News & Media

PPOL Hosts Successful 2025 AUA Asia Pacific Public Policy Network Conference at HKUST

The Division of Public Policy at HKUST successfully hosted the 2025 AUA Asia Pacific Public Policy Network Conference on 22–23 May, bringing together over 200 participants from 50 institutions across 17 countries. The conference explored the theme “Innovating Governance: AI and Data Science in Public Health and Urban Development,” featuring keynotes and sessions on emerging technologies and their policy implications.

Achievement

Prof. Naubahar Sharif Reappointed to Chief Executive’s Policy Unit Expert Group

Prof.r Naubahar Sharif, Head and Professor of the Division of Public Policy at HKUST, has been reappointed as a member of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit (CEPU) Expert Group by the Hong Kong SAR Government. The reappointment was announced on 30 May 2025 as part of a renewed roster of 59 expert members.
 

PPOL Releases First 2025 Edition of Biannual Newsletter Showcasing Research, Achievements, and Community Engagement

The Division of Public Policy at HKUST is pleased to release the first 2025 edition of its biannual newsletter. This issue highlights recent milestones, ongoing research, faculty publications, and community activities across the PPOL network.

PhD Student Chunyan Ran Receives Outstanding Paper Award at the 9th Young Scholars Forum of Journal of Public Administration

Miss Chunyan Ran, PhD student at the Division of Public Policy, has received the Outstanding Paper Award at the 9th Young Scholars Forum of Journal of Public Administration (《公共行政评论》). Her winning paper, based on her doctoral research, offers a comparative analysis of bureaucratic formalism under political re-centralization in China.

Book Launch

Dr. Nicolo Ludovice Publishes Book Chapter on Environmental Change and Food Systems in Postwar Philippines

Dr. Nicolo Ludovice, Research Assistant Professor at the Division of Public Policy, has contributed a new book chapter titled “Dairying Dependence: Industrialization and Ecological Change During the Postwar Philippines” to the volume Halo-Halo Ecologies: The Emergent Environments Behind Filipino Food, published by the University of Hawai‘i Press (2025). The chapter explores the environmental and industrial transformations shaping food systems in the postwar Philippines.

Achievement

Prof. Alex Jingwei He Appointed Principal Investigator in WHO–APO Regional Digital Health Initiative

Prof. Alex Jingwei He of the Division of Public Policy has been appointed as Principal Investigator in a five-year regional research initiative led in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (APO). The project will focus on advancing digital health innovation across Asia-Pacific.

PPOL Students Win OSHC Project Competition and Will Represent Hong Kong at OSAKA EXPO 2025

Three students from the Division of Public Policy at HKUST have won top honours at the OSHC Project Competition, earning the opportunity to represent Hong Kong at the OSAKA EXPO 2025. The team was officially recognised at the OSHC Awards Ceremony on 29 May 2025.

Achievement

Prof. Alex Jingwei He Receives the IPPA Transition and Developing Economies Award 2025

Professor Alex Jingwei He has been awarded the IPPA Transition and Developing Economies Award 2025, becoming the first Chinese scholar to receive this honour since the award’s inception. He will be officially presented with the award at the 7th International Conference on Public Policy in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in July 2025.

Achievement

Prof. Alex Jingwei He Awarded RGC Humanities and Social Sciences Prestigious Fellowship

Professor Alex Jingwei He has been awarded the Humanities and Social Sciences Prestigious Fellowship by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC), with a total grant of HK$669,200. His funded project will examine China’s health policy reforms since 2009 through the lens of governance and political economy.

Prof Naubahar Sharif receives a research grant from the Li & Fung Institute.

Prof Naubahar Sharif receives a HKD 150,000 research grant from the Li & Fung Institute.

BOOK LAUNCH

Prof. Donald Low’s Latest Book – The Price of Zero: China’s Policy Missteps During and After Covid

Prof. Donald Low's recently released book delving into the causes and economic consequences of China’s zero-Covid policy.

Achievement

Prof. Alex Jingwei HE Reappointed as Member of the Assessment Panel for Competitive Research Funding Schemes for the Local Self-financing Degree Sector (APSF) of RGC

Prof. Alex Jingwei HE has been recently reappointed as Member of the Assessment Panel for Competitive Research Funding Schemes for the Local Self-financing Degree Sector (APSF) of the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC). He will continue to serve on the panel from Mar 1 2025 to Feb 28 2027.

Achievement

Prof. Masaru YARIME Named Highly Ranked Scholar - Lifetime by ScholarGPS 2024

Professor Masaru Yarime has been honored as Highly Ranked Scholar - Lifetime in the specialty of Sustainability by ScholarGPS 2024. This prestigious recognition highlights Professor Yarime's exceptional productivity and significant impact in the field, placing him among the top 0.05% of scholars worldwide.