Hong Kong Baptist University Knowledge Transfer Office ANNUAL REPORT 2011/12
Content
Executive Summary 2
1. Introduction 4
2. Revamped Mission and Vision of KTO 4
3. Operational Goals of KTO 5 3.1 Consolidate Strengths and Harness Opportunities 5 3.2 Reach out to Internal and External Communities 6 3.3 Manage and Nurture Knowledge Capitals and KT Initiatives 8 3.4 Quality Assurance – Ensure Impact of KT Endeavours 9
4. KTP Case Narratives 11 4.1 Bilingual Improv Brigade 11 4.2 Lui Seng Chun Chinese Medicine Festival 15 4.3 A Cultural and Spacial Project on Buddist Complex 17
5. Looking forward 22
Appendices Appendix 1: KTP Application Flowchart i Appendix 2: Patent Application Flowchart ii Appendix 3: Patent Audit Flowchart iii Appendix 4: UGC Required Performance Indicators iv Appendix 5: HKBU Specific Performance Indicators v Executive Summary
In 2011/12, Hong Kong Baptist University 3. To manage and nurture knowledge (“HKBU” or “the University”) endeavoured capitals and KT initiatives by providing to develop a comprehensive enabling comprehensive in-house services for environment for knowledge transfer (KT) patenting and commercialisation of in alignment with HKBU’s seven Graduate inventions, achieving 400% growth in Attributes and its ethos in providing Whole patent filings at significantly reduced Person Education. cost in the reporting year as compared to the previous year; developing and In the reporting year, Knowledge Transfer implementing standardised patent Office (“KTO”) at HKBU has devoted much application and audit procedures; of its effort into achieving the following designing and producing research operational goals: logbook; and
1. To consolidate our strengths and 4. To implement quality assurance harness our opportunities b y scheme such as reviewing and establishing the HKBU Knowledge revising the effectiveness and social- Database (http://kto.hkbu.edu.hk) economic impact of our KT endeavours that is easily accessible to HKBU with a structured impact assessment and the broader community; initiating f r a m e w o r k ; d e v e l o p i n g c l e a r projects, facilitating different levels of guidelines and standards of criterion- knowledge transfer, and developing based assessment of KTP Seed standardised application procedure Fund applications to enhance quality and funding guidelines for Knowledge monitoring and evaluation. Transfer Partnership (KTP) projects; and developing KT enabling policies to Looking ahead, HKBU strives to provide enhance Intellectual Property Rights a sustainable, supportive, and vibrant (IPRs) protection at HKBU; environment to promote integration between KT and research / teaching, 2. To reach out widely and effectively fostering a Whole Person Education- to both internal and external based KT culture on campus and with the communities b y proactively broader community. The HKBU Business participating in local, regional, and Entrepreneur Support and Training international KT events; promoting and Programme, a three-year University co- attracting opportunities for community funded multi-million dollar entrepreneurship involvements in KTP projects; reaching project, will be launched by KTO in out to HKBU staff to cater for their the coming year to further broaden the different needs and explore further range of KT activities at HKBU (see KT opportunities; reaching out to p.22). Furthermore, KTO will continue to students to further promote KT and encourage interdisciplinary KT activities at IPRs; organising entrepreneurship HKBU by lifting the KTP Seed Fund funding competition Think Big Think Social cap by 20% for interdisciplinary projects – Business Plan Contest for Young and by promoting active participations from Explorers; across disciplines in Knowledge Transfer Committee of the University.
2 HKBU Knowledge Transfer Office Annual Report 2011/12
KTO will continue to cultivate a KT-rich environment at the University that is aligned and strongly integrated with the mission and vision of HKBU in the coming years.
▪ Knowledge Database ▪ Participation in KT events ▪ KT Partnership ▪ Reaching to staff & students ▪ KT enabling policies ▪ Entrepreneurship
Consolidate Strengths & Reach out to Internal & Harness Opportunities External Communities
Quality Assurance Manage & Nurture Knowledge Capitals & KT Initiatives
▪ Structured impact ▪ Patenting & commercialisation assessment framework of inventions ▪ Criterion-based ▪ Standardised patent assessment of KTP application & audit Seed Fund applications procedures ▪ Research logbook
3 1 Introduction 2 Revamped Mission and Vision of KTO
Hong Kong Baptist University (“HKBU” KTO appointed its first full-time Head in or “the University”) has a long tradition in 2011 (In the past, KTO staff has been transferring its research and expertise for directly supervised by an Associate Vice- the betterment of the community at large. President). Under this fresh boost of HKBU is committed to establish knowledge leadership, KTO repositioned itself in transfer (KT) as the third pillar in the core the University community and revised its activities of the University as stated in Mission and Vision to further strengthen its its University Strategic Plan 2009. With resolution in support of the Vision2020 of the earmarked funding from University HKBU. Grant Committee (“UGC”) since 2009, Knowledge Transfer Office (“KTO”) has Mission Statement been the executive unit to cultivate a KT- The Knowledge Transfer Office is rich culture at HKBU and is charged with committed to match the needs of the responsibilities to coordinate efforts of the community at large with the strengths of University in transferring knowledge to the Hong Kong Baptist University, to work in broader community. partnership with members of HKBU to proactively contribute to the community, KTO started many initiatives to further the and to enable knowledge transfer as the incorporation of KT at HKBU in 2011/12. third pillar of HKBU. This report provides comprehensive updates on KTO’s operation and initiatives Vision Statement in the past year, and outlines KTO’s The Knowledge Transfer Office aspires plans in the coming years. Performance to become an enabling catalyst and a indicators of the University are reported in supportive bridge between the broader the Appendices and the financial report is community and HKBU, to enrich research provided as a supplement insert. and inform teaching, and to become a driving force in realising HKBU’s vision of being the best regional provider of whole person education.
