Press Release
HKBU scholar receives prestigious UGC Teaching Award
Thursday, 10 Oct 2019
Dr Tushar Chaudhuri, Senior Lecturer in European Studies of the Department of Government and International Studies at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), has received the University Grants Committee (UGC) Teaching Award 2019 in recognition of his outstanding teaching performance and achievements.
Dr Chaudhuri received the prestigious award from Mr Carlson Tong, Chairman of the UGC at an award presentation ceremony held this evening (10 October).
Professor Roland Chin, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU, said the University and its staff members are dedicated to providing the best learning experience to students through innovative teaching approaches in an international setting. "Dr Chaudhuri's commitment and enthusiasm in the pursuit of unique and innovative teaching design is undoubtedly a shining example of what it means to be a devoted teacher, and he has made huge efforts to promote students' global awareness and intercultural understanding. This award has also brought great honour to the University and is a recognition of the University's commitment to students' learning," said President Chin.
Dr Chaudhuri is at the forefront of diversifying and internationalising students' learning experiences through the development of extremely innovative teaching programmes and international projects which use cutting-edge technology proactively and creatively. He provides his students with multiple opportunities to explore subjects outside the classroom through a variety of modes of learning, including simulation tools, intercultural projects, research study and field trips, thus opening up students' ability to turn knowledge into an experience.
Dr Chaudhuri is deeply grateful for the recognition from the UGC. "As an educator, my teaching strategy is constructed around a simple 3C approach: Connect, Collaborate and Construct. The 3C approach is based on the belief that we educate global citizens who are interconnected and who will solve global problems through the collaborative construction of knowledge. This belief also closely aligns with HKBU’s institutional strategic plan to promote a global culture and to provide the best learning experience for our students," said Dr Chaudhuri.
A shining example of Dr Chaudhuri's innovative curriculum design has been his online telecollaborative project, which enables students to engage in real-life communication in German with overseas partners. In state-of-the-art online telecollaborative projects such as the Integrated Language Learning and Social Awareness (ILLSA) project – which was funded by the UGC and involved university students in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Europe – he combined language education with global topics such as sustainable urban development.
With remarkable scale and impact, Dr Chaudhuri's telecollaborative learning framework has involved over 1,000 students at 38 institutions, integrating students from 40 different countries and comprising over 100 different team projects. The projects have been extended to the high school level using English as the medium for communication, contextualised in the topics "Green Living and Sustainability in the Community" and "Green Urban Environments".
Dr Chaudhuri's teaching philosophy reflects his deep commitment to educating global citizens through innovative practice embedded in an international curriculum. This commitment is at the heart of his educational design which has consistently received very positive feedback from students, as well as partner universities and internship companies abroad. In recognition of his exemplary work, Dr Chaudhuri also received the HKBU President's Award for Outstanding Performance in Teaching in 2019.
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Media enquiries:
Wong Suk-ling of the Communication and Public Relations Office (3411 2119, hkbunews@hkbu.edu.hk).
