Faculty of Health Sciences builds global bridge with Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Two world-leading institutions partner to advance student engagement and research in aging
The Faculty of Health Sciences at Western University has formalized a new international partnership with the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
The partnership was officially launched this spring, when a delegation of researchers from Western’s Faculty of Health Sciences visited Hong Kong PolyU in Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong to sign a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions. The agreement formalizes plans for joint research initiatives and student exchanges between the two institutions.
Hong Kong PolyU’s Faculty of Health and Social Sciences includes five departments, among them the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, which is home to Hong Kong’s first occupational therapy and physical therapy programs. Similarly, Western's Faculty of Health Sciences is home to the School of Physical Therapy, School of Occupational Therapy and School of Kinesiology.
“The Faculty of Health Sciences is known for its strength in rehabilitation research, particularly in the area of active aging, which is very much aligned with the strategic research focus of our department,” said Marco Pang, head of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at Hong Kong PolyU.
The shared strengths – including active aging, brain health, neurorehabilitation, chronic conditions, and real-world interventions – sparked the formal partnership, with both institutions aiming to advance research and improve outcomes for patients and communities.
“Hong Kong PolyU and Western are world-leading institutions,” said Shaun Boe, dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences. “Any time you bring together talented researchers and students from two different places, you get a lot of great ideas and really good results.”
A key goal of the partnership is to develop students into global citizens.
Graduate students in professional master’s programs at both institutions will have opportunities to travel between universities and gain hands-on clinical experience in different health-care systems.
“The partnership allows for entry-level, master's and PhD students to have more opportunities for exchange activities in clinical placements which will enrich their overall learning experience,” said Pang.
Beginning this September, two Hong Kong PolyU students will start placements in London, Ont., marking the first step in an ongoing exchange between the two institutions.
“This is a great opportunity for students to gain international exposure by learning from leading experts and experiencing clinical practice in different parts of the world,” said Boe.
The partnership also opens the door to expanded academic collaboration. Plans include joint research opportunities for students, the development of an internationally taught online course led by faculty from both institutions, and the creation of a shared research lab called the Joint Lab Initiative.
The Joint Lab Initiative will be a central focus of the partnership’s second phase. Centered on aging, the lab will build on the work of Western’s Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging (CCAA). Researchers will conduct parallel studies in Canada and Hong Kong, expanding both the scale and impact of their work.
“The Joint Lab Initiative provides a platform for researchers to form interdisciplinary teams and undertake joint projects,” said Pang. “By joining hands in research endeavours, we can tackle big research questions that matter from a global perspective, and undertake projects that have a larger scope and create greater societal impact.”
“It’s an exciting partnership with the potential to scale research related to aging and rehabilitation in a significant way,” added Boe. “This collaboration will have a meaningful impact on health research and on the broader community.”