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3 Operational Goals of KTO
To translate the Mission and Vision by KTO to consolidate the knowledge into action and with the aim to further capitals of HKBU. This centralised, incorporate and facilitate KT development searchable online database is hosted on at HKBU, KTO’s operation and initiatives KTO website (http://kto.hkbu.edu.hk) and in the past year have been evolved around contains research areas and expertise of the following operational goals: faculty members at HKBU. Knowledge Database is crucial for KTO to link these 1. Consolidate strengths and harness knowledge capitals to the needs in the opportunities broader community. 2. Reach out to internal and external communities The Knowledge Database featuring School 3. Manage and nurture knowledge capitals of Chinese Medicine is being populated and KT initiatives since 2011/12. KTO plans to expand this 4. Quality Assurance – ensure impact of database to include all faculty members KT endeavours (with their permission) in the next year. KTO will also utilise metadata to raise the 3.1 Consolidate Strengths and Harness ranking of the Knowledge Database on Opportunities major search engines. Consolidating strengths for knowledge transfer is necessary for KT to flourish Knowledge Transfer Partnership at HKBU. Knowledge capitals must be Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) identified for HKBU to map out strategic projects are flagship initiatives. Through directions and seize future KT opportunities. active engagement with the community, Knowledge Transfer Partnership projects KTP projects allow HKBU to leverage on its are flagship initiatives where projects are identified strengths to address issues in the developed based on identified strengths broader community. of HKBU and successfully implemented through establishing and harnessing The KTP Seed Fund was set up in collaboration opportunities with community July 2010 and is currently providing partners. funding support to KTP projects on a competitive basis. During the reporting KTO also recognises that supportive year, seven projects were funded and five KT policies need to be put in place to projects funded in previous years were acknowledge and award those who actively completed. One out of these 12 projects engage in KT activities, hence, to better was interdisciplinary. Three projects are enable incorporation of KT at HKBU. selected and presented as case narratives With well-developed institutional policy in in Chapter 4 (see p.11). These selected place, we anticipate a significant increase case narratives each represent one project among academic staff and students in KT from the Arts and Humanities discipline – activities. English, the Science discipline – Chinese Medicine, and the inter-discipline of Knowledge Database Religion and Visual Arts. Knowledge Database is a succinct and informative digital infrastructure developed
5 Standardised KTP Seed Fund Procedure All staff of KTO have signed a blanket and Guidelines Non-Disclosure Agreement with the On KT enabling policy front, KTO has University to ensure that any potential also achieved much in the past year. As IPRs disclosed to KTO are treated with the KTP Seed Fund matures, competitive the strictest confidentiality. KTO staff is funding became necessary to ensure trained to properly process confidential that best quality projects are funded. To information in daily operation. Simple but ensure smooth operation, KTO developed important practices, such as shredding standardised application procedure and used sensitive documents and encrypting funding guidelines with three rounds of confidential emails, are now norms at KTO. application scheduled each year. Holistic Furthermore, staff of KTO has received and analytic assessment rubrics were training on privacy and best practice in developed to facilitate the Knowledge handling personal information at HKBU. Transfer Committee’s (“KTC”) evaluation. 3.2 Reach out to Internal and External The revised procedure and guidelines set Communities a cap on funding for each project while Actively and widely reaching out to providing incentives for interdisciplinary both internal and external communities KTP projects. The new guideline also is essential for KTO to become a truly requires project stake owners to reflect on effective and supportive bridge between better practices and future opportunities. HKBU and the community at large and to The standardised procedure is as make meaningful KT activities possible. illustrated in Appendix 1. KTO has devoted much of its effort to this area. Administrative Guidelines for the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights B e y o n d A c a d e m i a – International I n S e p t e m b e r 2 0 11 , KTO r e v i s e d Knowledge Transfer Conference in Arts the Administrative Guidelines for the and Humanities Protection of Intellectual Property Rights Beyond Academia – International at HKBU. The revised guideline is the Knowledge Transfer Conference in first document that clearly defines scope Arts and Humanities in October 2011 of different intellectual property rights in Beijing was co-organised by KTO (IPRs), owner of IPRs under various and Renmin University of China, a top situations, and operational guidelines for university in Mainland China with a fine the commercialisation of IPRs at HKBU. reputation in Humanities. The conference brought together KT experts in the Arts Non-Disclosure Agreement for KTO staff and Humanities discipline, as well as Due to the nature of KTO’s work in IPRs, professionals from the culture industries in confidentiality remains a key concern Mainland China, Hong Kong, and U.K. at KTO. This is particularly important in patenting, where the slightest disclosure of the invention could cause an invention to lose its novelty, hence a patent become invalid.
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academic units to provide information on KT development, IPRs protection, as well as introduction of available funding scheme for KT activities. Faculties have responded very positively, and many staff members have subsequently contacted KTO with inquiries on funding for KT activities and IPRs services. Beyond Academia IP Workshops for Students Knowledge Exchange Conference 2011 Since November 2011, KTO has been Knowledge Exchange Conference 2011 is hosting IPRs workshops for students. a UGC-sponsored conference in December These workshops are designed to raise last year. This conference covered KT in awareness of IPRs early in students’ career technology and non-technology related and equip them with knowledge on how to areas with follow-up discussions in critical manage and protect their own IPRs in the and complex issues. KTO, along with some future. As of 30 June 2012, two workshops of the KTP project leaders, attended this have been hosted for students from School conference and presented our experiences of Chinese Medicine and Academy of and insights into KT in the Hong Kong and Visual Arts with more scheduled for the international context. Case studies were next year. presented, and staff of KTO also actively participated in panel discussions. Think Big Think Social Think Big Think Social – Business Plan AsiaEngage 2012 Contest for Young Explorers is a student Apart from conferences in China, KTO has social enterprise competition organised also been invited to present its successful by KTO in 2011/12. The competition KTP model and projects at AsiaEngage aimed at not only equipping participants 2012—a regional conference in Malaysia— with entrepreneurial skills, but also in May 2012. This conference aimed to instilling business attitudes with social bring together diverse practitioners from responsibilities. During the competition, a academia, industries, NGOs, government series of workshops, seminars, field trip, agencies, and foundations that are and mentorship programme was organised passionate about university-community- to provide participants with a real taste of i n d u s t r y e n g a g e m e n t f o r r e g i o n a l the business world. Its Final Presentation development. cum Award Ceremony was successfully held on 31 March 2012, and judges from Tailored Presentations to HKBU Academic the industry were impressed with the Units finalists. Towards the internal community, KTO has been giving presentations on KT and The winning team, made up of four IPRs to schools and faculties at HKBU. students from School of Chinese Medicine, These presentations are tailored to the claimed a cash prize of HK$10,000. Their identified needs and interests of individual enterprise aims to set up a Chinese
7 medicine clinic with home consultation and is able to significantly reduce legal cost medicine brewing services. for HKBU. As shown in Figure 1, average cost for each US provisional filing has gone down from HK$34,250 in 2010/11 to HK$5,571 in the reporting year, a reduction of over 80%.
