Dr. Man Fung LO stands out as a pioneering leader at the intersection of technology, data science, and education, whose transformative influence spans both local and global communities. As Director for Technology and Infrastructure Development and Senior Lecturer at The University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Education (#1, U.S. News & World Report 2025/26;#6, THE 2025;#3, QS 2025), Dr. Lo spearheads impactful initiatives that harness technology for social good—empowering local non-profits, supporting youth career development, and advancing professional and industrial standards worldwide. His distinguished roles include Director of the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP)/IP3 Global Industry Council (the first from Asia), Teaching Advisor and Technical Advisor for the Employees Retraining Board, and Specialist with the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications, among others. Dr. Lo’s innovative contributions are reflected in an impressive array of accolades: David O’Leary Award (IFIP/IP3, 2024); Member (MStJ) of The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem (2025); Gold Award Winner (Leader of the Year, Industry Eagles Awards–Education, 2025); Gold GLOBEE® Awards Winner (IT Educator of the Year, 2025); Secretary for Home Affairs’ Commendation Scheme (The Government of the HKSAR, 2020); Gold Editor (Informing Science Institute, 2020); Distinguished Educator (Phi Delta Kappa–PDK, 2019); Master Teacher of Honor (Kappa Delta Pi–KDP, 2019); and CPCE Outstanding Teaching Award (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 2016). Dr. Lo’s dedication extends beyond academia through editorial leadership in major journals, active participation in international conferences, and extensive volunteer service as Assessor and Reviewer for professional certifications (British Computer Society, Canadian Information Processing Society and Association for Learning Technology), Scholarship Reviewer (PDK and KDP), and Committee Member of the Hong Kong St. John Ambulance. By integrating technology with community-focused initiatives, he exemplifies interdisciplinary leadership that inspires the next generation of socially responsible innovators.
3rd PLACE
Engaged Academic of the Year Award
Dr. Man Fung LO
3rd PLACE Engaged Academic of the Year Award
The University of Hong Kong - Hong Kong
"Leveraging Technology—Connecting Local and Global Communities for Social Good"
Have a say and vote for this entry to win the People's Choice Award!
500 points per vote
Provide your email address and click on "vote". You will then receive an email that enables you to verify your vote by clicking on a link.
1500 points for each share/re-post; 500 points for each like
Support this entry by engaging with it on Social Media.
Click HERE
Summary
Key People
Professor WONG, Wilson
Founding Director and Associate Professor, Data Science and Policy Studies
School of Governance and Policy Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Senior Research Fellow, UCL
Professor HIGGINS, Paul
Senior Lecturer
Faculty of Business and Law, Anglia Ruskin University
Dr NG, Artie
BSIA Fellow
Balsillie School of International Affairs
Mr. NG, James, OStJ
Chief Superintendent
Hong Kong St. John Ambulance Brigade
Acknowledgements
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my family for their unwavering support throughout my journey. I dedicate this achievement especially to my late father, Jimmy LO, and my late uncle, Harry LO, whose guidance and encouragement continue to inspire me. My sincere thanks also go to my friends, supervisors, colleagues, and school teachers—particularly Ms. LEUNG, Mo Kit, Mr. YU, Kin Man, Mr. OR, Chi Ming, Mr. TSOI, Keith, Dr. TANG, William and Dr. LEUNG, Francis—for their invaluable support and mentorship.
Images
Winner of the David O’Leary Award from the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) / IP3 in 2024.
Gold Award for Leader of the Year at the Education Eagles Awards 2025.
Serving as Publicity Chair and Session Chair at the 7th Asia Pacific Information Technology Conference 2025, held at The Education University of Hong Kong (sponsored by the Association for Computing Machinery).
Introducing Virtual Reality in CPR training at the press conference for the “Pre-hospital Cardiac Resuscitation – Past and Present” Exhibition 2023, organized by Hong Kong St. John Ambulance.
Honored to have served as the featured speaker at the 2011 Education & Information Technology Conference.
