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Year: 2022

New magnesium superionic conductor towards lithium-free solid-state batteries

Posted on by Tokyo University of Science

As we move towards a more energy-efficient society, the need for high-capacity, cost-effective batteries is greater than ever. Magnesium is a promising material for such solid-state batteries owing to its abundance, but its practical application is limited by the poor conductivity of magnesium ions (Mg2+) in solids at room temperature. Recently, researchers from Japan have developed a novel Mg2+ conductor with a practically applicable superconductivity of 10-3 S cm-1, overcoming this decades-long roadblock.

The development of highly efficient energy storage devices that can store renewable energy is crucial to a sustainable future. In today’s world, solid-state rechargeable lithium ion (Li+) batteries are the state of the art. But lithium is a rare earth metal, and society’s dependence on the element is likely to lead to a rapid decline in resources and subsequent price hikes.

Magnesium ion (Mg2+)-based batteries have gained momentum as an alternative to Li+. The earth’s crust holds ample magnesium, and Mg2+-based energy devices are said to have high energy densities, high safety, and low cost. But the wide application of Mg2+ is limited by its poor conductivity in solids at room temperature. Mg2+ has poor solid-state conductivity because divalent positive ions (2+) experience strong interactions with their neighboring negative ions in a solid crystal, impeding their migration through the material.

This hurdle was recently overcome by a research team from the Tokyo University of Science (TUS). In their new study published online on 4 May 2022 and on 18 May 2022 in volume 144 issue 19 of the Journal of the American Chemical Society, they report for the first time, a solid-state Mg2+ conductor with superionic conductivity of 10−3 S cm−1 (the threshold for practical application in solid-state batteries). This magnitude of conductivity for Mg2+ conductors is the highest reported to date. According to Junior Associate Professor Masaaki Sadakiyo of TUS, who led the study, “In this work, we exploited a class of materials called metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). MOFs have highly porous crystal structures, which provide the space for efficient migration of the included ions.

Here, we additionally introduced a “guest molecule,” acetonitrile, into the pores of the MOF, which succeeded in strongly accelerating the conductivity of Mg2+.” The research group further included Mr. Yuto Yoshida, also from TUS, Professor Teppei Yamada from The University of Tokyo, and Assistant Professor Takashi Toyao and Professor Ken-ichi Shimizu from Hokkaido University. The paper was made available online on May 4, 2022 and was published in Volume 144 Issue 19 of the journal on May 18, 2022.

The team used a MOF known as MIL-101 as the main framework and then encapsulated Mg2+ ions in its nanopores. In the resultant MOF-based electrolyte, Mg2+ was loosely packed, thereby allowing the migration of divalent Mg2+ ions. To further enhance ion conductivity, the research team exposed the electrolyte to acetonitrile vapors, which were adsorbed by the MOF as guest molecules.

The team then subjected the prepared samples to an alternating current (AC) impedance test to measure ionic conductivity. They found that the Mg2+ electrolyte exhibited a superionic conductivity of 1.9 × 10−3 S cm−1. This is the highest ever reported conductivity for a crystalline solid containing Mg2+.

To understand the mechanism behind this high conductivity, the researchers carried out infrared spectroscopic and adsorption isotherm measurements on the electrolyte. The tests revealed that the acetonitrile molecules adsorbed in the framework allowed for the efficient migration of the Mg2+ ions through the body of the solid electrolyte.

These findings of this study not only reveal the novel MOF-based Mg2+ conductor as a suitable material for battery applications, but also provide critical insights into the development of future solid-state batteries. “For a long time, people have believed that divalent or higher valency ions cannot be efficiently transferred through a solid. In this study, we have demonstrated that if the crystal structure and surrounding environment are well-designed, then a solid-state high-conductivity conductor is well within research,” explains Dr. Sadakiyo.

When asked about the research group’s future plans, he reveals, “We hope to further contribute to society by developing a divalent conductor with even higher ionic conductivity.”

We look forward to seeing what they develop next!

Thammasat Hospital successfully conducts knee, hip replacement surgery, promoting leadership through launch of Thammasat Joint Replacement Center

Posted on by Thammasat University

Thammasat Hospital achieved 200 knee and hip replacement surgery in 150 poor, elderly patients, while promoting its leadership in knee-hip joint replacement surgery with the plan to open “Thammasat Joint Replacement Center” which is considered an accumulation of surgical innovations and the introduction of robotic arm technology to assist in knee replacement surgery for the first time in a government hospital in Thailand. This will improve the accuracy of joint positioning and reduce injuries to surrounding tissues, as well as enhancing the quality of knee replacement surgery to be of international standard. It is expected that the center will be able to open in late June of the year 2022.