40,000 HK$34,250 35,000 30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 Think Big Think Social Final Presentation cum 10,000 HK$5,571 Award Ceremony 5,000 0 2010/11 2011/12 3.3 Manage and Nurture Knowledge Capitals and KT Initiatives Figure 1: Cost for U.S. provisional filing Thanks to its long and strong emphasis on research, HKBU is the owner of a large Turn-around time for patent filings has also quantity of knowledge capitals and IPRs. been significantly shortened with in-house Proper management of the knowledge legal services. The lead time required capitals and IPRs with effective support is from initial contact with KTO to filing a US the key in nurturing KT initiatives at HKBU. provisional patent can be as short as two Since its establishment in 2009, KTO weeks. has been a keen advocate on campus to raise awareness of and promote proper By removing the financial and time management and protection of IPRs. constraints for researchers, KTO saw a 400% growth in number of patent filings in 2011/12 (20 filings) as compared to the Patenting and Commercialisation of previous year (four filings). One China Inventions patent has also been granted in early 2012. KTO currently manages all HKBU patents. KTO expects these numbers to continue to One breakthrough in KTO’s work last year grow in the coming year. in this area is that, with the new Head of KTO’s strong legal background, KTO 30
now provides comprehensive in-house 20 services including patent search, patent 20 specification and claims drafting, as well as 10 patent persecution advice. 4
These services were traditionally done by 0 2010/11 2011/12 legal agents and charged on an hourly basis at HK$2,000-4,000 / hour. By Figure 2: Number of patent filings providing these services in-house, KTO
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Standardised Patent Application Procedure measures need to be taken to best protect As part of patent management at HKBU, the University and researchers. KTO has developed and implemented a standardised patent application procedure Against this rationale, KTO has developed for HKBU along with two standardised a Research Logbook for all research forms: a Preliminary Disclosure of Invention students and faculty members of HKBU. Form and an Invention Disclosure Form. The logbook is developed in consultation This standardised procedure requires with academic units, and it is a useful careful documentation of the invention tool for proper documentation of detailed including information required to determine progress and important events of an the ownership of the IPRs. As illustrated in intellectual property during its course of Appendix 2, it intends to give researchers development. The logbook is scheduled step by step guidelines in initiating a patent for distribution in September 2012. application at HKBU. 3.4 Quality Assurance – Ensure Impact Standardised Patent Audit Procedure of KT Endeavours Maintenance of patents can be costly. Quality Assurance is at the heart of every Regular audit of patents is an effective activity at KTO. KTO has begun reviewing means to determine whether a patent is still both qualitative and quantitative literatures of commercial interest to the University. As to design and implement a comprehensive shown in Appendix 3, a standardised and Quality Assurance scheme with a reflective manageable patent audit procedure was cycle of “plan, do, review, and act”. It is thus developed by KTO. The procedure only through rigorous and regular reviews requires patents to be audited every three that KTO can assess impact of each years to determine whether the patents are activity, ensure its effectiveness, and still of commercial value to HKBU. This extract invaluable experience therefrom. will allow the University to keep high-value patents while lowering the cost of patent While technology transfer impacts maintenance by abandoning the ones that are more readily measurable through are no longer of commercial interest to product popularity and sales volume, HKBU. KT in non-technology areas, however, does not always yield tangible and easily Research Logbook measurable outcomes. Furthermore, Many have the misconception that IPRs are impact assessment for KT projects has created upon conclusion of their study and yet to develop into a mature science. In the need for management and protection some projects, the relative small numbers of IPRs only arises when scholarly papers of participants (n ≤ 200) and the difficulty in have been published or patents have been conducting pre- and post-tests also pose filed. KTO understands that it is just as many challenges. important, if not more so, to manage and protect IPRs since the commencement of KTO has spent some considerable research projects. It is often times too late effort into developing structured impact to reach a win-win solution for all parties assessment framework for KTP projects in if we wait till dispute happens. Therefore, the reporting year.
