd(Geog) programme,” Dr Cheung said. He added that to make the learning more dynamic, the programme would also consider Dr Miles’ suggestion of including interactive activities like nature walks, wildlife observation, and historical exploration in future field trips.
“The recent collaborations with Kingston University London and the University of Leicester exemplify our commitment to fostering academic excellence and international partnerships. We will continue to seek opportunities for international academic collaborations, which we believe will enhance global engagement within the department and the University, boost our research capabilities, and contribute positively to our institutional growth,” Dr Cheung said.
