Campus Digest

HKBU co-hosts International Symposium on Humour Pedagogical Approaches to boost teaching and learning effectiveness

Thursday, 30 May 2024

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Dr Rita Gill Singh (3rd right) is the Co-Chairperson of the Symposium.
Dr Theresa Kwong (1st left, front row), Dr Albert Chau (2nd left, front row) and Dr Rita Gill Singh (centre, front row) pose for a group photo with other participants.

 

HKBU co-hosted the 1st International Symposium on Humour Pedagogical Approaches with four local universities on 24 May. The event brought together scholars, educators and practitioners from around the world to present their studies and practices on the theme of “Enhancing Teaching and Learning with Humour”, providing a collaborative platform for participants to discuss the challenges, opportunities, and emerging trends in incorporating humour into teaching and learning.

Dr Rita Gill Singh, Senior Lecturer of the Language Centre at HKBU, was the Co-Chairperson of the Symposium. Dr Albert Chau, Vice-President (Teaching and Learning) and Acting Dean of Arts, and Dr Theresa Kwong, Director of the Centre for Holistic Teaching and Learning at HKBU, also attended the Symposium. Approximately 100 participants joined face-to-face and via Zoom.

A total of 11 experts shared their insights on humour pedagogy. The topics discussed included the appropriateness and relevance of humour, non-verbal synchrony and communication, and boosting online engagement presented respectively by Dr Farhana Abu Bakar from Universiti Teknologi, Malaysia; Professor Norah Dunbar from the University of California, Santa Barbara; and Professor Ünal Çakıroğlu from Trabzon University, Turkey.

Other co-organisers of the event include the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the City University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and the University of Hong Kong.