9 Structured Impact Assessment Framework the Whole Person Education ethos and To counter these limitations and allow Vision2020 of HKBU. diverse approaches, a research based, 6. (ACT) KTO will make reflective and s t r u c t u r e d f r a m e w o r k f o r i m p a c t continuous improvement in the planning assessment for KT activities at HKBU is and implementation of future KT currently under development at KTO. This activities / projects based on results of evolving framework aims to standardise impact assessment. This will ensure the impact assessment framework and to that future activities / projects are of the develop assessment tools based on well- highest quality and better aligned with established research, so that impacts the mission and vision of HKBU. across different KT activities become comparable: This framework will provide reliable and valid assessment results that can be 1. (PLAN) All activities / projects should verified and recognised by scholars. It will c l e a r l y i d e n t i f y t h e i r g o a l s a n d enable staff to publish quality work on KT objectives in the planning stage. This in peer reviewed conferences and journals. will ensure that all activities / projects KTO also seeks to publish the methodology are well planned and actual impact are and implementation of this impact maximised. assessment in peer-reviewed conferences 2. (PLAN) Impact assessment strategies and journals, sharing our knowledge in the and methodologies should be planned area to benefit the greater KT community. i n a l i g n m e n t w i t h o b j e c t i v e s o f activities / projects. This will ensure Criterion-based Assessment of KTP Seed that impact assessments are able to Fund Applications measure specific indicators and provide A crucial tool in ensuring good practice conclusive results on how well each of quality assurance and reflection in the objective is achieved. planning and execution of KTP projects is 3. (DO) Assessments should be conducted in the use of criterion-based assessment periodically throughout activity / project rubrics. Both holistic and analytical period. Longitudinal study, where assessment rubrics have been developed possible, is also preferred. This will by KTO. These rubrics will provide clear ensure that evidences of the impact guidelines and standards for: and sustainability of the activity / project 1. Project leaders to plan and develop can be obtained and documented. their projects; 4. (REVIEW) Similar measuring metrics 2. Project officers to work with project should be employed for activities / leaders to revise proposals before projects with comparable outcomes, submission; so that apple-to-apple comparison can 3. KTO to assess the quality of proposals be made across activities / projects of and to provide assessment reports to similar nature. KTC for funding consideration; 5. (REVIEW) The measuring metrics 4. KTC to evaluate proposals and grant should be aligned with the seven funding; Graduate Attributes of HKBU, so that it 5. Project leaders to review and revise can be clearly identified how the activity their proposals for future consideration. / project supports and contributes to
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4 KTP Case Narratives
4.1 Bilingual Improv Brigade Project Implementation This project was executed in three phases This is a KTP project that was funded and hoped to transfer the knowledge on in previous year and completed in the improvisation to the broader community reporting year. through public performances, workshops, o n l i n e t e a c h i n g k i t s , e t c . U p o n Introduction & Underpinning Research commencement of the project in February Improvised comedy is a theatrical art form 2011, a core team of bilingual improvisation with quick wit and powerful communicative actors was formed by audition. Besides rhetoric through the use of humour. Dr. Wee, these actors are all HKBU Although English performing groups students and alumni, most of whom had exist, improvised comedy is still very attended courses on Linguistics and much in its infant stage in Hong Kong. To improvised comedy. The core team met enrich the local cultural scene, Bilingual regularly every Saturday to rehearse for Improv Brigade (“BIB”), the first bilingual public performance and plan for training improvised comedy group in Hong Kong, workshops. BIB plans on recruiting more was set up to introduce to the general core members in the near future to sustain public this art form. the group’s growth.
The second phase lasted from June 2011 to completion of the project, during which BIB hosted three workshops for primary and secondary schools, as well as two public performances.
The first workshop ( ) was conducted in Cantonese on 20 June 2011 for Primary Five students from Sai Kung Sung Tsun Catholic School. 23 Bilingual Improv Brigade logo students were introduced to various Linguistic and English concepts through a Project leader Dr. Lian Hee Wee of series of improvised comedy games. The Department of English specialises in game Blind Lines illustrated to students Linguistics and is especially interested in how apparently random information may improvisation. In 2008/09, he obtained a be used to blend into a coherent discourse, Teaching Development Grant to study how which encouraged students to actively use improvised comedy may be used to deliver information as they speak. The game Four linguistic concepts and promote linguistic Rooms illustrated how linguistic expressions awareness in the classroom setting, and in could interact with various contexts, creating turn, how improvisation skills can be trained different effects. Another game Story or through greater linguistic and cultural Sorry led students to actively create stories awareness (Sio & Wee, 2012). Against this by building upon information established by research background, BIB also aimed to others. This demonstrated conversation as provide training and resources for English a team effort by teaching students to use education, communication competency, what they hear into what they could then and team building through improvised say. comedy. 11 The second workshop Speak Aloud! a theme in resonance to the traditional was conducted in English for 125 Form Hungry Ghost Festival, was the first Four students from S.K.H. Lui Ming Cantonese improvised comedy show in Choi Secondary School on 5 July 2011. Hong Kong. Similarly, the workshop aimed to build up English-speaking confidence of students Santa Paws, also staged at TakeOut by introducing concepts of the English Comedy Club on 11 December 2011, was language through short improvised a bilingual charity show for Hong Kong comedy games. The game Fill in the Paws Foundation. BIB was able to raise Blanks discussed how random information HK$12,000 through ticket sale. might be used to blend into a coherent discourse while Two-Line Vocabulary illustrated how linguistic expressions may have not only one unitary but also many different meanings in different contexts. It encouraged students to explore the range of meanings they could express with apparently simple sentences. The game Life Dubbing prompted students to express ideas for a given theme by associating the theme with their range of experiences, which is a high-order cognitive skill that requires lateral thinking that is guided by a sense of coherence.
The third workshop Improv Games for the Classroom was a communication and teaching skill workshop for 21 primary school teachers from Sai Kung Sung Tsun Catholic School on 23 August 2011. Teachers were first introduced to principles and concepts of improvised comedy, then presenters demonstrated and analysed how improved comedy games could be BIB 11 December 2011 performance poster successfully used for teaching English in the classroom setting. Teachers then developed their own improvised comedy game to a specific teaching need in his / her own classroom under guidance.
Two public performances have been staged by BIB. BIB made its debut on 26 August 2011 and attracted a full house at the venue of the project’s external partner TakeOut Comedy Club. Gwai Gum Improv,
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improvised comedy game specific to the teaching needs in their classroom. About 80% of the audience thought the public shows deepened their understanding of improvisation and grew appreciative of this art form.
