Message from the Department Head ~ Prof. He Qiliang
Events
Events
Delegation from Xiamen University Visits HKSYU Department of History for Academic Exchange
Following the visit by faculty members and students from the Department of History at Hong Kong Shue Yan University to the School of History and Cultural Heritage at Xiamen University in June 2026, a delegation from Xiamen University visited the Department on 17 August.
Led by Dr Huang Xiaoyu and Office Director Zhu Yichu, the Xiamen University delegation comprised 11 students. The Department of History at HKSYU was represented by Professor He Qiliang, Dr Agnes Pang Suk Man and Dr Rong Zongliu.
The exchange began with introductions to the distinctive academic programmes and educational approaches of the two institutions. Students from Xiamen University then shared their research interests and academic reflections arising from their study visit to Hong Kong.
Professor He subsequently delivered a presentation based on his book, The People’s West Lake: Propaganda, Nature, and Agency in Mao’s China, 1949–1976, outlining the origins of the research and its key findings. During the discussion session, students raised questions and exchanged views on such topics as nonhuman agency, environmental history and global history.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Huang encouraged students to ground their research firmly in historical sources while drawing appropriately on theoretical perspectives, thereby developing historically significant topics that can engage a wider public. The visit concluded successfully and further strengthened the academic ties between Hong Kong Shue Yan University and Xiamen University.
Date: 17 August 2026
Time: 7:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m.
Venue: Room RHB103, Research Complex (High Block), Hong Kong Shue Yan University
Events
HKSYU Department of History Holds Annual Retreat to Plan for the New Academic Year
The Department of History at Hong Kong Shue Yan University successfully held its annual retreat. The meeting was jointly chaired by Professor He Qiliang, Professor and Head of the Department, and Dr Agnes Pang Suk Man, Associate Professor and Associate Head. Professor Selina Chan Ching, Academic Vice President, and Dr Alex Li Wang-on, Associate Academic Vice President (University Research), also attended the meeting and offered valuable guidance. Participants reviewed the Department’s teaching experience over the past academic year and discussed its plans and priorities for the year ahead.
Three student representatives were invited to share their learning experiences in the History major and the three-credit Work Placement course, with particular emphasis on the practical learning outcomes of the Education Concentration.
The Education Concentration comprises 15 credits, including two required courses—Work Placement and Pedagogy of History Teaching—as well as three elective courses. By integrating academic knowledge with practical training, the Concentration helps students acquire professional knowledge and essential teaching skills, providing valuable preparation for careers in education and related professional fields. The student representatives also offered constructive suggestions and valuable perspectives on the Department’s future development.
Following the meeting, the Department hosted a networking luncheon attended by Professor Ricardo Mak King-sang, MH, External Examiner of the Department of History and Director of Public Examinations at the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority; Professor Selina Chan Ching, Academic Vice President; and members of the Department’s teaching staff. Participants exchanged views and engaged in in-depth discussions on curriculum design, student development and the enhancement of teaching quality.
Date: Thursday, 13 August 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Venue: Room LC910, Library Complex, Hong Kong Shue Yan University
Events
Academic Study Tour and Exchange Activity, Department of History, Hong Kong Shue Yan University
The “Maritime China · Southern Fujian Culture Study Camp” was successfully concluded recently. The event was hosted by the School of History and Cultural Heritage of Xiamen University, organized by the Center for Research on Local Historical Documents, and co-organized by the Department of History of Hong Kong Shue Yan University. The program aimed to deepen academic exchange and cooperation between our Department and Mainland academic institutions.
Led jointly by Dr. Pang Suk Man and Dr. Rong Zongliu, the delegation consisted of 12 undergraduate students and 3 postgraduate students who traveled to Fujian for a five-day academic study and exchange program with faculty and students from the Mainland. The collaborative achievements of this exchange have been published on the WeChat public platform (https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/mRuy1jaGvlYTF9Gd0ReGDw).
Please find below the detailed schedule and program highlights:
June 23, 2026
Venue: The Anthropology Museum of Xiamen University
The study camp officially commenced. Faculty and students from both regions visited the Museum of Anthropology together, gaining an in-depth understanding of the origins of Southern Fujian culture, Minnan–Taiwan folk customs, and prehistoric archaeological artifacts.
June 24, 2026
Venue: Room 320, Nangguang Building, Xiamen University
The opening ceremony of the study camp was held. Professor Zhang Kan of Xiamen University and Dr. Pang Suk Man of Hong Kong Shue Yan University delivered opening remarks on behalf of the organizers.
This was followed by expert lectures delivered by Professors Zheng Zhenman, Michael A. Szonyi, Huang Xiangchun, Rong Dao, Pang Suk Man, Otani Toru, Li Chunyuan, and Zheng Li, broadening students’ research perspectives in historical anthropology.
June 25, 2026
Locations: Gulangyu Island (Xiamen); Jiaomei Ancient Town (Zhangzhou)
In the morning, participants conducted a walking study tour of Gulangyu Island, learning about its modern development history and attending an organ performance.
In the afternoon, they conducted field investigations at Dongmei Zeng's Foreign-style Tower, Guo Youpin Tianyi Mail and Remittance Bureau, and the Lin Family Estate, exploring overseas Chinese networks and local lineage memory.
