Funded Projects & Grants

Project Leaders: Dr. Yin Zhong, Prof. Dennis Tay, Dr Xin Li 
Project Start Year: 2026
Status: Ongoing
Funding: HK$1.06M  -  HKUST CEI L-TLIP

This project addresses the challenges of static, vague rubrics and the integration of Generative AI (GenAI) in writing assessment. It develops a human-in-the-loop GenAI system for rubric co-creation, exemplar calibration, and guided reflection in writing assessment. Designed for use across multiple disciplinary contexts, the project combines pedagogical, analytic, retrieval, and ethical AI functions to support clearer assessment practices and more evidence-based dialogue around criteria and standards. 

Project Leaders: Levi Lam, Mark Melican 
Project Start Year: 2025
Status: Ongoing
Funding: HK$187K - HKUST CEI TLIP

This project establishes a Digital Literacy Hub within CLE as a space for structured, student-led support for students to create, refine, and publish multimodal digital work (e.g., memes, promotional reels, podcasts/vlogs) as part of authentic, process-based assessment in CLE courses LANG1405 and LANG2067. Its work includes building the Hub infrastructure, training student consultants, supporting digital production, and curating a growing repository of student artefacts and exemplars for wider educational use. 

Project Leaders: Dr. Nora Hussin (HKUST), Jessie Lam(HKUST), Dr. Aditi Jhaveri (HKUST), Dr. Jane Robbins (HKPolyU), Dr. Cissy Li (HKBU), Dr. Simon Wang (HKBU), Dr. Wesley Curtis (CityUHK), Dr. Lilian Wong (HKU) 
Project Start Year: 2025
Status: Ongoing
Funding: HK$1.20M (HKUST) - TDLEG – IICA [HK$1.35M in total]

VoicED is a five-university (HKUST, HKPolyU, HKBU, HKU, and CityU) collaboration to build a shared platform for English oral communication in academic, professional, and social contexts. Hosted within the Association of Hong Kong Language Centres (AHKLC), it brings together live events, AI-supported speaking practice, and educator exchange through an integrated framework designed to strengthen communication pedagogy and student development across institutions. 

Project Leaders: Cissy Li (HKBU)
Co-Project Leader: Dr. Yin Zhong (HKUST), Dr. Ellie Law (HKBU), Dr. Wesley Curtis (CityUHK), Mr Ryan Windsor (Lingnan)
Project Start Year: 2025
Status: Ongoing
Funding: HK$300K (HKUST) - UGC TDLEG – IICA [HK$1.00M in total] 

This project aims to establish a sustainable online platform for language and cultural exchange, hosted under the Association of Hong Kong Language Centres (AHKLC). The BRIDGE programme provides a unique opportunity for language and cultural exchange between international/exchange students and local/mainland students from HKBU, HKUST, CityUHK, and Lingnan. Participating students are paired with a language partner to both learn and teach a language, while also gaining valuable insights into diverse cultural perspectives.   

Project Leaders: Adam Forrester (HKPolyU)
Co-Project Leaders: Dr Aditi Jhaveri (HKUST), Eunice Tang (HKUST), Dr. Mabel Chan (HKBU), Rita Gill Singh (HKBU), Dr. Andy Jarvis (HKU)
Project Start Year: 2025
Status: Ongoing
Funding: HK$300K - UGC TDLEG – IICA [HK$1.75M in total]

This project addresses the impact of Generative AI (GenAI) on writing instruction by pursuing two interconnected aims: innovating writing task design and implementing AI-supported feedback and grading. This project explores responsible uses of AI-supported feedback and grading in tertiary language education. Its main strands include the redesign of writing tasks, the development of AI-friendly rubrics, and the evaluation of AI-generated feedback alongside human judgement, with the aim of strengthening both assessment quality and pedagogical practice.

