BUS News

School Awards 2024-25: Recognising Distinguished Contributions

4 Mar, 2025

The Annual School Awards of the HKBU School of Business honours colleagues for their exceptional contributions in teaching, research, and service. This year, four distinguished faculty members were recognised for their outstanding achievements in the Awards.

Individual Teaching Award

Dr. Aries WONG, Senior Lecturer, Department of Accountancy, Economics and Finance (AEF)

Dr. Aries WONG brings a wealth of industry experience and research expertise to enrich students’ learning experiences. Drawing on his background in the financial industry and his qualifications as a Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Financial Analyst, he engages students through an inquiry-based approach that makes real-world connections. Dr. WONG encourages students to explore real-world phenomena by integrating both his own research insights and those of others into his teaching. Beyond the classroom, he has developed impactful service-learning courses that foster empathy and community engagement among students. Additionally, Dr. WONG serves as the Associate Director (Knowledge Transfer) of the Centre for Sustainable Development Studies, where he promotes education for sustainable development to a wide scope of audience, including secondary school students, professionals, and civil servants.

Scholarly Work Award

Prof. Ting CHEN, Associate Professor, Department of Accountancy, Economics and Finance (AEF)

Dr. CHEN has earned a distinguished reputation in the fields of political economy, development economics, and economic history through her exceptional contributions and impactful research. Since joining Hong Kong Baptist University in 2018, she has published 12 papers, including 9 in top international journals such as the Quarterly Journal of Economics (QJE) and The Economic Journal. Her groundbreaking study on China’s imperial Civil Examination system (Keju) and its long-term impacts garnered the Royal Economic Society Prize for Best Paper in 2020. Furthermore, her influential work has led to significant recognition, including the Youth Achievement Award in Social Science Research from the Ministry of Education of P.R. China in 2023. Dr. CHEN’s dedication to advancing knowledge is also evident through her successful acquisition of major research grants, including the prestigious Areas of Excellence (AoE) Grant for the project on the quantitative history of China. Her research not only contributes to academic discourse but also informs policy and inspires further studies, establishing her as a leading scholar in her field.

Early Career Researcher Award

Prof. Liyao WANG, Assistant Professor, Department of Accountancy, Economics, Finance (AEF)

Dr. Liyao WANG has made significant progress in her research since joining HKBU in 2020. Her work has been published in top-tier journals such as the Journal of Financial Economics (JFE) and the Journal of Corporate Finance (JCF). Dr. WANG's research addresses critical topics in empirical asset pricing, behavioural finance, utilising innovative empirical strategies and big data. Her first publication in the Journal of Financial Economics challenges long-held assumptions about time series momentum, sparking significant discussion and garnering 127 citations. Another notable publication introduced an aggregate disagreement index, filling a crucial gap in market prediction tools and earning 67 citations. Dr. WANG's research on the intersection of politics and finance has also gained considerable attention, with her presidential economic approval rating index demonstrating superior predictability in stock returns. Her contributions have been recognised with prestigious awards, including the Young Scientists Fund from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) in 2024. Dr. WANG's dedication to advancing the field of finance is evident through her numerous publications, ongoing projects, and active engagement with the academic community.

Research Supervision Award

Prof. Kimmy CHAN, Professor, Department of Management, Marketing and Information Systems (MMIS) [and the awardee of President's Award for Outstanding Performance in Research Supervision 2024 – 2025] 

Prof. Kimmy CHAN is a distinguished scholar and leader in Marketing who has demonstrated exceptional dedication and skill in research supervision. With a profound commitment to guiding and nurturing students, Prof. CHAN has supervised a diverse range of students from undergraduate to doctoral levels, fostering their academic and personal growth. Her research, which integrates artificial intelligence and humanoid technologies into service systems, as well as explores the dynamics among consumers and employees, has been published in top-tier journals such as the Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Marketing and MIS Quarterly. Prof. CHAN's individualised guidance approach, known as the C.A.R.E. approach, emphasises Communication, Advocacy, Recognition, and Encouragement, ensuring that each student receives tailored support. Her leadership as Director of the Research Postgraduate Programme has significantly enhanced the programme's reputation, reflected in increased PhD applications and successful placements of graduates in prestigious positions worldwide. Additionally, Prof. CHAN actively promotes student well-being by providing support for academic challenges and celebrating their achievements. She encourages student-led initiatives and fosters collaborations, creating a nurturing environment where future scholars are empowered to excel. This dedication to mentorship and academic excellence profoundly impacts her students' careers, inspiring them to make meaningful contributions to the academic community.