Ricci W. Fong (Ph.D.) is an Assistant Professor of Teaching in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and the Faculty Teaching Innovation Co-ordinator. She received her Ph.D. (Gifted Education), M.Ed. (Special Education), PGDE (English), and B.A. (Psychology, Linguistics & Philosophy) from the University of Hong Kong. Before embarking on her doctorate, she was an English teacher in primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong and she also received training as a mindfulness teacher. Her passion in teaching is recognised by her receipt of the Faculty Teaching Award (2020-2021).

Her current research interests centre on students' perfectionism in the Chinese context, affective development of gifted students, positive education, and the intersection of these three lines of inquiry. Her work has been presented in various key conferences in gifted education, including the European Council for High Ability (ECHA) and the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children (WCGTC); in refereed journals, such as Roeper Review, High Ability Studies, and Internet and Higher Education; as well as in edited books for Routledge and Springer.

Besides engaging in research activities, Dr Fong plays an active leading role in promoting teaching innovation and positive education. Apart from giving professional development seminars on integrating educational technology into teaching, she has led the development of various eLearning resources with the use of technology, e.g. AI chatbot and AR, to promote teaching innovation in higher education and secondary education. She is currently leading a UGC-funded project that aims to develop VR learning and teaching resources to enhance undergraduate students’ communication skills in work settings, as well as a QEF-funded project on promoting kindergarten students’ character strengths and well-being.

Dr Fong has been serving the WCGTC and the Asia-Pacific Federation on Giftedness (APFG) as an elected Hong Kong Delegate to facilitate knowledge transfer among members from 47 countries and regions. For the local community of practice, she has given professional development seminars for schools and professional bodies, such as the Hong Kong Psychological Society (HKPS) and the Gifted School Network; and has been working closely with the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE) both in terms of research collaboration and knowledge transfer activities, including the delivery of seminars and workshops, for gifted students, parents, and practitioners in the professional community.

• Positive education
• Gifted education and talent development
• Perfectionism and students' well-being
• ICT integration in education and teaching innovation

Current Courses Taught (Undergraduate & Postgraduate)

• Curriculum and Assessment
• Effective Teaching and Positive Classroom Learning Environment
• Field Experience Foundation
• Honours Project
• Learning in the Inclusive Classroom
• Practitioner-based Research Project
• Biographical films: Arts, Societies and Human Development

Previous Courses Taught (Undergraduate & Postgraduate)

• The Building Blocks of Flourishing: Happiness, Engagement, and Meaning
• Child Development in Early Childhood Education
• Curriculum Studies
• International Transferable Research Skills Program
• School-based Curriculum Development
• Working and Researching in Organisations

Regional Delegate, World Council for Gifted and Talented Children (2015-Present)

Regional Delegate, Asia Pacific Federation for Giftedness (2016-Present)

External Examiner of Doctoral Dissertations

• Monash University
• University of Bristol

Journal Reviewer

• Asia Pacific Education Review
• Early Education and Development
• Frontiers in Education (Teacher Education)
• Frontiers in Psychology
• Internet and Higher Education
• Interactive Learning Environments
• Learning and Individual Differences
• Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development
• Roeper Review
• School Psychology International
• Youth & Society

Adjudicator

• The 2nd Student Conference 2015, The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE)
• The 3nd Student Conference 2016, HKAGE
• The 4nd Student Conference 2017, HKAGE

University Representative, Gifted Education Providers Network, HKAGE (2016-Present)