Professor Alex Jingwei He from the Division of Public Policy has been recognised at the HKUST Faculty Recognition Ceremony 2025 for receiving two prestigious awards: the Research Grants Council’s Humanities and Social Sciences Prestigious Fellowship Scheme (HSSPFS) and the International Public Policy Association’s biennial Transition and Developing Economies Award.
Esteem Description of the Awards
The HSSPFS Award
The Research Grants Council’s HSSPFS is a premier accolade granted to faculty members at UGC-funded universities in recognition of their exceptional research track record and the scholarly merit of their proposals. This prestigious fellowship provides significant support, including a grant of up to $1 million, allowing awardees to focus solely on their research for one year by releasing them from teaching and administrative duties.
Professor He was awarded this fellowship for his innovative book project titled Understanding China’s Huge and Complex Health Policy Reform: A Governance Approach. This work aims to shed light on the intricacies of health policy reform in China, fostering scholarly innovation and making a substantial impact in the field.
The Transition and Developing Economies Award
In addition to the HSSPFS, Professor He has also received the International Public Policy Association’s Transition and Developing Economies Award. This award recognizes mid-career or senior scholars for their outstanding contributions to public policy in developing or transition economies. It honors an established record of high-impact scholarly publications, applied policy work, and dedicated service to the profession.
Remarkably, Professor He has made history as the first Chinese national to win this prestigious award, which celebrates his exceptional scholarship in public policy and his important contributions to the international policy research community.
These accolades are not just a testament to Professor He’s dedication and hard work, but also reflect the commitment of the Division of Public Policy at HKUST to fostering excellence in research and practical application. We congratulate Professor He on these remarkable achievements and look forward to his continued contributions to the field of public policy.
