UGC Outstanding Teaching Awards: HKU Scholar Wins for Forensic Lab Project
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The University Grants Committee (UGC) held its Outstanding Teaching Awards ceremony on September 28, 2026, celebrating exceptional teaching achievements among Hong Kong's eight publicly funded universities. Three award-winning groups were selected from 20 nominations, each receiving HK$1 million in research funding. Among the honorees, University of Hong Kong lecturer Zhao Kaicong from the Faculty of Social Sciences won the New Teaching Staff Category award for his ambitious plan to transform the university's existing human bone specimen collection into Hong Kong's first dedicated forensic anthropology teaching laboratory .
Key Points
- Zhao Kaicong plans to expand HKU's human bone specimen bank into Hong Kong's first forensic anthropology teaching laboratory, taking 3-5 years to complete
- The laboratory will conduct interdisciplinary research in forensic anthropology and bioarchaeology while addressing critical shortage of forensic experts in Hong Kong
- Zhao has been classroom coordinator for 5 years, launching courses such as "Water Society" and organizing field trips to Sai Kung and Lamma Island
- Lingnan University's Geng Hongyan won the General Teaching Staff Category for her cross-national service learning project using the C.O.R.E framework
- CUHK's "Eye Care Ambassador Training Program" won the Collaborative Team Category, planning outreach to provide free eye care for underprivileged communities
Why It Matters
The establishment of Hong Kong's first forensic anthropology teaching laboratory at HKU represents a significant advancement in specialized professional training for the city's legal and emergency response systems. As the source notes, this initiative directly addresses the severe shortage of forensic experts in Hong Kong and strengthens the region's capacity to handle mass casualty incidents . Meanwhile, Lingnan University's cross-national service learning model, which has already benefited over 1,000 children in Sichuan, demonstrates how Hong Kong's universities are cultivating globally minded graduates equipped to tackle sustainability challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration with institutions like Imperial College London and Nanjing University .
The establishment of Hong Kong's first forensic anthropology teaching laboratory at HKU represents a significant advancement in specialized professional training for the city's legal and emergency response systems. As the source notes, this initiative directly addresses the severe shortage of forensic experts in Hong Kong and strengthens the region's capacity to handle mass casualty incidents . Meanwhile, Lingnan University's cross-national service learning model, which has already benefited over 1,000 children in Sichuan, demonstrates how Hong Kong's universities are cultivating globally minded graduates equipped to tackle sustainability challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration with institutions like Imperial College London and Nanjing University .