Improvised comedy requires high level of coordination for the performance to be successful. All BIB members thought that the project was instrumental for them in developing teamwork skills. They have BIB performing at TakeOut Comedy Club become more active in groups and learnt to always be attentive to fellow actors and Concurrent to the second phase, BIB respond accordingly and instantaneously. contributed to the website Improvised Specifically, they are now more skillful Game Formats for the Classroom (http:// in planning, assigning, delegating, and net3.hkbu.edu.hk/~lianhee/IGFManual/). performing assigned tasks. All teachers Most of the website’s content was also agreed that the workshop had developed during the course of this project. significantly raised their awareness of The site provides information on improvised teamwork. comedy as well as valuable material for communication skills and linguistic All BIB members expressed that their awareness training through improvised communication skills had improved, thanks comedy for public use. to increased competence of English as a direct result of rehearsals and preparation Project Impact for workshops. The students indicated An impact assessment for this project was that they learnt how to use a given English conducted and the results showed that this expression in multiple contexts. Over project had made significant impacts in the 90% of the primary students agreed that following Graduate Attributes of HKBU: they felt more confident in expressing knowledge, teamwork, communication, themselves after the workshop. About 90% creativity, and lifelong learning. A total of the teacher participants agreed that the of 269 questionnaires were collected workshop had raised their awareness of from project team members, workshop communication techniques with students participants, and audience. and parents. However, less than 60% of the respondents in the secondary student All members of BIB expressed that the workshop thought the training improved project provided them with intimate their communication skills, and less than knowledge of improvisation. Over 90% 50% felt more confident in language of the respondents in the first workshop expression after the workshop. This was considered the content valuable in training attributed to the large number of 125 their improvisation skills. The teachers participants in the workshop. said that through the workshop they learnt how to create and use a coherent
13 All BIB members agreed that they upon completion of this project to diversify had become more creative because Hong Kong’s cultural scene. Ticket sales of increased competence in making for performances will become another connections across a variety of information channel of revenue for BIB. Last but not sources to gain insight on a given situation. least, through the external partner TakeOut They are able to use more creative Comedy Club who hosts a number of approaches when solving problems. Over international comedy festivals annually, 90% of primary school students and all BIB hopes to bring Cantonese improvised teacher participants thought the training as comedy beyond Hong Kong. a teaching practice was inspiring. On the other hand, only about three quarters of the secondary students thought so. This may References also be due to the sheer size of participants 1. Sio, U. J., & Wee, L. H. (2012). Teaching in the secondary school workshop, which Linguistics through Improvised Comedy. prevented them from getting ample In C. A. Decoursey (Ed.), Language opportunity to practice in the workshop. Arts in Asia: Literature and Drama in English, Putonghua and Cantonese (pp. Both student and teacher participants 281-300). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge responded positively that the workshop Scholars Publishing. gave their more incentive to learn 2. about improvisation. All BIB members were motivated to learn and share the knowledge of improvisation, and more than 80% of them reported they were more able to acquire knowledge independently. The vast majority of respondents expressed that they would like to attend similar activities in the future.
The project and establishment of Bilingual Improv Brigade were positively reported by Sing Tao Daily on 15 March 2012, and BIB members were interviewed by Radio Television Hong Kong in its programme 388 Come and Talk (388 ) on 1 December 2011.
BIB looks forward to engage with private companies to run trainings and workshops to enhance people’s communication and teamwork skills through improvised comedy. Such trainings and workshops would be paid for by companies so that BIB will eventually become self-sustainable. Performances are expected to continue
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4.2 Lui Seng Chun Chinese Medicine CM has played a paramount role in Festival healthcare of China in past millennia and more and more people are turning to CM in Introduction & Underpinning Research recent years. However, the general public Built in 1931, Lui Seng Chun is a four- lacks in-depth understanding of CM and story building located at 119 Lai Chi Kok many still holds misconception towards the Road. “Lui Seng Chun” was the name of a science of CM. Chinese bone-setting medicine shop on its ground floor, which came to be regarded as School of Chinese Medicine (“SCM”) of representative of the development of local HKBU is committed to contribute to the Chinese Medicine (CM). The building was development of CM in Hong Kong and later named after this shop. HKBU was has long been promoting CM in teaching, awarded the opportunity to revitalise the research, and clinical service. With the Grade 1 historic Lui Seng Chun building expertise of academics and practitioners by the Hong Kong Special Administrative covering all specialties of CM, SCM has Region Government in 2009. The become the local leading institution in CM. revitalisation work was completed in April 2012, and since then Lui Seng Chun has This project’s external partner Senior been offering a full range of CM specialty C i t i z e n H o m e S a f e t y Association services and treatments to the public. (“SCHSA”) is the only NGO in Hong Kong offering 24/7 Personal Emergency Link Service for the elderly and people in need. This KTP project between SCM and SCHSA was to launch a Chinese Medicine Festival in Lui Seng Chun and Yau Tsim Mong District to raise awareness of health and transfer CM knowledge to a wider audience through a series of public CM seminars and guided tour. The guided tour also intended to give the public cultural insights of Lui Seng Chun as a historical building. Complimentary Chinese herbal tea would also be offered on site.
Lui Seng Chun building before revitalisaion
CM herbal tea offered at Lui Seng Chun
15 Project Implementation all the seminars and tour to promote CM A total of six seminars were planned to even more people. The seminars were and scheduled for this project with videotaped and would be shared online topics covering Disease Prevention in along with a virtual tour of Lui Seng Chun Winter and Spring, CM Treatment for building. DVDs of the seminars and virtual Heel Pain, CM Treatment for Chronic tour would also be produced for distribution Kidney Disease, Chinese Herbal Tea and at CM clinics of HKBU, the external partner, Health, Prevention and CM Treatment for public libraries, and elderly associations. Cervical Spondylitis, and CM Treatment in Oncology. As of end of June 2012, five Project Impact seminars had been hosted by specialists Around 680 people participated in the from SCM with one more scheduled for seminars and tour. An assessment July 2012. CM specialists translated for this project was conducted and the abstruse CM knowledge and jargons into results revealed that this project had layman’s language with illustrations and made significant impacts in the following live demonstrations. Graduate Attributes of HKBU: knowledge and lifelong learning. In addition to the seminar series, Lui Seng Chun CM guided tour was another great Over 80% participants of the CM seminar means to transfer CM knowledge to the series agreed that the seminars had greater community. In the tour, participants helped them better understand the basics were guided through the revitalised Lui of CM and expand their knowledge of CM. Seng Chun building to gain a deeper Approximately 85% of the participants insight into this historic cultural landmark of thought information in the seminars and Hong Kong. History of CM, information on the guided tour was relevant and useful for CM health care, and CM herbs were also their own health care. More than 90% of introduced. Complimentary Chinese herbal the guided tour participants agreed that the tea formulated by CM specialists of SCM first-hand experience of visiting Lui Seng was offered to the participants. Chun increased their understanding of this building as well as heritage revitalisation. Through the CM exhibition and herbal tea tasting, over 90% participants indicated that their knowledge of CM clinic and Chinese herbal tea had also increased.
