Media

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) held the Excellent and Inclusive Practice Award Ceremony 2024-25 on April 11, recognizing five outstanding staff members for their dedication to inclusive education and support for students with special educational needs (SEN). The Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS) established this award to honour staff members who have demonstrated excellence in this area.

Building on the success of last year’s event, this year’s ceremony reaffirmed the school’s continued commitment to celebrating inclusion and diversity in education. Awardees were nominated by students with SEN and selected through a rigorous selection process. In addition to the provision of reasonable accommodations, the nominees devoted additional time and effort and adopted new technologies to support their students to overcome the challenges and unleash their potential.

Professor Ian Holliday, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning), congratulated the recipients for their achievements in his welcoming remarks in the ceremony, emphasising that inclusivity is a fundamental value embedded in HKU’s Vision of 3+1 Is (Internationalization, Innovation, Interdisciplinarity + Impact) that students shall carry it with them at all times. Dr Ferrick Chu, Executive Director (Operations) of the Equal Opportunities Commission and one of the judges, highlighted the key role of University staff members in fostering true inclusion, by transforming campus culture and creating an inclusive environment that values diverse abilities.

An inspiring panel discussion featuring the awardees, moderated by Professor Samson Tse, Dean of Student Affairs, showcased their remarkable achievements and insights in supporting students with SEN. During the panel discussion, Dr Patrick Lo highlighted the diligence and intelligence of students with SEN, and emphasizing that SEN should not be viewed as a disability. Ms Sarah Cheng addressed the importance of cultivating an accepting environment where students with SEN would feel comfortable expressing their needs. “Students are like the five fingers of your hand, they're all of different lengths, they all serve different functions, but you need all of them and you care for them the same way.” Professor Loretta Kim shared. Professor Ka-Sing Yu shared the use of technology, such as real time subtitling software, to assist students with SEN. In situations where technology is not suitable, preparation and communication beforehand would be essential.Dr Iris Lam, Director of Counselling and Person Enrichment, underscored the significance of acknowledging and appreciating the contributions of all HKU staff members, students, and community partners in creating an environment conducive to the holistic development of students with SEN. “Looking ahead, I hope we will continue working together to promote positive change for our students and create bigger impact within HKU and beyond,” Dr Lam said.

The list of awardees (in no particular order):
Dr Daniel Marwecki
Honorary Lecturer, Department of Politics and Public Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences

Dr Patrick Lo
Senior Lecturer, Academic Unit of Mathematics, Science, and Technology, Faculty of Education

Ms Sarah Cheng
Lecturer (Non-Clinical), Faculty of Law

Professor Loretta Kim
Associate Professor, School of Modern Languages and Cultures, Faculty of Arts

Professor Ka-Sing Yu
Assistant Professor of Practice, Department of Real Estate and Construction, Faculty of Architecture

Media Enquiries
Please contact the Centre of Development and Resources for Students (Email: [email protected])