Honours Academy 5th Symposium Showcases Policy-Driven Research and Caring Leadership with Real Social Impact 

On 27 April 2026, Honours Academy (HA) hosted its 5th HA Symposium, presenting eight faculty-mentored, student-led capstone projects completed under the HA4001 Senior Research Project. The Symposium highlighted how final-year students translate rigorous research into practical insights and recommendations that connect evidence, public value, and caring leadership, with clear relevance to community needs.

The Symposium was opened by Professor Simon Ho, President of The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, whose remarks highlighted the University’s continued commitment to interdisciplinary learning and policy-oriented research that contributes meaningfully to society.

A year-long research journey grounded in policy and public value

The HA4001 Senior Research Project is a year-long capstone that guides students through the full research process—from design and data collection to analysis and presentation. This year’s projects addressed policy-relevant issues across eight themes: entrepreneurship and finance; digital media and mental health; intergenerational change; Chinese literature and cultural development; urban culture and consumption; language and education; behavioural economics; and AI-enabled accessibility.

Acknowledging academic guidance and professional expertise

HA extends its sincere appreciation to the distinguished judging panel:

• • Professor Jeanne Fu (Vice-President, Learning and Student Experience; Founding Head of HA; HA Academic Fellow)
  • Professor Lucille Ngan (Professor, Department of Social Science; HA Academic Fellow)
  • Professor Tan Mei‑ah (Professor, Department of Chinese; HA Academic Fellow)

Their generous sharing of expertise and constructive feedback enriched the Symposium and provided valuable guidance to students.

Excellence recognised: award-winning research that speaks to the community

The Excellence in Research Award was presented to HA 4th cohort members Nicole Chan and Charlene Chow for “Artificial Intelligence and Accessibility: Evaluating Assistive Technologies for Visually Impaired Individuals in Hong Kong”. Using qualitative methods, they interviewed 15 visually impaired individuals and consulted four care providers. The study highlighted both the promise of AI-enabled assistive tools and persistent barriers—particularly where services rely on touchscreen-only interfaces or where applications are incompatible with screen readers—underscoring the need to embed and sustain accessibility as systems evolve.

The Outstanding Presentation Award was presented to HA 4th cohort member Rene Chan for “The Entrepreneurial Paradox: Addressing and Unravelling the Gap Between Investment and Involvement”. His research examined factors shaping youth entrepreneurship, including administrative complexity, gaps in education and mentorship, and risk-averse attitudes, and proposed a framework to better align support with how young people move from interest to action.

Before the closing remarks, Dr Holly Chung, Head of HA, expressed her heartfelt appreciation to the eight HA4001 supervisors for their unwavering support, mentorship, and dedication, which were instrumental in guiding students towards research excellence and meaningful social impact.

The event concluded with closing remarks by Professor Jeanne Fu, Vice-President (Learning and Student Experience), who also served as a member of the judging panel. She reflected on the students’ intellectual maturity and encouraged them to carry forward the values of responsible leadership and social impact in their future endeavours.