Lui Seng Chun CM Festival effectively evoked the general public’s interest in CM. All participants of the Festival responded positively that they were more motivated to learn about CM. It is noteworthy that A corner of the revitalised Lui Seng Chun over 90% of the participants expressed they would like to share the CM knowledge Booklets on CM and Lui Seng Chun they learnt with others. In other words, building will be published and distributed knowledge is being transferred beyond the to the general public upon completion of participants. This KTP project has served
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the broader community by raising public 4.3 A Cultural and Spacial Project on awareness of health and the vast majority Buddhist Complex of respondents expressed that they would also like to attend future activities in related This is a KTP project that was funded topics. in previous year and completed in the reporting year. This KTP project successfully transferred expertises of the University to a broader Introduction & Underpinning Research community. It enhanced the profile and Located in the Kowloon Peninsula, Chi the prominence of SCM and prompted Lin Complex (“the Complex”)—a Buddhist the development of CM. This project also complex featuring Tang-style architecture fulfilled the external partner’s mission of and classical Chinese garden design— serving the community and enhancing the is very familiar to the community, yet few quality of life for the elderly. are aware of its cultural significance. The Complex represents one of the most valuable Chinese monuments in Hong Kong and carries enormous religious, cultural, and artistic significance. Beautiful plants, artistic rocks, peaceful pond and eaves of ancient style temple constitute a poetic landscape that is most impressive. Its scenery and cultural heritage together define the aesthetic of “oneness” in Chinese landscape painting.
Seminar CM Treatment for Heel Pain
Lui Seng Chun CM Festival proved to be a huge success and also doubled up as a pilot project for KTO to further explore collaborations at Lui Seng Chun with SCM.
Chi Lin Complex
Dr. William Yau Nang Ng of Department of Religion and Philosophy specialises in Buddhism and has conducted extensive s t u d y a n d r e s e a r c h o n t h e s o c i a l engagement of Pure Land Buddhist school and Pure Land murals in Dunhuang area (Ng, 2007a). His study revealed that
17 there is a new Pure Land spirit which would further transfer the knowledge of Chi emphasises very much on engagement Lin Complex to their own students in the with instead of detachment from the earthly near future. world. The Pure Land mural study also revealed the relationship between the During the second phase, the project secular and sacred spaces. The active and leaders developed the research findings close relationship between the two spaces into teaching materials for Liberal reflects a spirit of social engagement. Studies curriculum under the New Senior This spirit is important for the modern Secondary with the assistance of high society which suffers from excessive school teachers. Topics in the teaching individualism that cares only one’s own self materials include globalisation, social and disregards the importance of the other participation, environment, and personal (Ng, 2007a, 2007b). Dr. Ng extended his identity, all of which are required topics research to Chi Lin Complex and found for students in Hong Kong. This teaching that the spatial and artistic design of the kit includes PowerPoint presentations, Complex reflects the new Pure Land spirit. lesson notes, and worksheets for students. Teachers were also encouraged to use the Against this research background, Dr. Ng instructions on using the Complex as other and Dr. Jack Sai Chong Lee—an expert in learning experience given in the teaching Buddhist Arts from Academy of Visual Arts material: field trip with suggested routes of (“AVA”)—conducted an interdisciplinary the Complex, suggested themes for field KTP project with external partner Hong trips, reference for independent studies on Kong Community College (“HKCC”), the Complex, etc. Through these efforts, seeking to transfer the research findings the project team sought to enhance the of studies on Chi Lin Complex into cultural effectiveness in transferring knowledge of resources for the tourist industry and Chi Lin Complex to high school teachers education community. and students.
Project Implementation During the third phase, in collaboration with The knowledge was transferred in various HKCC, two seminars were presented on 14 means. and 15 November 2011 on HKCC campus to over 120 audiences on the meaning and During the first phase from July to value of the Complex in culture and art, September 2010, Dr. Ng incorporated his social engagement, and spirituality. The research findings on Chi Lin Complex into seminars not only expanded the audience’s a course that he taught for Master of Arts understanding of Chi Lin Complex and in Liberal Studies and Ethics (“MALSE”) knowledge of related topics, but also at HKBU. The programme is designed inspired lecturers of HKCC to incorporate for those who intend to be high school the Complex as case studies in their teachers and there were over 40 students courses. in Dr. Ng’s course. Examples from the Complex were employed in the course for various topics related to globalisation, social participation, and personal identity. It was expected that the teachers-in-training
18 HKBU Knowledge Transfer Office Annual Report 2011/12
Knowledge exchange visit to Nanjing University
Seminar at HKCC The project team also met with Qinhuai District Government and presented This project also intended to shed light case studies in Hong Kong and South on the exploration of cultural assets Korea to introduce the concept of in Mainland China. To promote and preservative development that emphasise consolidate long-term impact of the the importance of ecology protection, project, the project team paid a knowledge participation of inhabitants, and index of exchange visit to Nanjing, Jiangsu Province happiness. The Deputy District Mayor on 10-14 December 2011. and other government officials were very appreciative of the presentation Nanjing was the capital city of several and expressed interest in exploring the dynasties in ancient China and preserves possibility of collaborating with HKBU. a rich Buddhist culture. The project team visited Nanjing University which For cultural exchange, the project team has considerable Buddhist cultural also visited Ji Ming Temple, one of resources and a strong research team in the oldest temples in China that has a the field. The two institutions discussed comprehensive Buddhist college and the regeneration of cultural assets and provides a full range of social services. The the importance of cultural construction project team illustrated the architectural which is critical to people’s happiness and and spatial design, the artistic value and maintenance of social stability through characteristics, social services provided by vivid case studies. The project team also Chi Lin Nunnery, and the impact of Chi Lin presented research findings on Chi Lin Complex on visitors’ cultural identity. Complex and discussed issues related to religious resources and Chinese traditional During the second last phase of the culture, focusing on the connection project, the project team in collaboration of secular and sacred spaces, social with Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre put participation, cultural meaning of Tang-style together an exhibition Visual Perception wooden architecture imitation, as well as and Representation of Chi Lin Nunnery the development of teaching materials. and Nan Lian Garden. This exhibition is
19 the visual observation, perception, and representation of a group of contemporary young artists to present Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden together as an architectural complex that demonstrates “the merging of ancient architectural style and the essence of art” through drawings, photography, sculptures, video art, and installation. The exhibition held on 1-9 May 2012 was well received by over 600 visitors.
