Concept note

Higher education institutions globally have initiated numerous measures in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Measures such as physical distancing, suspension of social activities, closure of campuses at some points, and moving classes entirely or partially online have been implemented. These measures at university levels have primarily been in response to overreaching governmental policies to control the pandemic. Thus, policies on international travel restrictions, quarantine and isolation regulations and vaccination arrangements by governments have affected how universities have operated during the pandemic. The effects of these aspects of the pandemic on the well-being of students and educational staff and the financial health of universities have been tremendous, according to emerging research.

While such effects are being investigated and potential adverse observations being addressed, it is important to take a closer look at the impact of the pandemic on different levels of higher education. One of such levels is postgraduate studies. While postgraduate programmes are often structured differently across education systems, the fundamental aim of training students in advanced degrees and specialised fields are a common feature globally. Therefore, it is virtually incontestable that the pandemic has had a toll on postgraduate studies, regardless of the field of study. Indeed, the effects have not only been felt among students in the physical sciences who may have had challenges in conducting laboratory experiments but also among those in social sciences and humanities whose plans of fieldwork and interactive learning may have been delayed or even cancelled due to various COVID-19 control measures. Moreover, many students in taught postgraduate programmes have had to undertake their studies primarily online unexpectedly and undesirably. Notwithstanding, many students have managed to complete their studies successfully several innovative alternative approaches to learning and research with the support of their universities and lecturers. Unfortunately, others have not been able to complete their studies on time or even postpone it altogether because of challenges posed by the pandemic.

The above situation raises questions regarding the future of postgraduate studies, such as how universities, postgraduate students and faculty members coped with the situation? It is also crucial to understand how the changes and approaches adopted in coping with the pandemic will influence postgraduate studies in the future? Ultimately, what kinds of opportunities do the experiences from the pandemic offer higher education stakeholders to rethink conventional approaches to doing postgraduate studies across disciplines?

The 2022 Postgraduate Conference on Interdisciplinary Learning will deliberate on the future of postgraduate studies in post-pandemic societies with the above questions at its core. Invited speakers and students across disciplines will present research and share experiences of postgraduate studies during the pandemic and the implications of these experiences for the future of postgraduate studies.    

Consistent with previous Postgraduate Conferences hosted by the School of Graduate Studies, this conference shall offer a platform for research and taught postgraduate students to interact with each other and share their current and prospective research and learning experiences with established scholars. The conference shall provide these opportunities for students:

• Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches to postgraduate studies
• Comparative perspectives to research
• International and global perspectives on learning
• Networking among students across disciplines and institutions both within and outside of Hong Kong
• Innovative approaches to doing postgraduate studies during and post-pandemic

Keynote speakers

Programme with ZOOM Links

Full Programme Book

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For enquiries, please feel free to contact us at [email protected].

The conference has been supported by the Postgraduate Students Conference/Seminar Grants of the Research Grants Council, Hong Kong