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Celebrating excellence in the HKBU community
29 May 2026
The exemplary efforts of this year’s President’s Award for Outstanding Performance recipients were honoured at a joyous ceremony that took place on 14 May. The awardees, representing a diverse spectrum of expertise, were nominated by their respective Faculty/School for their leadership, dedication and remarkable achievements.
Established in 2000/01, the President’s Award for Outstanding Performance recognises high-achieving faculty members and promotes excellence in performance standards.
Teaching excellence
Driven by the belief that education must be learner-centred and continuously evolving, Professor Luis Damián Moreno García of the Academy of Language and Culture, winner of the President’s Award for Outstanding Performance in Early Career Teaching, utilises Generative AI (GenAI) technology in teaching localisation in translation. “Technology has always been part of translation. But with GenAI, we have something new, with models that can be finetuned to suit specific teaching and learning needs,” he says. “AI can process a million words, but it takes a human to know which one is perfect in context. That is the creative craft I teach.”
An expert in eLearning, Dr Paolo Mengoni of the Department of Interactive Media is a recipient of the President’s Award for Outstanding Performance in Teaching (Individual). He makes use of AI-powered Metaverse technologies to create a dynamic, engaging and accessible learning experience for students. He says: “I designed fun and interactive experiences, such as AI avatars and virtual reality games, so that learning isn’t just about listening or reading. It’s about being part of the experience, exploring, playing and discovering together.” He also dedicates time to providing personal guidance to students, empowering them to discover their potential and achieve their goals.
“The best teachers in my opinion don’t just teach subjects, they teach students how to see the world from different angles,” says Professor François Mouillot of the Academy of Language and Culture, another winner of the President’s Award for Outstanding Performance in Teaching (Individual). “I genuinely believe that in today’s world, it’s not enough to master only one discipline. Students need to be creative problem-solvers to address real world challenges.” To that end, he has developed a transdisciplinary approach for his course “Health and Humanities” that integrates humanities, social sciences, medical knowledge and service-learning, creating impact for students and the community.
The President’s Award for Outstanding Performance in Team Teaching recognises the collaborative effort of the General Education Team, which comprises (from left) Professor Peter Nelson, Dr Dimple R Thadani, Professor Lola Xie and Dr Chan Chun-pong, in teaching AI literacies. The team integrates their diverse expertise across computer science, communication, business, visual arts and social sciences, enabling students to see AI through multiple intergrated perspectives. Through innovative education methods, the team empowers students to shift from being passive consumers of AI to active co-creators who can harness the technoloy to devise solutions responsibly.
Innovative research
The research focus of Professor Liao Pan of the Department of Biology, winner of the President’s Award for Outstanding Performance as Early Career Researcher, sits at the intersection of plant metabolism and biotechnology. Notably, he developed a cost-effective method for producing an unusual monoterpene volatile compound commonly used in the perfume and fragrance industry. He says: “Looking ahead, floral and plant volatiles will be at the heart of my research, so as to understand and harness the powerful compounds behind the floral scent while also exploring medicinal and edible plants through synthetic biology. My goal is simple; it is to provide sustainable, science-driven solutions that benefit both people and our planet.”
Motivated by the question of how to make financial systems more efficient, Professor Zhang Jian, another winner of the President’s Award for Outstanding Performance as Early Career Researcher, began his research career after being a registered auditor for four years. Since joining the Department of Accountancy, Economics and Finance at HKBU, his research has advanced the understanding of how financial systems shape economies, drive innovation and determine who gets access to opportunities. “Self-discipline and curiosity, these two forces have shaped every single piece of research I have done,” he says. “With every step, every paper, every discovery, I know the next milestone is within reach.”
A renowned scholar in transportation studies, Professor Wang Donggen of the Academy of Geography, Sociology and International Studies who was honoured with the President’s Award for Outstanding Performance in Scholarly Work, seeks to understand the daily movements and travel behaviour of people in urban environments. “Understanding urban planning starts with understanding people. When studying a city, it’s about understanding the relationship between a place and human behaviour,” he says. “Transportation shapes how cities function and how people get around. As cities expand and mobility evolves, there will always be more research to be done.”
Professor Jos Bartels of the Department of Communication Studies, a recipient of the President’s Award for Outstanding Performance in Research Supervision, has adopted a student-centred approach in research supervision, providing tailored guidance to students to help them achieve their goals and acquire skills that would enable their long-term success. “Every student can emerge as the best version of themselves shaped by their own curiosity and independent research ability. My job is not just to produce journal articles, it’s to help people grow and become academics who are independent and unique,” he says.
An expert in in organic electronics, Professor Zhu Furong of the Department of Physics, another recipient of the President’s Award for Outstanding Performance in Research Supervision, has spared no effort to nurture the next generation of research talent, with an impressive track record of having supervised 14 doctoral students. “My supervision has helped form a distinguished cohort of PhD alumni who go on to postdoctoral fellowships at top institutions around the world and to influential roles in academia and industry,” he says. “To me, mentorship is not merely guiding experiments. It is shaping minds to become independent thinkers who illuminate the path for others.”
Serving our community
Professor Patrick Lau of the Academy of Wellness and Human Development, who was presented the President’s Award for Outstanding Performance in Service, has tirelessly promoted excellence in sports and health sciences throughout his 25 years at HKBU. Through different roles at the university, faculty and department levels, he has contributed to HKBU’s development and its sport-related education, including the launch of the HKBU Admission Scheme for Olympians. “HKBU gave me the perfect runway, not just for myself, but also to guide countless students as they build their own. Today, I am still on the track, committed to running the race more joyfully and running further, alongside all of you,” he says.
Congratulations to all the awardees!