June 26, 2026
Locations: Tonghuai Temple of Guan Yu and Yue Fei (Quanzhou); Quanzhou Maritime Museum; Cao'an Manichean Temple, Jinjiang
In the morning, participants attended the opening ceremony and academic symposium of the Third Guan Gong Culture Forum, hosted by the Graduate Institute for Taiwan Studies of Xiamen University, the Alliance of the Five Great Guan Di Temples, and the Quanzhou Guan Gong Culture Research Association, and organized by the Tonghuai Temple of Guan Yu and Yue Fei.
The forum deepened the understanding of intangible cultural heritage and overseas Chinese networks.
In the afternoon, the group conducted research on the collections of the Quanzhou Maritime Museum and the Manichaean relics at Cao’an.
June 27, 2026
Venue: Xiamen University
A reflection presentation session and closing ceremony were held. Undergraduate and postgraduate students from our department delivered group presentations based on their field research findings, engaging in in-depth academic dialogue and exchange with faculty and students from the mainland.
Events
Hong Kong ICH Month 2026 & Sik Sik Yuen 105th Anniversary — Echoes of Living Heritage · Legacies Through Time
Dr. Pang Suk-man, Associate Head of the Department of History at Hong Kong Shue Yan University (HKSYU), was recently invited to attend the Opening Ceremony of Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Month and the 105th Anniversary of Sik Sik Yuen —Echoes of Living Heritage · Legacies Through Time, as well as the accompanying cultural lecture entitled “Inheritance and Transmission: The Wong Tai Sin Belief in Hong Kong.”
The event was held at Fung Ming Hall of the Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple and brought together distinguished guests from the cultural sector and various institutions. The occasion provided a valuable platform for exchange and dialogue on the preservation and transmission of intangible cultural heritage.
The Wong Tai Sin Belief and Customs were inscribed onto the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2014. Marking the 105th anniversary of Sik Sik Yuen this year, the organisation once again partnered with the Intangible Cultural Heritage Office (ICHO) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) for Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Month. Through a series of thematic lectures, heritage skills sharing sessions, and experiential workshops, the programme actively promotes the safeguarding, transmission, and sustainable development of Hong Kong’s intangible cultural heritage.
News
Activities
HKSYU Holds Opening Ceremony and History Programme Orientation for the New Academic Year
Hong Kong Shue Yan University held its Opening Ceremony for the new academic year, bringing students together to mark the beginning of their university studies.
Following the University’s Opening Ceremony, the Department of History held a programme orientation hosted by Dr Agnes Pang Suk Man, Associate Professor and Associate Head of the Department. The Department welcomed 86 new students this academic year.
He Qiliang, Professor and Head of the Department, delivered welcoming remarks and introduced the aims and future development of the History programme. Dr Pang then provided a detailed overview of its three core domains—Chinese History, World History and Urban History. Adopting both historical methods and interdisciplinary perspectives, the programme provides students with systematic and interconnected knowledge of the historical development of China and the wider world. It also encourages students to reflect critically on the sociocultural histories of urban development in China and around the globe.
Members of the Department’s academic staff also introduced the wide range of learning opportunities available to students, including the Education Concentration in History, the Minor Programme, Work Placement and overseas exchange programmes. These opportunities provide students with a platform for holistic development, practical experience and the cultivation of diverse skills.
Afterwards, colleagues from the Registry distributed student cards and highlighted other key administrative matters. The event featured lively interaction between teachers and students and concluded successfully with a round of applause.
Date: Tuesday, 25 August 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m.–13:00 p.m.
Venue: Room H201, Residential and Amenities Complex, Hong Kong Shue Yan University
Activities
Scholars of Hong Kong Shue Yan University Harness Digital Humanities to Develop New Perspectives on Cultural Heritage
As society places increasing emphasis on cultural heritage development, the Government has been actively promoting conservation initiatives, while higher education institutions have also strengthened academic research in related areas. Scholars from the Department of History and the Department of Sociology at Hong Kong Shue Yan University have conducted in-depth studies on cultural heritage and have integrated their research findings into teaching and learning, thereby enhancing the connection between academia and the wider community.
Shue Yan Newsletter invited five scholars from the Department of History and the Department of Sociology for an in depth interview. They include Professor Chan Ching (Academic Vice President, Department of Sociology), Professor Hui Yew Foong (Vice President (Accreditation and Programme Development)), Dr. Tsang Chung Kin (Associate Head, Department of Sociology), as well as Professor He Qiliang (Head, Department of History) and Dr. Pang Suk Man (Associate Head, Department of History).
Activities
Higher Education Institutions Student Cultural Ambassadors
The title of “Higher Education Institutions Student Cultural Ambassador”(大專學生文化大使), conferred by the Hong Kong Chinese Culture Development Association (HKCCDA), is awarded based on criteria that include students’ learning experiences and achievements related to Chinese culture, participation in and promotion of cultural activities, as well as their contributions to community service connected with Chinese cultural heritage.
We extend our warmest congratulations to Xuan Yuqi and Lee Yan lam of the Department of History for being awarded the title of “Higher Education Institutions Student Cultural Ambassador” in recognition of their dedicated efforts and outstanding achievements in promoting Chinese culture!
