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The University of Hong Kong (HKU) held the inaugural Excellent and Inclusive Practice Award Ceremony today (April 12), to honour three of the University’s scholars. This marks the first time the Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS) at HKU has established an award to honour staff members who have demonstrated excellence in inclusive education, supporting students with special educational needs (SEN). The awardees were nominated by students who have registered to SEN Support at HKU, and three awardees were selected by a panel of five judges.

Professor Ian Holliday, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning), congratulated the recipients for their achievements in his welcoming remarks in the ceremony.

“The value of inclusion is embedded in HKU’s Vision of 3+1 Is (Internationalization, Innovation, Interdisciplinarity + Impact),” Professor Holliday said. He stated that this Award not only celebrates individual accomplishments, but also highlights the collective efforts of the HKU community in creating an inclusive campus. By recognizing and showcasing outstanding inclusive practices of our staff, their exemplary role modelling inspires others to follow suit and contribute to our shared vision in equal opportunities for every individual.

The Award Presentation Ceremony coincided with the 10th anniversary of SEN Support's establishment, marking a significant milestone in advocating for inclusion and diversity. Students with SEN were invited to nominate staff members who have excelled in the promotion of inclusion through their personal experience. On top of providing reasonable accommodations, the nominees used creative ways, or devoted additional time and efforts to assist and care for their students. Students with SEN were deeply touched and felt being part of this learning community. The motivation to learn even grew stronger among some of them. Nominations were overwhelmingly received, and three winners were selected through a rigorous selection process.

Dr. Ferrick Chu, Executive Director (Operations) of the Equal Opportunity Commission, is one of the five panelists selecting the awardees. The purpose of the Award Scheme is in line with one of the key missions of the Commission, that is to promote equal learning opportunity for students with special educational needs. With the implementation of the Integrate Education Scheme in primary and secondary schools, more and more SEN students are getting into universities. The excellent and inclusive practices recognized in this Award Scheme are exactly the support SEN students needed to enjoy equal learning opportunity for their university life.  

Professor Samson Tse, Dean of Student Affairs expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the student nominators for their enthusiastic support and encouraged various parties would continue collaborate with CEDARS to provide an enjoyable learning experiences and environment to each student at HKU. “An inclusive campus can help SEN students remove barriers and develop their strengths. I am glad to see the effectiveness and significance of the SEN Support services in our students' sharing. We will adhere to the 'student-centered' principle to help students unleashing their potential,” Professor Tse said.

The list of awardees:

Dr. Eva S.Y. Chan
Senior Lecturer (Academic Unit of Social Contexts and Policies of Education), Faculty of Education

Prof. Esther W.Y. Chan
Assistant Dean (Health Sciences Education), Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, LKS Faculty of Medicine

Dr. Otto Heim
Programme Director, Master of Arts in English Studies (Full-time Programme), Faculty of Arts