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nattapon Thammachot, Assistant Director of Physical Development, Thammasat Hospital said that throughout the “Join replacement for poor patients volunteering” reminds us that there are a large number of elderly patients in our country that still lack access to knee and hip replacement. This reflects the demographic structure of the country that is entering an aging society. This project has been initiated since the 85th anniversary of the founding of Thammasat University in 2019. This arose from the ideas of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pharuehas Tor-Udom, Director of the Hospital and Assoc. Prof. Gasinee Witoonchart, Rector of Thammasat University and working closely with the National Health Security Office (NHSO) with the aim of helping patients with knee and hip dysplasia in returning to have a better quality of life, and can assist themselves to live a happier life, and reduce the burden on the family. In addition, this also encourages medical personnel to have the opportunity to use their abilities to support society by joining as volunteers to help perform surgery outside office hours. This project has been ongoing for three years and within the first two years we made 100 replacements per year, but this year we have done 200 replacements in just four months from December 2021 to March 2022.

“Thammasat Joint Replacement Center” is one of the new special services of Thammasat Hospital as a one-stop service in order to provide convenience in receiving services and to focus on the best quality of treatment by a team of doctors who are specialized in patient care throughout the treatment pathway. This is to provide patients with a better treatment experience and receive a new, high-quality, long-lasting knee replacement according to the vision of Hospital 4.0 with modern service systems and innovative pain relief medical treatment, new surgical techniques with higher accuracy, such as the introduction of robotic arm technology to assist in such surgery,” concluded Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nattapon.

USU as the initiator of the first ocular prosthesis consultation and service center

Posted on by Editorial Team

In accordance with its vision and mission, the Specialist Program in Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, one of the study programs at Universitas Sumatera Utara, participates in developing a knowledge-based economic culture to foster new entrepreneurs by organizing “Program Pengembangan Usaha Produk Intelektual Kampus” (PPUPIK), which is a recent innovation with substantial economic values. The Prosthodontic Specialist Program has developed the Ocular Prosthesis Consultation and Service Center. Producing ocular prosthesis is one of the competencies of a dentist specializing in prosthodontics because a prosthodontist deals not only with dental problems but also with maxillofacial rehabilitation, including the manufacture of ocular prosthesis, ear prosthesis, nose prosthesis, feeding plates, and obturators. The process of creating an ocular prosthesis is conceptually similar to that of making dentures.

Evisceration and enucleation are two possible eye surgery treatments. The surgical procedure, known as evisceration, removes the eyeball but leaves the sclera and connective tissue within the orbital cavity. Installing a stock ocular prosthesis is a recommended course of treatment for evisceration, while there are some circumstances where a custom ocular prosthesis can be fitted. A surgical operation, known as enucleation, removes the entire eyeball by removing and severing the tissue that holds it in the orbital cavity. In 2019, this program conducted a community service project for ocular prosthetic treatments in association with the Sumatra Eye Center. The project has served 78 patients (2017-2019) for surgery but has not got their prosthetic eyes fitted.

Figure 1. Before and after the insertion of the ocular prosthesis at The Ocular Prosthesis Consultation and Service Center

Sometimes, an ophthalmologist at an eye hospital or eye clinic suggests that the patients should find a dentist specializing in prosthodontics regarding their postoperative care with the creation of artificial eyes. This is not efficient in terms of time and money. The problem may arise if the eye surgery patients cannot find a service center facilitating synergy between ophthalmologists and prosthodontic specialists. It will undoubtedly be more straightforward for patients if they can find a place offering services ranging from consultation to producing artificial eyes. The Specialist Program in Prosthodontics considered “Program Pengembangan Usaha Produk Intelektual Kampus” (PPUPIK) as a medium to establish an ocular prosthesis consultation and service center, which has not been found in Indonesia. This consultation and service center was established in response to some of the abovementioned issues.

