Four faculty members were honored in the School of Engineering (SENG) Teaching Excellence Appreciation Award 2016-17. The award recognizes faculty members who demonstrate continuous excellence in undergraduate teaching, foster students’ interest in the subject, promote students’ learning, develop innovative and effective teaching methodologies, and more.

Prof Larry Li, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, received the Distinguished Teaching Award. He has been actively involved in experiential learning activities such as a course that prepares students to participate in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Design-Build-Fly Competition in the US every year. Under his guidance, the student team was ranked 17th in the world (No. 2 in Asia) among 95 teams in the competition this year. He also actively engages with students in out-of-class learning activities. These include serving as the faculty lead of two student societies, namely the Aeronautics Interest Group and the HKUST Student Branch of AIAA, where he coordinates an annual aviation study tour and the HKUST Aero Day. He was also awarded a Teaching Development Grant from the Center for Education Innovation to create an interactive online gaming platform to improve students’ understanding of aerodynamics and aircraft performance.

Prof Minhua Shao, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Prof Yu-Hsing Wang, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Prof Ajay Joneja, Industrial Engineering and Logistics Management, received Teaching Awards.

Prof Shao has taught four different courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and has been active in supervising undergraduate research, having advised 15 students in 3 years. A talented teacher who cares deeply about his students, Prof Shao receives consistently great student evaluations in his courses and positive comments that his lectures are inspiring and well-organized. More recently, he becomes heavily involved in the development of the Sustainable Energy Engineering undergraduate program and serves as the founding Program Director.

Prof Wang’s contribution in teaching includes his quality and innovative curriculum design, effective and inspiring delivery style, comprehensive feedback to students, and his great care to students’ life outside the classroom. He is passionate in mentoring and creating a holistic educational experience for students and willing to devote his time and energy to advising them in all areas of their personal and professional development.

A dedicated educator, Prof Joneja has served as the undergraduate coordinator of the IELM Department for many years and has cultivated a deep appreciation of the mindset of undergraduate students. He delivers his courses with enthusiasm and knows how to engage students in learning. He focuses on helping students acquire problem-solving skills, and many IELM alumni’s best memories are from the courses taught by him.