IMPACT STORY
Impacting lifes
Reflecting on my journey, I realize that witnessing my students’ achievements has become my central motivation to continue teaching and striving for excellence in education.
During my time at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, I made it my mission to bridge the gap between academia and industry. By actively engaging with partners like Cisco Networking Academy and SAS Institute, I incorporated real-world industrial practices into our curriculum. This enabled students not only to gain critical hands-on experience, but also to obtain professional IT certifications—opening doors for their future employability. Over the years, I have facilitated more than 80 students in obtaining IT certifications, further enhancing their learning and confidence. I also organized field trips, led mentorship programmes, and guided students to participate in external competitions, giving them invaluable exposure to diverse career paths.
One experience that deeply impressed me was supervising three students as they successfully completed not only their first programming certification, but also went on to achieve an advanced certification within 6 months. Watching them overcome initial self-doubt and grow into confident, skilled professionals was incredibly moving. Their achievement is a testament to the power of guidance, opportunity, and perseverance. One of my proudest moments was when a group of students nominated me for the CPCE Outstanding Teaching Performance/Achievement Award, which I was honoured to receive in 2016/17. Their recognition affirmed that as educators, we can do more than teach—we can inspire and empower.
LEARNINGS
Lessons learned
One of the most valuable lessons from my journey is the transformative power of engaging with industries and serving the community. Real-world partnerships enrich academic learning and ensure that our teaching remain relevant and impactful. I encourage aspiring leaders to actively seek collaborations with industry and community organizations—these experiences provide unique perspectives for both students and educators, foster innovation, and create opportunities to address real societal needs.
Equally important is the commitment to continuous learning. The landscape of technology and education evolves rapidly, and staying curious and open to new knowledge is essential. Make it a habit to set annual learning goals, pursue new knowledge and skills, and embrace emerging trends. This mindset not only keeps you at the forefront of your field but also inspires those around you.
In leadership, sharing best practices and encouraging peer learning are key to building strong, collaborative teams. Reflecting on successes and setbacks helps us grow collectively and adapt to new challenges. Foster a culture where colleagues freely share ideas and learn from each other. Active listening is at the heart of effective and ethical leadership. By truly hearing the voices of students, partners, and peers—and fostering active learning, where everyone is encouraged to question, reflect, and participate—you create an environment of trust and mutual respect. This approach strengthens ethical decision-making, supports shared goals, and paves the way for greater achievements.
To me, leadership is about lifting others, championing growth, and building bridges across academia, industry, and the wider community.
FUTURE PLANS
What's coming?
Looking ahead, I am committed to advancing excellence in higher education both locally and globally through my ongoing roles at HKU, editorial responsibilities with academic journals, advisory positions, and voluntary service. My focus is on developing innovative strategies to enhance student learning through deeper industry engagement, sharing best practices with fellow scholars, and upholding the highest standards of educational quality assurance.
To further my impact, I plan to pursue a Postgraduate Diploma in e-Health Informatics, equipping myself with advanced healthcare IT skills. This aligns with my vision of leveraging technology for social good and will enable me to foster cross-disciplinary collaborations that address emerging societal needs across industry/community sectors.
Locally, I have been appointed to the Accreditation Management and Teaching Development Committee of the Hong Kong St. John Ambulance Association, where I will contribute to developing instructor training, formulating accreditation strategies, and ensuring rigorous quality frameworks to promote continuous improvement and innovation in accredited courses.
Globally, as a volunteer member of the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society’s Member Care Action Team, I am helping to create resources and initiatives that support educators’ well-being and resilience worldwide. In addition, I have been selected to join the Alteryx SparkED Faculty Advisory Committee in 2025/26, where I will collaborate with academic leaders and industry partners to advance data analytics education for students across disciplines/borders.
Ultimately, my future plans are guided by a passion for lifelong learning, ethical leadership, and building bridges across academia, industry, and the wider community to create sustainable impact.