There are three product specifications available at the Ocular Prosthesis Consultation and Service Center, namely:

  1. The Ocular Prosthesis Consultation Center – Consultation Center – On their first appointment, patients who come to the artificial eye consultation and service facility will meet an ophthalmologist. The condition of the patient’s eye socket will determine whether they require different therapy before the artificial eye is manufactured, whether they can only receive a factory artificial eye, or whether they are prepared to move forward with the artificial eye service method.
  2. The Ocular Prosthesis Consultation Services – Production Center – Patients who have gone through the ophthalmologist’s screening process and have been given the all-clear to proceed with the ocular prosthesis service procedure will be transferred to a team of prosthodontists, who will then perform the ocular services. Anatomical impression, wax try-in, individual impression, scleral wax try-in, produced sclera, produced iris button, layered sclera acrylic with clear scleral, insertion of ocular prosthesis, and periodic control are the first steps in the imitation process.

Figure 2. Ocular Prosthesis Services and Production Room

3. Ocular Prosthesis Training Center – Training Center – A team from the Specialist Program in Prosthodontics or a unit from another university that has worked with the Faculty of Dentistry of USU gives ocular prosthesis training. Hands-on instruction in the “Simple Laboratory Procedure in Fabricating Esthetic Ocular Prosthesis” has been provided by Rosli bin Bidin from the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Malaya.

Program Pengembangan Usaha Produk lntelektual Kampus. The Ocular Prosthesis Consultation and Service Center aims to apply and commercialize ocular prosthesis services that have been carried out so far. In 2019, the Specialist Program in Prosthodontics utilized the most up-to-date technology and methodology, adopted from numerous international journals, resource people from universities in other countries who give training, and the experience when making ocular prosthesis in the community service program to provide ocular prosthesis training and services regarding consultation centers and ocular prosthesis services. This initiative has been implemented annually for three years: in 2020, 2021, and 2022. The Ocular Prosthesis Consultation and Service Center has obtained a copyright in the form of a video about making artificial eyes.

The students of the Specialist Program in Prosthodontics who have created ocular prosthesis at the consultation center and services successfully presented 20 case reports at the Maxillofacial Virtual Online Scientific Competition during The 12th Biennial Congress of the Asian Academy of Prosthodontics and took home the first and second place in IPROSI in the second year program.

The management team for this Ocular Prosthesis Consultation and Service Center includes the General Manager (Putri Welda Utami Ritonga, DDS., MDSc., Sp.Pros(K)), the Manager of Production (Prof. Haslinda Z. Tannin, DDS., M.Kes., Sp.Pros(K)), the Manager of Administration/Finance (Veronica Angelic, DDS., MDSc., Sp.Pros), and the Manager of Marketing (dr. Aryani Atiyatul Amra, M.Ked(Oph)., Sp.M(K)). Consultation activities, training, and artificial eye services are carried out at The Specialist Program in Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, located on Jalan Alumni, No. 02, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Sumatera Utara.

Can higher ed fill the graduate data skills gap?

Posted on by Paul Thurman

The divide between the skills employers require and the skills graduates have obtained is widening, or at least it appears to be. New and emerging needs centred predominantly around data science are asking questions of universities and their ability to prepare future workforces. Paul Thurman considers whether higher ed is up to the task.

A great deal of discussion in higher education recently has been focused on the gap between what data analytics skills are needed by employers compared with what data science skills graduates have upon completion of their programmes, both at the undergraduate and graduate. This perceived gap has been accentuated by both the emergence of quick-hit certifications in data science offered by predominantly online training academies and by some non-degree programmes from universities, as well as by employer perceptions that more focused training in analytics is a prerequisite for employment.

In fact, many employers complain that graduates arrive to work with only basic quantitative analysis skills and require on-the-job training, at the employer’s expense, to remediate such skills gaps. While this may not always be true, the fact that a ready supply of online data science academies have sprung up to meet this demand or fill these perceived gaps from employers only further puts the spotlight on this apparent deficiency in data science acumen, whether it be real or imagined.

As such, the gap between “supply” of and “demand” for data science skills is widening in higher education. More and more employers are demanding higher levels of data analysis skills and competence based both on their own emerging needs and on the relatively unskilled labour forces graduating from institutions of higher learning. This is one reason why so many universities and colleges are offering an array of non-degrees online, certificates, and credentials courses to alumni. A secondary benefit, of course, is to manage this negative perception of their own data science pedagogy. One of the first online “upskilling” courses Columbia Business School offered to its alumni, for example, was a course in data science and analytics.

Degree-programme directors are also responding to this demand for more data science skills by including boot-camps and other deep-dive courses and programmes to students before commencing studies, sometimes as a requirement for admission or as part of orientation. In the past these orientation programmes focused on Excel, basic accounting and finance principles, and perhaps some marketing and operations basics. As these topics are increasingly covered during secondary school, higher education institutions’ need to include them is diminishing. Instead, what universities are finding is that students still need a bit more depth in newer tools and applications before they can successfully complete an MBA program, for example. Some degree programmes now require first-year students to take courses in both data science and coding basics as a way to close this perceived skill gap with employers and to differentiate their programmes from the competition.

