The University has outlined an overall five-year vision (2016-2020), according to which CUHK is committed to the vision of “A world-class university recognized as a center of excellence for developing cutting-edge research and emerging interdisciplinary strengths that have global impact and significant contributions to society.” Focusing on four major research areas addressing “multifaceted human and societal concerns,” CUHK aims to promote and support interdisciplinary research excellence throughout the university. These four major research areas are:
Members of the Department of English are actively engaged in China Studies research in the area of ‘China’s Global Challenges’, exploring both ‘Intercultural relations in the context of China’s outreach to the world’ and ‘Hong Kong’s role in China’s development,’ the latter in relation to English language creativity, development, and use in multilingual China and Hong Kong.
The Department is also engaged in research in Translational Biomedicine, specifically in relation to the integration of the natural sciences and the humanities as well as the study of ‘Communication Sciences and Disorders’.
One of the Department’s research foci is Digital Literacy and faculty members are involved in both research and teaching projects that explore ‘Big Data and eLearning’.
The Department is also making important contributions to the University theme of Environment and Sustainability in the areas of ‘Smart and Sustainable Cities,’ ‘Climate Change,’ and ‘Population Studies: Migration, Youth Development and Ageing Management.’.
The Department of English at CUHK has made substantial contributions to all four major research areas. The Department is actively involved in a broad range of research activities that have strengthened and expanded the University’s overall five-year vision.