IHERD Units Open / close back IHERD Units Digital Transformation Division (DTD) Educational Development Centre (EDC) Educational Research and Technologies Centre (ERTC) Digital Transformation Division (DTD) Educational Development Centre (EDC) Educational Research and Technologies Centre (ERTC) PolyU Education 4.0 Open / close back PolyU Education 4.0 Our Journey Our Key Initiatives AI-Related Curriculum & Subjects Offered AI-Powered Applications PolyU Education 4.0 Our Key Initiatives AI-Related Curriculum & Subjects Offered AI-Powered Applications Funding Open / close back Funding Opportunities Funded Projects Open / close menu Teaching Development Grant (TDG) Other External Fundings Funded Projects Open / close menu Teaching Development Grant (TDG) Other External Fundings Teaching Development Grant (TDG) Other External Fundings News and Events Open / close back News and Events News Upcoming Events Education Transformation and Innovation (ETI) Salon Series IHERD Distinguished Speaker Series News and Events Upcoming Events Education Transformation and Innovation (ETI) Salon Series IHERD Distinguished Speaker Series About IHERD Open / close back About IHERD Vision, Mission and Our Roles Organisation Chart Our People Open / close menu Management Team Professional Staff and Research Assistant Professors Research & Project Staff Central Team Affiliated Members Contact Us Vision, Mission and Our Roles Organisation Chart Our People Open / close menu Management Team Professional Staff and Research Assistant Professors Research & Project Staff Central Team Affiliated Members Management Team Professional Staff and Research Assistant Professors Research & Project Staff Affiliated Members Professor CAO Jiannong The Nexus for Education Transformation PolyU has embarked on a revolutionary PolyU Education 4.0 (E4.0) journey, driving a comprehensive transformation towards a student-centred, AI-empowered, and digitally connected education ecosystem. As the University's nexus for education transformation, the Institute for Higher Education Research and Development (IHERD) plays a pivotal role in advancing this vision by bridging educational research, pedagogical innovation and digital transformation. Bringing together the Digital Transformation Division (DTD), Educational Development Centre (EDC), and Educational Research and Technologies Centre (ERTC), IHERD harnesses the collective strengths of these units to drive the E4.0 agenda and foster meaningful change across the University. Through its integrated approach, IHERD reinforces PolyU's commitment to nurturing future-ready graduates and empowered educators, while positioning the University as a leader in higher education transformation for the AI era. Co-creating a Global Academic Community Initiated by PolyU, the International Consortium for Higher Education Transformation and Innovation with AI (ICHETI) is a strategic alliance of world-leading universities at the forefront of educational transformation and innovation. Our Innovations Highlights How We Redefine Students Role From Passive Learners to Co-Creators Department of Applied Social Sciences (APSS) Reshaping Allied Health Education with Innovation Powered by AI Department of Rehabilitation Sciences (RS) How AI and Immersive Technologies Are Transforming Clinical Learning Department of Health Technology and Informatics (HTI) How Educators Teach Geomatics in the Age of AI Department of Land Surveying and Geo-informatics (LSGI) How AI Empowers Students to Create Engaging Treatment Tools School of Optometry (SO) How AI Tutors Bridge the Gap Between Traditional Teaching and Personalised Learning

School of Accounting and Finance (AF) IHERD delegation visits Sichuan University to expand partnership networks for AI innovations IHERD is actively expanding its global partnership networks, leveraging its expertise to drive educational innovation and advance an AI-empowered, student-centred and personalised model of teaching and learning under the Education 4.0 initiative. Advancing this mission, Professor CAO Jiannong, Vice President (Education) and Director of IHERD, alongside Dr Kelly CHAN, Associate Director of IHERD and Head of the Digital Transformation Division, rec ETI Salon #10: AI in Teaching, Learning and Research Training: Sharing and Discussion on the MIT Report The 10th Education Transformation and Innovation (ETI) Salon, hosted by Professor Jiannong CAO, Vice President (Education) and Director of IHERD, brought together University colleagues for a timely sharing and discussion on AI in higher education, centred on insights from the MIT Ad Hoc Committee Report