The gap between “supply” of and “demand” for data science skills is widening in higher education.

But employers are the ones really driving the demand for analytics. They are coming to universities and colleges looking to recruit graduates and now making completion or certification of such data science skills a prerequisite to obtaining a job interview. For their existing labour forces, they are asking schools to provide the aforementioned credentials and certification opportunities.

For example, some technology-focused US companies have come to local universities requesting things such as 200 workers certified in cybersecurity. Others are asking for hundreds of workers with credentials in data science and coding for employment in six months. These are very different demands being placed on traditional academies and formal degree programmes. In fact, this raises a huge question: should universities pivot, or at least extend, to become training academies for the next generation of labour forces? Should my university, Columbia, offer not only formal degrees in business administration and computer science but also be a place employers can come to get 100-200 people training in basic coding and business analytics skills in a matter of months without requiring them to obtain formal degrees? Should the academy that confers degrees to white collar workers also, simultaneously, offer training and certification or credential opportunities to blue collar workers as well?

This is a broader question that many universities are facing right now, and the choices are not easy to make. What does a faculty comportment look like that handles both degree and non-degree training? How do admissions work when employers drive some needs but deans and department chairs drive others? The data science skill gap is likely only the first of many that institutions of higher education and their corresponding non-degree training academies will struggle with as more and more employers eschew degreed graduates in favour of focused, skilled workers. Until such gaps are closed, perhaps via employer-school partnerships, filling these gaps will be a challenge for employers but also an opportunity for schools and training academies that can offer quick-hit, non-degree upskilling for a broader labour force over time.

This article was from the 2023 QS Higher Ed Report: A New Normal?. Download the full edition.

How explainable Artificial Intelligence can propel growth of Industry 4.0

Posted on by Incheon National University

Explainable artificial intelligence can help bridge the gap between human understanding and the way artificial intelligence models function

With the advent of industry 4.0, advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have become vital to helping with industry efficiency and performance. Recently, a group of researchers surveyed the existing AI and explainable AI (XAI) based methods used in Industry 4.0 highlighting the need for XAI-based methods to help build efficient smart cities, factories, healthcare, and human-computer interactions.

The very first industrial revolution historically kicked off with the introduction of steam- and water-powered technology. We have come a long way since then, with the current fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0, being focused on utilizing new technology to boost industrial efficiency. Some of these technologies include the internet of things (IoT), cloud computing, cyber-physical systems, and artificial intelligence (AI). AI is the key driver of Industry 4.0, automating intelligent machines to self-monitor, interpret, diagnose, and analyze all by themselves. AI methods, such as machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), natural language processing (NLP), and computer vision (CV), help industries forecast their maintenance needs and cut down on downtime.

However, to ensure the smooth, stable deployment and integration of AI-based systems, the actions and results of these systems must be made comprehensible, or, in other words, “explainable” to experts. In this regard, explainable AI (XAI) focuses on developing algorithms that produce human-understandable results made by AI-based systems. Thus, XAI deployment is useful in Industry 4.0.

Recently, a group of researchers, including Assistant Professor Gwanggil Jeon from Incheon National University, South Korea, surveyed existing AI and XAI technologies and their applications in Industry 4.0. Their review, published in IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, was made available online on January 27, 2022, and subsequently published in Volume 18, Issue 8 of the journal on August 8, 2022.

“Though AI technologies like DL can solve many social problems due to their excellent performance and resolution, it is difficult to explain how and why such good performance is obtained. Therefore, there is a necessity to develop XAI, so that DL, like the current black box, can be modeled more efficiently. It will also be easier to make applications,” said Prof. Jeon explaining his motivation behind the study.

XAI-based methods are classified according to specific AI tasks, like the feature explanations, decision-making, or visualization of the model. The authors note that the combination of cutting-edge AI and XAI-based methods with Industry 4.0 technologies results in various successful, accurate, and high-quality applications. One such application is an XAI model made using visualization and ML which explains a customer’s decision to purchase or not purchase non-life insurance. With the help of XAI, humans can recognize, comprehend, interpret, and communicate how an AI model draws conclusions and takes action.