Project Leaders: Kasina Wong, Dr. Nick Wong, Prof. Hua-min Qu
Project Start Year: 2023
Status: Ongoing
Funding: HK$30.37M  - QEF

Developed in collaboration with the HKUST Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS) and Trumptech, this project supports secondary school English speaking through GAVIS, the Global English AI-assisted Virtual Reality Interactive System. The core missions highlight education equity and education equality - the project provides cutting-edge resources to build real-world speaking confidence of all Hong Kong students. The initiative integrates a Global English curriculum with a comprehensive English speaking training ecosystem for secondary school students. It includes a gamified mobile application, immersive VR training, a multi-user AI speaking Lab, an AI teacher, an AI feedback system, a Learning Management system, and data visualisation.

Project Leader: Dr Aditi Jhaveri
Project Start Year: 2025
Status: Completed April 2026
Funding: HK$220K - HKUST CEI TLIP

This project developed a five-week MOOC on critical reading and writing in the age of GenAI. The course combines interactive learning, real-world examples, and guided use of GenAI tools to strengthen critical thinking, argument evaluation, bias detection, and responsible written communication in a changing information environment.

Project Leader: Kasina Wong
Project Start Year: 2024
Status: Completed March 2026
Funding: HK$599K - EdUHK & HKUST Joint Center for Artificial Intelligence

This project investigates how generative AI can support self-assessment and self-regulated learning. It examines both student experience and learning outcomes, with particular attention to metacognition, knowledge acquisition, and the design principles needed to support effective and responsible human-AI interaction in educational settings.

Project Leader: Piotr Zychowicz
Project Start Year: 2023
Status: Completed August 2025
Funding: HK$239K - HKUST CEI TLIP 

This project examines how multimodal assessment supports the transfer of communication skills between academic and real-world contexts. Through work connected to CORE1403, it explores the relationship between multimedia communication and broader skills application, with the goal of informing curriculum design and strengthening assessment practices in higher education.

Project Leaders: Levi Lam, Mark Melican
Project Start Year: 2022
Status: Completed January 2025
Funding: HK$239K - HKUST CEI TLIP 

This project developed a series of digital learning experiences within CLE’s Extended Curriculum, focusing on multimodal production such as vlogs, podcasts, and infographics. It combined student partnership, workshop design, self-study materials, and public showcasing to support learner autonomy, digital literacy, and authentic communication beyond the formal classroom.

Project Leaders: Delian Gaskell, Jessie Lam
Project Start Year: 2023
Status: Completed December 2024
Funding: HK$249K - HKUST CEI EDGE 

This project addresses the impact of GenAI on undergraduate writing curricula and conventional writing assessment. It developed an assessment design module, guidance on emerging competencies, and a sample GenAI literacy module to support more valid, student-centred assessment design in English and Chinese writing courses.

Project Leader: Kasina Wong
Project Start Year: 2022
Status: Completed December 2024
Funding: HK$250K - HKUST CEI TLIP 

This project enhanced the “I’m IN – HKUST” VR job interview practice application for use in Business Communication and related contexts. Building on student feedback, it improved authenticity, usability, and review functions through updated software, an industry-specific question bank, and a supporting website for practice guidance and recorded session review.

Project Leader: Melissa Megan
Project Start Year: 2022
Status: Completed August 2024
Funding: HK$325K - HKUST CEI TLIP 

This project established a community that comprises faculty and staff interested in enhancing the intercultural learning experiences and competence of both PG and UG students at HKUST. Through seminars, workshops, training, and sharing activities, it created a sustained structure for professional dialogue and collaboration around inclusive, respectful, and interculturally aware teaching and learning.

Project Leader: Fiona Ho
Project Start Year: 2023
Status: Completed August 2024
Funding: HK$139K - QEF 

The project aims to improve higher proficiency students’ English learning self-efficacy after 12 weeks of teaching English to lower proficiency students. As a service-learning programme, the project promotes education equity through offering free education support to underprivileged secondary school students in Hong Kong.