on AI Use in Teaching, Learning, and Research Training. The session provided an opportunity for participants to reflect on the opportunities, cha Empowering jobseekers: AI interview coach addresses youth employment challenges Securing graduate employment has become increasingly challenging in Hong Kong, where the unemployment rate among residents aged 20 to 24 reached 12.3% in late 2025. More broadly, recruitment industry reports point to intense competition and widespread interview anxiety, with approximately 242 applications per opening and 93% of candidates reporting anxiety about interviews. As employers increasingly value communication, adaptability and problem-s IHERD delegation visits Peking University to collaborate on AI innovations in higher education IHERD is actively expanding its global partnership networks, leveraging its expertise to drive educational innovation and advance an AI-empowered, student-centred and personalised model of teaching and learning under the Education 4.0 initiative. Advancing this mission, Professor CAO Jiannong, Vice President (Education) and Director of IHERD, alongside Dr Kelly CHAN, Associate Director of IHERD and Head of the Digital Transformation Division, rec IHERD delegation visits Beijing Institute of Technology to strengthen the collaboration in AI-driven innovations IHERD is actively expanding its global partnership networks, leveraging its expertise to drive educational innovation and advance an AI-empowered, student-centred and personalised model of teaching and learning under the Education 4.0 initiative. To advance this mission, Professor CAO Jiannong, Vice President (Education) and Director of IHERD, alongside Dr Kelly CHAN, Associate Director of IHERD and Head of the Digital Transformation Division, re Prof. CAO Jiannong shares insights on AI-Era talent development at BOC Cross-border Education Launch Event On 11 September 2026, Bank of China officially hosted its cross-border education launch event in Beijing, China during the 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS). The event featured several major announcements and strategic partnerships aimed at advancing international education and global talent mobility. During a panel discussion entitled “Global Talent Development in the Age of AI”, Prof. CAO Jiannong, Vice President (Ed ETI Salon #9: Capability Building: A Proposal for an AI and Digital Competency Centre The 9th Education Transformation and Innovation (ETI) Salon, hosted by Prof. CAO Jiannong, Vice President (Education) and Director of IHERD, brought together University staff to explore a proposed AI and Digital Competency Centre, one of the University-led initiatives envisioned to support the implementation of the PolyU Education 4.0 Blueprint. During the presentation, Prof. Cao outlined the rationale and vision for establishing a dedicated cap Prof. CAO Jiannong joined Metro Finance’s show “AI in Action” to discuss the new role universities play in the AI era As AI transforms industries worldwide, higher education is undergoing a major shift: what role should universities play in the AI era? Prof. CAO Jiannong, Vice President (Education) and Director of IHERD, joined Metro Finance’s show “AI in Action” to share his insights. Traditional lectures are teacher-centric, leaving students with diverse interests constrained by a passive, one-size-fits-all model. PolyU’s Education 4.0 framework hands learnin Restructuring of the Institute for Higher Education Research and Development (IHERD) The restructuring of IHERD will be effective from 1 September 2026. IHERD is positioned as PolyU’s nexus for education transformation. By bridging cutting-edge pedagogical research with technological innovation, it empowers the university community to cultivate future-ready graduates and drive global educational excellence. The restructuring integrates the Digital Transformation Division (DTD), the Educational Development Centre (EDC) and the E ETI Salon #10: AI in Teaching, Learning and Research Training: Sharing and Discussion on the MIT Report The 10th Education Transformation and Innovation (ETI) Salon, hosted by Professor Jiannong CAO, Vice President (Education) and Director of IHERD, brought together University colleagues for a timely sharing and discussion on AI in higher education, centred on insights from the MIT Ad Hoc Committee Report on AI Use in Teaching, Learning, and Research Training. The session provided an opportunity for participants to reflect on the opportunities, cha Empowering jobseekers: AI interview coach addresses youth employment challenges Securing graduate employment has