There are clearly many notable advantages of using AI in Industry 4.0; however, it also has many obstacles. Most significant is the power-hungry nature of AI-based systems, the exponentially increasing requirement for a large number of cores and GPUs, as well as the need for fine-tuning and hyperparameter optimization. At the heart of this is data collected and generated from millions of sources, devices, and users, thereby introducing bias that affects AI performance. This can be managed using XAI methods to explain the bias introduced.

“AI is the principal component of industrial transformation that empowers smart machines to execute tasks autonomously, while XAI develops a set of mechanisms that can produce human-understandable explanations,” concludes Prof. Jeon.

Adapting XAI-based methods can get us one step closer to efficiently realizing smart cities, factories, healthcare, and cyber-security!

Reference

Authors:

Imran Ahmed1, Gwanggil Jeon2,*, and Francesco Piccialli3

Title of original paper:

From Artificial Intelligence to Explainable Artificial Intelligence in Industry 4.0: A Survey on What, How, and Where

Journal:

IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics

DOI:

10.1109/TII.2022.3146552

Affiliations:

1Institute of Management Sciences, Pakistan

2Incheon National University, South Korea

3University of Naples Federico II, Italy

About Incheon National University

Incheon National University (INU) is a comprehensive, student-focused university. It was founded in 1979 and given university status in 1988. One of the largest universities in South Korea, it houses nearly 14,000 students and 500 faculty members. In 2010, INU merged with Incheon City College to expand capacity and open more curricula. With its commitment to academic excellence and an unrelenting devotion to innovative research, INU offers its students real-world internship experiences. INU not only focuses on studying and learning but also strives to provide a supportive environment for students to follow their passion, grow, and, as their slogan says, be INspired.

Website: http://www.inu.ac.kr/mbshome/mbs/inuengl/index.html

About Assistant Professor Gwanggil Jeon, Incheon National University

Dr. Jeon received a Ph.D. from the Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea, in 2008. Currently, he is an Assistant Professor with the Department of Embedded Systems Engineering, Incheon National University in Korea. His research interests lie in the fields of image processing and computational intelligence, particularly in image compression, motion estimation, image enhancements, and fuzzy and rough sets theories. He is an IEEE Senior Member and has received numerous awards, including the IEEE Chester Sall Award in 2007, the ETRI Journal Paper Award in 2008, and the Industry-Academic Merit Award by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups of Korea in 2020.

UiTM co-organises state-level World Food Safety Day 2022 celebration in Negeri Sembilan

Posted on by Mawaddah Binti Munif Zarriruddin Fikri, Shamsiah Binti Aziz & Eddie Ti Tjih Tan

World Food Safety Day (WFSD) is a significant milestone achieved by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) together with the World Health Organization (WHO) in the effort to promote and raise awareness about the importance of food safety at all levels. The United Nations (UN) had designated June 7 each year as WFSD. In response to the call of the UN, a synergistic effort between Food Safety and Quality Division, Negeri Sembilan State’s Health Department (FSQD), Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Negeri Sembilan (UiTMCNS) and Mydin Mohamed Holdings Berhad (MYDIN) had jointly organised the WFSD celebration on 17 July 2022.

The UN aims for WFSD to be a celebration that encourages collective actions from all parties whether government, policymakers, food businesses, suppliers, stakeholders, educational institutions as well as consumers in order to ensure the food eaten is safe and in line with the concept of ‘from farm to table’.

This matter is similarly asserted by Dato’ Dr. Harlina Bt. Abdul Rashid, the Director of Negeri Sembilan State’s Health Department, “The public or also known as consumers are the end user in the food chain, in which they have the power to ensure the food taken is clean and safe” during the WFSD 2022 event at MYDIN Mall Seremban 2.

This year, the WFSD centralises the theme “Safer Food, Better Health”. “This theme was chosen to ensure the food taken by consumers is always safe, low in contamination risks and food poisoning, thereby ensuring better health,” said Madam Jamilah Binti Salikin, the Deputy Director of Negeri Sembilan State’s Health Department, in the similar event.

The state-level WFSD celebration in Negeri Sembilan executed a few activities that can be participated by the public of all layers of age. These included food safety-related colouring contest for kids, a treasure hunt for teenagers, a cake decoration contest for students from higher institutions, and an online quiz for the public. The event also highlighted the importance of food businesses to comply with the Malaysian Food Act 1983 and related regulations by awarding 17 local food producers that are able to attain accreditation and certification under the FSQD’s Program. Besides that, awards and cash prizes were also given to the food courts that deemed to have particular qualities.

