At CityU, you too can be a Hero!
By : Julie Lam
The stories of “CityU Heroes” feature outstanding alumni, students and faculty who demonstrate our determination to pursue academic excellence and illustrate how to realise their dreams and give back to society through learning-centric pedagogy.
At university, Robert took part in various extra-curricular activities, such as the Student Ambassador programme and his department society, to improve his communication and presentation skills. Meanwhile, he met a mentor, Professor Edmond Ko, who inspired him to prepare for the future.
Robert was hired by Deloitte after graduation. He sometimes conducted job interviews with students from CityU and noticed areas in which he could help them improve. This motivated him to become actively involved in alumni activities to give back to his alma mater.
“Never say die; never give up” has been one of Robert’s mottos since his teenage years. He believes that when facing an obstacle or challenge in life or at work, staying positive is the key and that a solution will eventually be worked out.
Monica Chan Hiu-man embarked on a journey in veterinary medicine after battling depression and experiencing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. At CityU, she has eagerly immersed herself in research on zoonotic diseases, utilising big data to analyse the features, risks and causes of infectious diseases.
Despite her best efforts, Monica couldn’t save a dying cat during her internship at a veterinary institution. This taught her a poignant lesson about the limitations of treatment.
Outside her studies, Monica founded the Veterinary Medicine Society, a platform which advocates animal rights and One Health in Hong Kong. She aspires to support the industry and students through discussion of crucial issues in relation to monitoring and preventing infectious diseases.
Determined to make a difference in society, Monica continues her journey to become a well-trained veterinarian to tackle zoonotic diseases, improving the quality of life of both humans and animals.
Professor Tsui Lik-hang, from the Department of Chinese and History at CityU, has enhanced the traditional ways of teaching Chinese history by inspiring students to reimagine history with the use of technology and digital tools.
“I chose to become a history teacher because I believe history is important to developing civically oriented and reflective individuals,” said Professor Tsui. “By incorporating digital elements into teaching, we can make the learning of Chinese history more engaging.”
His teaching has encouraged students to actively engage in historical learning, igniting their passion for heritage and culture and inspiring them to analyse, judge and construct meaning from historical texts. Professor Tsui is often praised for his interactive and inspiring teaching style.
Professor Tsui received the 2023 University Grants Committee Teaching Award (Early Career Faculty Members) and CityU’s Teaching Excellence Award in 2022/23.