Exhibition Visual Perception and Representa- tion of Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden
Last but not least, as of end of June 2012, the project team is editing and publishing documentation of the project. The documentation is scheduled to be published in October 2012.
Project Impact To assess the impact of the project, three survey studies have been conducted. The questionnaires adopted a six-point Likert scale to measure respondents’ perception of the events’ knowledge impact. The data of the assessment suggested that impact Visual Perception and Representation of Chi of the project was mainly on knowledge, Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden poster creativity, and lifelong learning, in alignment with the Graduate Attributes of HKBU.
20 HKBU Knowledge Transfer Office Annual Report 2011/12
Students of MALSE programme perceived The audience also reported that their positively the impact of lessons on their motivation for learning culture and art was knowledge and understanding of Chi significantly improved after the seminars. Lin Complex (95% of the respondents However, there was a contast between indicating strongly agree or agree), social the responses from artist participants and engagement (87.50%), personal identity visitors on the impact of the exhibition. (77.50%), and knowledge of localisation, More artist participants than visitors agreed regionalisation, and globalisation (80%). that the exhibition motivated them to This was also reflected in the course share knowledge to others (67% vs. 21%), teaching evaluation. Seminars at HKCC to learn about architecture and culture were also successful in transferring (67% vs. 17%), and to learn about visual knowledge. Pre- and post-tests were arts (75% vs. 28%). This contrast was conducted and paired samples t-Test again caused by the artistic nature of the was employed to measure impact of the exhibition. seminars with the significance level was set at .05. The results showed a statistically As confirmed by the results of the impact significant improvement in audience’s self- assessment, this project was mostly evaluation of knowledge of cultural and successful and satisfactory in the eyes of artistic value of Chi Lin Complex, their the participants. It has transferred much of understanding of social engagement, and HKBU’s expertises in Religion and Visual ability to reflect. Arts to the general public.
In the evaluation for exhibition Visual Perception and Representation of Chi Lin References Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden, more than 1. N g , Y. N. ( 2 0 0 7 a ) . Yi n S h u n ’ s 50% of the artist participants expressed that Interpretations of the Pure Land. the exhibition improved their understanding Journal of Chinese Philosophy, 34 (1), of Chi Lin Complex, cross-media visual 25-47. arts and relation between space and individual. However, visitors’ response to the exhibition was less desirable. A small portion of respondents agreed that the exhibition enhanced their understanding of Chi Lin Complex (12% of respondents), cross-media Visual Arts (29%), relation between space and individual (20%). The comparatively less desirable response was caused by the exhibition’s nature in artistic expression instead of textual or academic expression. This also explained why 67% of the artist participants indicated that participating in the exhibition enhanced their creativity.
21 5 Looking forward
KTO has devoted much of its effort in the Other highlights of BEST include an Annual past year to continue diversifying the range Gala Reception cum Award Ceremony of mechanisms for achieving KT impacts where outstanding achievements in KT will at HKBU and to proactively seek support be recognised and awarded, a Trans-border for KT initiatives at the University from the Entrepreneurship Exchange programme senior management. For the coming year, to deepen students’ understanding of the KTO will channel its resources to support social and economic climate of the region, the following initiatives. as well as Incubation Offices for staff and students to start their own ventures. Business Entrepreneurship Support and Training Programme (BEST) BEST is budgeted at HK$4.11 million, with BEST is a three-year project that aims support from UGC’s earmarked funding to enhance creativity and complement for KT and a matching funding of HK$2.92 Whole Person Education at HKBU, offering million from HKBU’s Strategic Development entrepreneurship support and training to Fund. equip students with can-do attitude and business acumen to become successful Interdisciplinary KT Projects entrepreneurs in the turbulent business KTO has plans to promote, encourage, environment. This enables an even and establish more interdisciplinary KT stronger integration and incorporation of projects at HKBU. As a first step towards KT into one of the core business of HKBU this initiative, KTO has proposed, and – education. KTC—the supervising committee of all KT activities at HKBU—has approved, Based on the Timmons Model where to lift the Seed Fund funding cap by opportunity, entrepreneurial team, 20% for interdisciplinary KTP projects. and resource are at the heart of every KTO will actively create opportunities, successful venture, BEST comprises of where possible, for the establishment of Entrepreneurship-Challenge (E-Challenge), interdisciplinary KT projects by identifying Entrepreneurship Sharing and Networking links between proposed KTP projects for (ESAN), and Entrepreneurship-Space win-win collaborations and maintaining (E-Space). E-Challenge is a series of close contacts with the broader community business plan competitions for simple to establish KT projects that will engage and sophisticated business and social HKBU faculty across the disciplines. enterprise ideas. It encourages students to be keen observers of the society and KTO will also invite one representative from seize every business opportunity. ESAN each Faculty / School to serve on KTC so consists of year-round seminars / trainings that all disciplines at HKBU are aware of to equip the entrepreneurial team with skills the KT opportunities and activities in the required in the entrepreneurial process, University. Their inclusion will further foster while E-Space provides resources for the establishment of interdisciplinary KT entrepreneurial activities on campus. projects.
22 HKBU Knowledge Transfer Office Annual Report 2011/12
Strengthening Ties between Research, Teaching and KT KTO will continue to promote integration of KT and research / teaching. Such integration should be able to be assessed and measured by scientific methods and compared across different KT activities.