The involvement of lecturer and students of the Food Science and Technology Department, UiTMCNS Kuala Pilah Campus in co-organising the event has prevailed with positive outcomes. The students are able to boost their interventional communication, problem-solving and interpersonal skills. Not only that but students also are given opportunities to lead and contribute to decision-making in making this event feasible.

Furthermore, the event also involved exhibitions from various government agencies, including the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Negeri Sembilan, Negeri Sembilan Islamic Religious Affairs Department, Nutrition Division, Pharmacy Services Department, Oral Health Division, Public Health Division and Food Safety, and Quality Division Negeri Sembilan.

Connecting Korean culture to the world

Posted on by Chinese Culture University

Founded in 1962, the Department of Korean Language and Literature of Chinese Culture University (hereinafter referred to as CCU) is a global leading Korean program and one of the earliest establishments of Korean education and research in Taiwan, R.O.C. In its 60-year history of excellence, the Department has been a center for talent cultivation, international exchange, and dynamic research. In 1985, the Department established the first postgraduate Korean program in Taiwan, R.O.C. Currently, the Department is home to 10 full-time teachers, 8 part-time teachers, among which 44 percent is Korean natives. Our department is the most popular program in Chinese Culture University for minor and double-major students.

Currently, 426 students are enrolled in the Department’s undergraduate program, and 59 students in the postgraduate program, among which approximately 20 percent are international students from Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Indonesia etc. Our students are passionate learners of Korean language, literature, culture, history, and industry. They thrive in a friendly, diverse, and professional environment fostered jointly by the Department’s faculty and student body.

Many of our graduates go on to become Korean specialists, government employees, teachers, translators, and entrepreneurs, in a variety of industries including but not limited to business, culture, fashion, tourism, politics, international relations, and education. Our students run the Student Union of the Korean Department. They host events such as K-Pop, dance, drama contest, speech contest, BBQ day, traditional Korean folk culture day, among other exciting cultural highlights. Senior students are required to combine their specialty with the needs of our nation by taking on internships in public and private sectors. They usually serve in international airports, local police offices, KOTRA, Korea Tourism Organization, as well as museums and galleries.

The Department takes pride in its vibrant exchange students program. In Taiwan, Chinese Culture University has the most sister universities. Department of Korean has 45 sister universities in Korea. In a 2-year and 3-year students choose to become exchange students in Korea for six months or one year. Various scholarships are available for students. The Department in turn hosts overseas exchange students. Our students thus study in a highly international and diverse setting that is the second to none in Taiwan.

The graduate program of the Department of Korean Language and Literature has the most alumni in the field of Korean studies in Taiwan and is considered top-choice by native Korean postgraduate students. Korean linguistics, teaching methodology, administrative policy, history, social sciences, and literature are our strongest areas of specialty. Annually, graduate students present their research papers in the conference, in which they interact with international scholarly and peers. Graduate students also participate in the student exchange program, with roughly 50 outbound students each year. Postgraduate students foster their academic and practical skills through job opportunities such as TA, RA, and office administration assistants.

The Department is home to Center for Korean Studies, Chinese Culture University established in 2014. As a regular beneficiary of research funds from The Academy of Korean Studies, the Center holds annual events such as The Western Pacific-Asia Conference on Korean Studies and The Next Generation Korean Studies Conference. The Center also publishes a yearly book series entitled The Collected Papers of Korean Studies, which contributes to the deepening of Korean studies, connecting global Korean studies networks in China, Japan, and India, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Thailand. The Center has close regional partnership with The Academy of Korean Studies and Hankook University of Foreign Studies, and it now becomes a leading hub for Korean Center in East and Southeast Asia regions.

We always look forward to new partnerships, research collaborations, and new friendship. We will constantly devote ourselves to the promotion of Korean studies.

EdUHK research on role of feedback orientation in converting external feedback to learning opportunities

Posted on by eduhk

Dr Yang Lan, Assistant Professor at the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, The Education University of Hong Kong, has written a book chapter entitled ‘The Role of Feedback Orientation in Converting External Feedback to Learning Opportunities for Implementing Assessment-as-Learning in the Context of Feedback’.

The chapter, which features in the book Assessment as Learning: Maximising Opportunities for Student Learning and Achievement (Z. Yan & L. Yang [Eds], Routledge, 2021), looks at students’ feedback perceptions conceptualised in a construct called feedback orientation and the links with learning opportunities. The key argument is that not all feedback can be effective.

