The education research impact of the Faculty of Education and Human Development (FEHD), The Education University of Hong Kong, has achieved the highest starred level in terms of research and significance in the recent 2020 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). 

The RAE 2020 is part of the University Grants Committee (UGC)’s efforts to assess the research performance of the publicly funded universities. It uses international benchmarks to assess research outputs, impact, and environment.

Among the two units of assessment submitted by FEHD, 64% of its overall quality profile of research in the unit of assessment, education, was graded as either “world leading (4-star)”, or “internationally excellent (3-star)”. Forty-four per cent in psychology’s research was rated 3-star or above. 

The faculty’s research environment, both in education and psychology, was found to be of conducive to producing research of internationally excellent quality, in terms of its vitality and sustainability.  The faculty has created a dynamic, sustainable research infrastructure and built interdisciplinary and cross-faculty collaborations. This helps create the high quality of our research outputs. Forty-nine per cent of the output submissions from education were judged ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. In psychology, 31% of research outputs were rated 3-star or above. 

Our unit of assessment for education is ranked top among five UGC-funded institutions in research impact. All impact case studies for education were graded 4-star; deemed to have made outstanding impacts in terms of their reach and significance. 

The research focuses on two main areas: (i) changing policy to improve education quality and equity; and (ii) improving the learning and well-being of young people and families. Our exemplar case studies were: Boosting Equal Access to Quality Education through Blended Learning; Establishing Free Quality Kindergarten Education; Promoting Parenting Practices that Foster Positive Development in Kindergarten Children in Hong Kong; and the Inclusion of Green Skills into Policy, TVET Teaching and Learning in the Asia-Pacific Region.

The results are a testimony to the excellence of FEHD staff members. Through innovations, interventions and community collaborations, the faculty aims to become a leading voice in improving the equity, well-being, and outcomes of learners and their families, and in enhancing the practice, knowledge and well-being of educators in schools, universities, and community services.