KT activities that are derived from and supported by established underpinning research will be considered higher priority and duely rewarded. KTO will encourage members of HKBU to design and plan KT activities so that these activities will in turn enrich research and inform teaching at the University. For example, data collected from KT activities can contribute to academic staffs’ future research; students can gain valuable hands-on experiences when participating in the planning and implementation of KT activities while benefitting the community at large.
Specific sections of the impact assessment framework will be developed to address and measure the type, breadth, and depth of the impacts that KT activities have on research and teaching as well as on the community at large.
KTO strives to cultivate a KT-rich environment at the University and is committed to put in every effort to incorporate KT that is aligned and strongly integrated with the mission and vision of HKBU in the coming years.
23 Appendix 1
KTP Application Flowchart
Conception of project (Project leader)
Initial Enquiry with KTO (Project leader)
Assignment of project officer for the project Signing of MOU with the external partner if (KTO) appropriate (Project leader with KTO)
Development of project proposal against the Signing of Cooperative Agreement with the KTP rubric external partner (Project leader with KTO) (Project leader with KTO)
Submission of application materials to KTO (Project leader)
Executive Summary and recommendation of the project (KTO)
Submission of application materials to KTC for approval (KTO)
Yes with conditions No Yes Revision of project proposal Application rejected (Project leader with KTO)
Application approved
Remark : Brackets indicate the responsible party i Appendix 2
Patent Application Flowchart
Innovative research (Inventor)
Novel Invention (Inventor)
Preliminary disclosure of invention (Inventor & KTO)
Not patentable Market / competitive analysis Prior art search (KTO with Inventor) (KTO with Inventor)
Patentable
Recommendation for patent Not patent-worthy application (KTO)
Patent-worth
Quotation from IP attorney (KTO)
Invention Disclosure Form (Inventor & KTO)
Endorsement by Department / No School to share 50% patent application cost (Inventor)
Yes
Approval by Knowledge Transfer No Committee to fund remaining 50% patent application cost (KTO)
Yes
Patent draft (KTO)
Patent application (KTO)
Remark : Brackets indicate the responsible party
ii Appendix 3
Patent Audit Flowchart
Grant of patent
3rd year Patent Audit Not patent-worthy
Patent-worthy
Maintain for three years
6th year Patent Audit Not patent-worthy
Patent-worthy
Maintain for three years
Every 3rd year till expiration of patent Patent Audit Not patent-worthy
Patent-worthy
Abandon Maintain for three years
Patent expires iii Appendix 4
UGC Required Performance Indicators
Performance Indicators 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 (Projection) Number of patents filed in the year Country Country Country (with breakdown by country and type) 3 (US) 17 (US) 22 (US) 1 (HK) 2 (CN) 10 (CN) 1 (EU) 3 (EU) 1 (PCT) 1 (PCT) Type Type Type 4 (A61) 14 (A61) 31 (A61) 1 (B82) 2 (G06) 1 (G01) 3 (others) 5 (G06) Number of patents granted in the year Country Country Country (with breakdown by country and type) 1 (HK) 2 (CN) TBC Type Type Type 1 (A61) 1 (C07) TBC 1 (G01) Number of licenses granted (with breakdown by type) 1 1 1 Income (on cash basis) generated from intellectual property rights HK$3,104,384 HK$2,960,000 HK$3,000,000 Expenditure involved in generating income from intellectual property rights HK$2,123,500 HK$2,750,000 HK$2,500,000 Number of economically active spin-off 2 Note 1 & 3 3 Note 1 & 3 3 Note 1 & 3 companies (with breakdown by type) 0 Note 2 0 Note 2 0 Note 2 Net income generated (or net loss arising) from spin-off companies (HK$74,888) HK$399,000 HK$400,000 Number of collaborative researches, and 10 11 12 income thereby generated HK$4,503,075 HK$5,268,062 HK$5,500,000 Number of contract researches (other than those included in 30 43 45 “collaborative researches” above), and income thereby generated HK$12,383,680 HK$15,617,013 HK$16,000,000 Number of consultancies, and 267 275 280 income thereby generated HK$27,753,078 HK$31,625,557 HK$32,000,000 Number of student contact hours in short courses or e-learning programmes specially tailored to meet business or CPD needs 129,821 169,705 170,000 Number of equipment and facilities service 111 127 130 agreements, and income thereby generated HK$2,725,112 HK$3,152,087 HK$3,200,000 Income received from Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses – HK$19,903,498 HK$20,000,000 Number of public lectures / symposiums / exhibitions and speeches to a community audience – 488 500 Number of performances and exhibitions of creative works by staff or students – 52 50 Number of staff engaged as members of external advisory bodies including professional, industry, – 109 110 government, statutory or non-statutory bodies
Note 1: Company with some institutional ownership and using intellectual property from the institution Note 2: Company with no institutional ownership and using assigned or licensed IP Note 3: Breakdown of the spin-off companies * Institute for the Advancement of Chinese Medicine Ltd. • Year of establishment: 1999 • Nature of business: R&D of Chinese medicine products, testing and certification services, clinical trials, and publication of books * Earth Tech Consultancy Co. Ltd. • Year of establishment: 1999 • Nature of business: Provision of consultancy services on biotechnology and environmental science * HKBU Science Consultancy Company Ltd. • Year of establishment: 2011 • Nature of business: Provision of consultancy projects on science disciplines. iv Appendix 5
HKBU Specific Performance Indicators
Other Performance Indicators 2011/12
Number of placements / internships, and average length 1345 (places) / 2.54 (months)
Books and other media for non-academic audiences 386
Number of mentors who are University staff 303
Number of videos produced by HKBU that are available for open access 955
Download count of postgraduate theses to addresses outside HKBU 48,794
View count of BUTube outside HKBU 206,359
Number of positive media mentions related to knowledge transfer coverage, 250 including print, on-line, and electronic media
Number of staff available for media contact 64
Number of appointments of external members to HKBU advisory boards, committees or panels Note 4 241
Number of KT activities that are not otherwise reported Note 5 56
Note 4: Appointing external members can diversify HKBU’s expertise with professional and industrial knowledge. Note 5: These activities include but not limited to writing competitions, festivals, summer camps, open days, etc.
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