Students have their individual differences, leading their perceptions and interpretations of feedback differently. Dr Yang’s chapter reports key findings from a systematic review to understand students’ feedback perceptions and the links with learning opportunities. It does this through the lens of Feedback Orientation, which is a construct consisting of multi-dimensions of student feedback perceptions: perceived usefulness of feedback (feedback utility), perceived capability to use feedback (feedback self-efficacy), perceived social value to use feedback to maintain and enhance student-teacher relationship (feedback social awareness), and perceived responsibility for using feedback to improve academic performance/achievement (feedback accountability). These dimensions of feedback orientation collectively determine an individual’s overall receptivity to feedback.

This systematic review expands the current scope of understanding and harnessing the power of feedback from the perspective of students. Despite the powerful influence of feedback on learning, we know little about the complexity of the feedback process in authentic learning and teaching situations from a student’s perspective to make it work more effectively in the classroom. The relationship between external feedback and students’ learning opportunities might not be linear. Evidence through meta-analytical studies indicates that students may not take on the feedback because of their perceptions towards it. If students are not internalising feedback to help them engage in learning, achieve, and create new learning opportunities, Assessment as Learning in the context of feedback does not happen. Students’ feedback orientation, therefore, plays an essential role in converting external feedback to learning opportunities to process feedback mindfully. Only when students use teacher feedback to adjust their learning strategies, learning goals and actively monitor their learning progress and achievement can they authentically practice Assessment as Learning in the context of feedback.

In summary, Dr Yang reviews and provides an evidence-based feedback ecological model showing how students can convert external feedback into learning opportunities, including productive feedback processing and learning engagement.

Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia holds Global Business, Management and Entrepreneurship Conference 2022

Posted on by UNIVERSITAS PENDIDIKAN INDONESIA

Business Education Study Program, Faculty of Economics and Business Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia in collaboration with Co-hosts, University of North Sumatra (USU), Tourism Polytechnic NHI Bandung, Indonesian Institute of Education (IPI) and University of Garut (UNIGA) held The 7th UPI Global Conference on Business, Management and Entrepreneurship (UPI-GC-BME 2022) on Monday, August 8, 2022. The UPI Global Conference on Business, Management and Entrepreneurship was officially opened by Rector Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia Prof. Dr. M. Solehuddin., M.Pd., MA.

Prof. Dr. Hj. Ratih Hurriyati, MP as the Conference Chair explained that UPI-GC-BME 2022 is the seventh conference held in order to improve and develop a strong academic culture and sustainability for lecturers, students, and practitioners globally. Prof. Dr. Eeng Ahman, M.S as the Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia explained that this conference provides an opportunity for delegates to exchange ideas and new implementation experiences, build business or research connections, and find Global Partners for future collaboration.

According to Prof. Dr. Hj. Ratih Hurriyati, MP, UPI-GC-BME 2022 took the theme: “The Utilization of Sustainable Digital Business, Entrepreneurship, and Management as a Strategic Approach in the New Normal Era” with the aim of providing a media platform for educators, researchers , scholars, managers, graduate students and business people from diverse cultural backgrounds to present and discuss their research, knowledge and innovations in the fields of business, management and entrepreneurship.

Keynote Speakers of the UPI Global Conference on Business, Management and Entrepreneurship, namely Dr. (H.C.) Ir Airlangga Hartarto, MBA, MMT, IPU as the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. Prof. Dr. Gangqiang Zheng (Tony), M.Ed, Professor of Zhejiang Technical Institute of Economics China who discussed the Utilising Workers’ Skills for Improving Green Competitiveness to Address the Challenges of Greening of Industries. Prof. Dr. Vanessa Gaffar, S.E., Ak., MBA., CSBA, Professor of the Faculty of Economics and Business Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia who discussed Tourism & Digitalization, Strategic Approach In New Normal Era. Assoc. Prof. Affero Ismail, Ph.D, from Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) Malaysia who discussed The Emerging of Metaverse in Digital Era and Dr. Indra Cahya Uno, M.Sc Founder OKe OCe and the leadership of PT. Saratoga Investama Sedaya Indonesia which discusses Independent Successful Entrepreneurs.

The conference in 2022 was led by moderator Denny Andriana, SE., PGDip., MBA., Aj., CMA., CA who is a lecturer in the Accounting Study Program, Faculty of Economics and Business Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia and was attended by 304 participants both as presenters and participants. Participants of the UPI Global Conference on Business, Management and Entrepreneurship come from within and outside the country such as Ghana, Malaysia, China, Korea, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Egypt, as well as from various regions in Indonesia. Over 181 papers were selected for a rigorous peer-review process, and these papers will be published in conference proceedings.

