Media

HKU Faculty of Education Professor Frederick Leung receives the top award in mathematics education (the Hans Freudenthal Award 2013) from the International Commission on Mathematical Instruction

27 Nov 2013

Professor Frederick Leung Koon Shing, Professor of the Faculty of Education at the University of Hong Kong, is being awarded the Hans Freudenthal Award 2013 by the International Commission on Mathematical Instruction (ICMI), the highest accolade in mathematics education in the world.

The Hans Freudenthal Medal is given to Professor Leung in recognition of his distinguished research spanning a decade in comparative studies of mathematics education and on the influence of the Eastern and Western cultures on mathematics teaching and learning.  Professor Leung’s research has significant contributions to the cultural perspective of mathematics education for understanding the relationship between cultural backgrounds and mathematics education.  It also has great impact on classroom practices and pedagogical policies in the field.

A native-born Chinese in Hong Kong, Professor Leung received education and earned his Bachelor and Master’s degrees at the University of Hong Kong, and further his PhD study in the United Kingdom.  His research interest in cultural differences in mathematics education emerged as he experienced this meeting of cultures between the East and the West.  Professor Leung is the first scholar to explore the teaching and learning mathematics from the Eastern cultural perspective, namely the Confucian Heritage Culture perspective, in contrast to the Western culture.  Professor Leung is the first Freudenthal recipient from Asia; the other recipients were Professor Celia Hoyles (the United Kingdom; 2003), Professor Paul Cobb (the United States; 2005), Professor Anna Sfard (Israel; 2007), Professor Yves Chevallard (France; 2009) and Professor Luis Radford (Canada; 2011). 

In the press conference, Professor Leung will share his feeling on the award as well as the advantages, status and development of mathematics education in Hong Kong, in the East Asian region, and in the world.

Media representatives are cordially invited to the press conference, the details are as follows:

Date:               November 28, 2013 (Thursday)
Time:              2:15pm
Venue:           Room 206, Runme Shaw Building, the University of Hong Kong

ICMI is an international non-governmental and non-profit-making scientific organization whose purpose is to promote international cooperation in mathematics education.  In 2000, ICMI decided to create two prizes recognising outstanding achievement in mathematics education research.  The Felix Klein Award honours a lifetime achievement and the Hans Freudenthal Award recognizes a major cumulative programme of research.

For media enquiries, please contact Ms Queenie Wong, Senior Manager (Development and Communications), Faculty of Education (Tel.: 2219 4270 / Mobile: 9220 5840 / Email: qlpwong@hku.hk); or Ms Trinni Choy, Assistant Director (Media), Communications and Public Affairs Office (Tel.: 2859 2606 / Email: pychoy@hku.hk).