Academic Year 2024/25
Sparking off FSTE’s 30th anniversary this year (2024), FSTE Teaching Excellence Award (TEA) is established to recognise and reward FSTE Member Institutions’ teachers with excellent teaching performance. This annual sector-wide Award also aims to promote and share good practices for learning and teaching in order to foster a culture of quality enhancement amongst Member Institutions (covering the majority of higher education institutions in Hong Kong).
Awardee
Dr. Venus Chan is an Assistant Professor at Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) and a Learning and Teaching Evangelist specializing in the integration of cutting-edge technologies (e.g., AI and XR) into language education. As a passionate educator and researcher, her work focuses on Technology-Enhanced Language Learning (TELL) and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), emphasizing research-informed, learner-centered teaching approaches that leverage innovative technologies and adaptive pedagogies.
A recipient of the President’s Award for Excellence in Inspirational Teaching, Dr. Chan is recognized for her ability to bridge research and practice to transform learning and teaching, driving meaningful change in education.
As the principal investigator of numerous funded research projects, Dr. Chan has successfully secured substantial external and internal funding, along with in-kind donations, to advance her work. Her groundbreaking contributions include the development of mobile apps, online platforms, and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) to enhance skills in interpreting, public speaking, and translation technology.
Dr. Chan’s applied and educational research has made a significant academic and social impact by benefiting learners worldwide. Her innovative initiatives continue to shape the future of education, empowering individuals and fostering global learning communities.
Great teaching begins not with answers, but with questions. My philosophy centers on sparking genuine curiosity through Socratic questioning and cooperative inquiry, guiding students to bridge cognitive gaps and reconstruct their understanding. In my classroom, we move beyond passive learning to active co-construction of knowledge—whether redesigning classroom practices in kindergartens or conducting action research that brings tangible change.
I am deeply grateful to my students, whose voices and growth inspire me daily, and to Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education for nurturing an environment where innovation in teaching thrives. This award reaffirms the power of student-centered, inquiry-driven education. My hope is to continue empowering future educators to listen to children, champion autonomy, and create inclusive, transformative learning environments for our next generation.
Honourable Mention
We are thrilled to receive the Honourable Mention for the FSTE Teaching Excellence Award. Our Service-Learning subject, Storytelling for Understanding: Refugee Children in Hong Kong, uses personal narratives to foster cultural understanding and community service. Integrating digital tools, our teaching centres on storytelling with empathy—cultivating connection, creativity, and critical reflection. In an age increasingly shaped by AI, we believe education must remain profoundly human, grounded in care and compassion. Learning, for us, is a shared narrative where teachers and students co-create meaning. We thank the panel, our CPCE colleagues and students, PolyU’s Service-Learning and Leadership Office, and Christian Action’s Centre for Refugees for their continued trust and support.
Return to the current cycle of FSTE Teaching Excellence Award (TEA).