The participants presented their best articles on various topics in parallel sessions which presented their best articles in the fields of Organizational Behavior, Leadership & Human Resource Management, Innovation, Operations & Supply Chain Management, Marketing Management, Financial Management & Accounting, Strategic Management, Entrepreneurship & Contemporary Issues , Economic Education, and Green Business. Articles presented at this conference were selected through a rigorous peer review process with the advantage of getting a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) unit code, and will be published in two internationally reputed publishers, namely Atlantis Press, Springer Nature which has a reputation for the SCOPUS index, Web of Science, and Google Scholar.

HKBU at forefront of human-AI symbiotic art creation with innovative performance

Posted on by HKBUCPRO

A pioneering and bold attempt to apply artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the performing arts was carried out by Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) in a public concert held on 14 July in Hong Kong.

The innovative performance was the first human-AI collaboration of its kind in the world, and it showcased how AI can be a creative force that can perform music, create cross-media art, and dance.

The performance was powered by the AI technologies developed by HKBU scientists under the “Building Platform Technologies for Symbiotic Creativity in Hong Kong” research project. The concert, dubbed “A Lovers’ Reunion”, was the Annual Gala Concert of the HKBU Symphony Orchestra, and it was conducted by its music director, Professor Johnny M Poon.

The research project is led by Professor Guo Yike, Vice-President (Research and Development) of HKBU, and supported by HK$52.84 million (US$6.77 million) in funding from the Theme-based Research Scheme under the Research Grants Council. Its deputy project coordinator, Professor Johnny M Poon, is the Associate Vice-President (Interdisciplinary Research) and the Founding Dean of HKBU’s School of Creative Arts.

The project team also comprises computer scientists from HKBU’s Augmented Creativity Lab. The unique mix of scientists and artists in the project team enables them to merge their cross-disciplinary knowledge and come up with sparkling ideas on how to unleash the endless possibilities of art creation with the infusion of cutting-edge technologies.

At the Concert, the project team presented a performance that marked the first time in the world that an AI choir had combined with an AI-generated visual storyteller to perform interactively with a conductor and an orchestra. The HKBU Symphony Orchestra shared the stage with an AI virtual choir to perform a newly arranged version of the song Pearl of the Orient with the voices of 320 virtual performers.

The AI virtual choir was “trained” by HKBU researchers using the generative models of singing that they built by extracting and disentangling key contributing features of vocal singing from a collection of songs recorded by professional singers.

An AI media artist learnt from the lyrics of the Pearl of the Orient, and it created a stunning cross-media visual narrative of the song according to its interpretation of the underlying meaning of the lyrics. Unlike the conventional AI machines that import images as a reference for the algorithms to mimic, it used textual lyrics as the sole input so that it can associate the underlying meaning of the lyrics with an appreciation of the beauty of Hong Kong.

Another highlight of the Concert was a ballet performance featuring AI virtual dancers in Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé, accompanied live by the HKBU Symphony Orchestra. With the help of professional dancers from the Hong Kong Dance Company, the AI virtual dancers interpreted the underlying emotional and aesthetic connections between the music and the dance. The dance movements, inspired by a newly discovered species of box jellyfish in Hong Kong, were then choreographed.

Please click here to view highlights of the performance, and click here for more production details of the performance.

The AI-driven performance is one of the many milestone deliverables of the “Building Platform Technologies for Symbiotic Creativity in Hong Kong” research project, and others include an art data repository, a generative AI algorithms system, a research theatre, a digital art and policy network, and some unique and creative application projects, to name but a few.

Another important initiative HKBU is organising is the “Human, Machine, Art, Creativity: International Symposium” in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on 9 August.

“AI is revolutionising numerous fields of knowledge, and it is playing a more and more significant role in many creative processes like music, visual arts and architecture. The Symposium will gather world-renowned researchers from academia and industry, crossing different expertise areas, to jointly discuss emerging topics in human-AI symbiotic art creativity,” said Professor Guo.

The Symposium will cover topics including the enabling technologies of symbiotic art creation and manifestation, the aesthetics and cognitive values of symbiotic art creativity, the new trend of the art economy with Web 3.0, new issues raised by the new forms of art in society, and the impact on art community stakeholders, among others.

Interested parties can visit the Symposium’s website for more details.