Three School of Engineering faculty members have been named recipients of the HKUST Common Core Teaching Excellence Award 2019 in recognition of their substantial contribution to the design and the teaching of exemplary common core courses.

Prof. Marshal LIU, Chemical and Biological Engineering, gained the Excellence Award for his CENG 1800 Introduction to Food Science and Technology course.

Two Honorary Mentions went to Prof. Kenneth LEUNG for his COMP 1001 Exploring Multimedia and Internet Computing course and Prof. Raymond WONG for his COMP 1942 Exploring and Visualizing Data course. Both professors are from Computer Science and Engineering (CSE).

In the signature experiential course CENG 1800, described as “eye-opening”, “thought-provoking” and “rewarding and unforgettable” by students, Prof. Marshal Liu skillfully connects theories on food science, food processing technology, and safety issues while simultaneously inspiring curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.

Leveraging an enterprising interdisciplinary course design, he draws on real-world scenarios using everyday items, including bread, tofu, and even skincare products. He strives to relate course content to the latest research and current events, and adopts a range of dynamic learning activities such as food factory visits, laboratory experiments, class discussions and student-initiated projects to help students create lasting impressions of what they learn.

In COMP 1001, Prof. Kenneth Leung opens up a whole new world of hands-on know-how and thinking skills that transform students’ understanding of the online world. A firm believer in engaging and motivating education, the CSE alumnus has continuously endeavored to advance and enliven students’ learning experience over the past seven years of teaching the course. These include effectively revamping the course using a “flipped classroom” strategy, which enables learners to work more at their own pace, as well as an unconventional online exam model and peer evaluation. Such custom-designed content and pedagogy have not only enhanced students’ knowledge and generated a positive environment for peer learning, but also stimulated their curiosity and interest in exploring more about the subject.

Prof. Raymond Wong’s COMP 1942 has been popular with students from diverse subject areas since it was first offered in 2011, with course participants increasing from 114 over the past five years to a massive 277 in 2019. In the course, he focuses on presenting data mining and visualization concepts in a well-organized and logical way, and a range of tailor-made experiential approaches that overcome technical knowledge challenges. Such teaching innovations, including role play, interactive demonstrations, and carefully designed in-class exercises that stimulate class participation, have helped students acquire life-long learning and critical thinking skills.

This is not the first time that Prof. Liu’s and Prof. Wong’s courses were recognized in the Common Core Teaching Excellence Award scheme. CENG 1800 and COMP 1942 were selected for the Honorary Mention in 2017 and 2016 respectively.