My research interest extends from my doctoral dissertation on educational policy to governmental concerns and real-life teaching practice of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teaching and learning in mainland China. All the projects and subsequent publications I have worked on correlate with the macro and micro considerations of English language education. This area has a strong, meaningful and worthwhile connection to my educational background and the modernization of China. To the up-and-coming academics, my advice is, in Chinese, “顶天立地”, literally meaning, “to stretch up to the heaven and to stand upright on the earth”.

My research focuses on feedback studies. I utilize quantitative methods to explore students’ self-feedback behaviors and motivation and how these factors influence their learning outcomes. I have published several papers in SSCI-indexed journals and am currently preparing additional manuscripts for submission to SSCI journals. I am also working on a book titled “The Empowering Role of Students’ Self-Feedback,” which aims to further contribute to the field. The EdD program at EdUHK laid a robust academic foundation for my career development. The program’s rigorous doctoral-level training equipped me with advanced research knowledge and methodologies, while its extensive networking opportunities facilitated valuable collaborations with scholars in Hong Kong and beyond. This comprehensive and rigorous training is undoubtedly crucial in shaping my professional journey and research endeavors. If you are starting your doctoral journey, I advise you to define your research focus, master research methods, build a professional network, and publish your work. During your academic journey, discuss ideas with your supervisors, mentors, and peers. Keep your options open by learning quantitative and qualitative research methods. Networking with others allows you to collaborate and share your research with a larger audience.

I have been researching teachers’ competencies, especially for children with special education needs (SEN). My current focus is the competencies of SEN teachers in guiding SEN children to access inclusive classrooms. I have published my doctoral research in many journals in Indonesia, and I am still trying to publish internationally. I like teaching pre-service teachers because I can influence them to be better teachers for SEN children, whether working in a special or inclusive school. The Doctor of Education (EdD) program helped me become a better researcher and educator. It improved my research capabilities, academic writing and teaching skills. Working with Hong Kong academics has taught me to have more fun in an educational environment. In the future, I want to collaborate with other EdUHK alumni. For example, I plan to work with another graduate with a sports focus.

I obtained this position six years ago through a recommendation from an EdUHK alumnus. My responsibilities include teaching, conducting research, and supervising dissertations. My area of expertise is early childhood education, and I genuinely enjoy my work. It provides me with continuous opportunities for learning and professional development. EdUHK facilitated my growth as an academic professional. I remember feeling nervous about using English when I first introduced myself during the early stages of my doctoral journey in 2012. However, after five years of postgraduate studies, I gained the confidence to secure a position at a university where English is the medium of instruction. Additionally, the multicultural environment at EdUHK helped me maintain an international perspective, which is very important in today’s world.

The EdD programme equipped me to become a dedicated and enthusiastic scholar, enriching my knowledge in my areas of expertise. I fondly recall the enlightening seminars organized by my professors and supervisors, and I truly enjoyed the time I spent studying and discussing academic topics with my colleagues and friends. What resonated most with me was the attitude I observed in my supervisor. The professors’ straightforward approach and treatment of students—characterized by encouragement, trust, and inspiration—have profoundly influenced me. Now, as a teacher, I strive to treat my students with the same care and respect I received. This value is the most important lesson I gained from my supervisors and my time at EdUHK.

As the Head of the Research and Development Center (RDC), I manage several research projects, such as the higher education improvement project (HEIP), the educational policy and language policy, and the multilingual education in the Cambodian higher education system. I have published research papers in the International Journal of Comparative Education and Development, The Journal of AsiaTEFL, and the TEFLIN Journal. Further, my book chapters are featured in The Oxford Handbook of Southeast Asian Englishes and the Routledge Handbook of the Sociopolitical Context of Language Learning (forthcoming).

I highly appreciate the current job since it has contributed to my personal and professional development in the higher education sector in Cambodia. The greatest achievement of my career over the years is establishing collegiality in academics and research in the university and across the Cambodian higher education sector. Moreover, I have worked to cultivate a conducive working environment that has greatly harnessed the Cambodian higher education system.

Graduating with a PhD degree from the EDUHK will help me succeed in my personal and professional life. At the personal level, I have developed a maturity of self-control and decision-making that changed my life. The EDUHK has advanced my professional career and academic network, reaching regional and international levels.

My research interests include China and the Global Political Economy, the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese Soft Power, Chinese Infrastructure, Investment and Capital Flows in South Asia and U.S. Foreign Policy. I have published widely in the areas of international political economy, Chinese soft power, and China-US strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific region.

EdUHK is one of the best places in Asia, with a mixture of the West and East, for research in social sciences, particularly international political economy and diplomacy.

In the future, I want to lead a research centre focusing on global political economy and diplomacy, particularly the relationship between China and the U.S.

I am working on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions as indicated in Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16). I am a project leader of one of the research engagements of the university under the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), funded by the European Union-United Nations Development Fund (EU-UNDP).

My greatest achievement in my post-doctoral career was when I had the opportunity to shift from casual teaching to a commitment-needing managerial and administrative career. I have been supervising a major office and college of my university since I earned my post-graduate degree, where I continue making a difference for academic excellence, partnerships, research and extension services.

I am very busy looking after several research projects, provincially and nationally. Most of them focus on the ICT in education competencies of pre-service teachers, especially for minorities. I have also been involved in various projects for the professional development of teachers.

As the contribution of skilled workers increases in China, it is believed the vocational education system will start to play a bigger role in the country’s development. As such, I am researching how to support minority vocational education students in Southwest China.

Reflecting on my PhD journey, you should clearly understand your research interests. Doing a PhD takes time and is sometimes frustrating. You need to believe in yourself no matter how hard your thesis is.