Celebrating success: President’s Honour Recipients set sail for new horizons

Academic excellence is a primary goal for many students, driving them to work hard throughout their educational journey. At EdUHK, President's Honour titles are conferred upon outstanding students as recognition of their high academic standards and positive behaviour. In the 2023/2024 academic year, eight FLASS graduates stood out among more than 1,200 graduates from the faculty and were honoured with this prestigious title.

Six title recipients attended the faculty-based graduation ceremonies on 16 November. Graduation is an occasion to celebrate achievements and an opportune time for our distinguished graduates to reflect on the impactful experiences that have shaped them. Below, we interviewed three of these outstanding students: Ms MAY NAW PWINT OO, Mr Jason Cheung Ka-wei, and Ms Wendy Liu Wenqing. They shared their memorable moments and the greatest rewards they experienced during their years at the University, as well as their career aspirations.

MAY NAW PWINT OO from Myanmar is a graduate of the Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Global and Environmental Studies (BSocSc(GES)) programme at the Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies (SSPS). She found the study trip to Tokyo in 2023 unforgettable. “We visited many facilities related to sustainability and conservation during the trip. While the BSocSc(GES) programme taught us many theoretical concepts, being in Japan allowed us to see how these principles are implemented in practice. Japan is recognised for its advanced and innovative environmental initiatives; the tour really enhanced my understanding of what a ‘sustainable society’ should look like,” said May.

Working as a student helper for the last three years of her studies at the Arthur Samy Language Centre (ASLLC) is another experience that May cherishes throughout her study. ASLLC at EDUHK offers language courses including Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, and more for all EdUHK students. “I provided assistance to students at the centre’s counter service. Through my work at ASLLC, I learnt how a school office operates, and gained more confidence in interacting with local students,” she said.

To deepen her knowledge about public policy-making, May enrolled in the Master of Public Policy and Management programme at SSPC and has already completed the first semester. “Even though I am interested in the social work industry, I find myself having a stronger interest in sustainability work. I plan to seek opportunities in this field after graduation,” she added.

Jason Cheung Ka-wei obtained his Bachelor of Education degree majoring in secondary school mathematics (BEd(S)-MA), from the Department of Mathematics and Information Technology (MIT). Ka-wei not only excelled academically but is also committed to teaching. “I believe that while knowledge is essential for teaching, the ability to present knowledge effectively and motivate students to learn is even more crucial. I learnt myriad teaching strategies and tools from the education courses in the BEd(S)-MA programme. As a secondary school teacher now, these pedagogies and educational technologies greatly enhance my teaching quality,” the awardee said.

Ka-wei mentioned that, as the cohort size of his programme is small, classmates enjoyed a very close relationship with each other. “In the last class of one course, teachers and students held a potluck and had great fun. I cherish the friendships I have formed with my classmates. In particular, I am grateful to have known Law Sin-ying and Chan Hio-cheng, both of whom graduated with First Class Honours. We know each other well since we have collaborated on numerous learning projects. Because of our mutual understanding, we achieve our highest potential in team projects by dividing tasks according to our strengths,” Ka-wei said. He added that even though not every student in the programme achieved high academic results, all of them have a genuine passion for teaching.

As a music lover since secondary school, the mathematics major chose music as his second major. In his final year, Ka-wei sang in various public performances alongside with other members of the school choir, most of whom were first-year music majors from the Department of Cultural and Creative Arts. “I enjoyed musical learning and performing in the choir. These experiences added colour to my university life,” Ka-wei remarked.

Wendy Liu Wenqing, a graduate of the Bachelor of Education (Honours) (Geography) (BEd(GEOG)) programme, said that the President’s Honour title validated her efforts. Hailing from Shanghai, she is now a geography teacher at a local secondary school. Although she enjoys her current job, as a new teacher, there are moments when she doubts her suitability for the role. “The honour title reminds me of what I have accomplished. It serves as a boost when my confidence is waning,” said Wenqing, who is also a recipient of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarships.

The overseas field trip is considered a highlight of the learning experiences for every cohort in the BEd(GEOG) programme. While the original plan for Wenqing’s cohort was to visit the UK, local field visits were organised instead due to the pandemic. “We went to Sai Kung to learn about Hong Kong’s geological features and to Yuen Long to study urban developments. Even though we couldn’t take part in an overseas trip, visiting local spots with my class was a great moment for us, as in-person interactions were rare during the pandemic. I treasured every opportunity, like field trips, to build relationships with my classmates,” Wenqing remarked.

An eye-opening study tour to Japan in May 2023 remains another memorable experience for Wenqing. “I observed that Japanese people have strict escalator etiquette, requiring commuters to stand on the left side to allow those in a hurry to pass on the right. Sustainability is a central theme in today's geography studies. In Japan, I learnt about its sophisticated recycling system, which involves separating plastic bottles into the cap, film, and body. This method is more advanced compared to the recycling practices in my home city of Shanghai,” she said.

“I am so proud that eight students from FLASS have received the President's Honour title. The essence of university learning is not merely about acquiring knowledge; it is about equipping oneself for future careers and personal development. Apart from exhibiting high academic calibre, our education also taught recipients sensitivity towards the needs of others, teamwork skills, and good observational skills in daily life. I am confident that what they have learnt here will continue to guide them as they move on to the next chapter of their lives,” said Professor Li Wai-keung.

Awardees of the President’s Honour title:

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