become increasingly challenging in Hong Kong, where the unemployment rate among residents aged 20 to 24 reached 12.3% in late 2025. More broadly, recruitment industry reports point to intense competition and widespread interview anxiety, with approximately 242 applications per opening and 93% of candidates reporting anxiety about interviews. As employers increasingly value communication, adaptability and problem-s IHERD delegation visits Peking University to collaborate on AI innovations in higher education IHERD is actively expanding its global partnership networks, leveraging its expertise to drive educational innovation and advance an AI-empowered, student-centred and personalised model of teaching and learning under the Education 4.0 initiative. Advancing this mission, Professor CAO Jiannong, Vice President (Education) and Director of IHERD, alongside Dr Kelly CHAN, Associate Director of IHERD and Head of the Digital Transformation Division, rec IHERD delegation visits Beijing Institute of Technology to strengthen the collaboration in AI-driven innovations IHERD is actively expanding its global partnership networks, leveraging its expertise to drive educational innovation and advance an AI-empowered, student-centred and personalised model of teaching and learning under the Education 4.0 initiative. To advance this mission, Professor CAO Jiannong, Vice President (Education) and Director of IHERD, alongside Dr Kelly CHAN, Associate Director of IHERD and Head of the Digital Transformation Division, re Prof. CAO Jiannong shares insights on AI-Era talent development at BOC Cross-border Education Launch Event On 11 September 2026, Bank of China officially hosted its cross-border education launch event in Beijing, China during the 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS). The event featured several major announcements and strategic partnerships aimed at advancing international education and global talent mobility. During a panel discussion entitled “Global Talent Development in the Age of AI”, Prof. CAO Jiannong, Vice President (Ed ETI Salon #9: Capability Building: A Proposal for an AI and Digital Competency Centre The 9th Education Transformation and Innovation (ETI) Salon, hosted by Prof. CAO Jiannong, Vice President (Education) and Director of IHERD, brought together University staff to explore a proposed AI and Digital Competency Centre, one of the University-led initiatives envisioned to support the implementation of the PolyU Education 4.0 Blueprint. During the presentation, Prof. Cao outlined the rationale and vision for establishing a dedicated cap Prof. CAO Jiannong joined Metro Finance’s show “AI in Action” to discuss the new role universities play in the AI era As AI transforms industries worldwide, higher education is undergoing a major shift: what role should universities play in the AI era? Prof. CAO Jiannong, Vice President (Education) and Director of IHERD, joined Metro Finance’s show “AI in Action” to share his insights. Traditional lectures are teacher-centric, leaving students with diverse interests constrained by a passive, one-size-fits-all model. PolyU’s Education 4.0 framework hands learnin Restructuring of the Institute for Higher Education Research and Development (IHERD) The restructuring of IHERD will be effective from 1 September 2026. IHERD is positioned as PolyU’s nexus for education transformation. By bridging cutting-edge pedagogical research with technological innovation, it empowers the university community to cultivate future-ready graduates and drive global educational excellence. The restructuring integrates the Digital Transformation Division (DTD), the Educational Development Centre (EDC) and the E IHERD delegation visits Sichuan University to expand partnership networks for AI innovations IHERD is actively expanding its global partnership networks, leveraging its expertise to drive educational innovation and advance an AI-empowered, student-centred and personalised model of teaching and learning under the Education 4.0 initiative. Advancing this mission, Professor CAO Jiannong, Vice President (Education) and Director of IHERD, alongside Dr Kelly CHAN, Associate Director of IHERD and Head of the Digital Transformation Division, rec Academic Registry (AR) College of Undergraduate Studies (CUS) Information Technology Services Office (ITS) PolyU Strategic Plan for 2025/26 - 2030/31 We use Cookies to give you a better experience on our website. By continuing to browse the site without changing your privacy settings, you are consenting to our use of Cookies. 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