Faculty of Education Alumna Dr Liang Qianru receives
AERA Outstanding Dissertation Award

Dr Liang Qianru, a 2022 graduate of the Faculty of Education and currently an assistant professor at Jinan University, has been awarded the 2025 Outstanding Dissertation Award by the Special Interest Group (SIG) - Cognition and Assessment of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). This award recognises Dr Liang’s outstanding dissertation, which was completed during her PhD studies at HKU under the supervision of Professors Jimmy de la Torre and Nancy Law.

Dr Liang’s dissertation, titled “Relating Hong Kong Students' Digital Literacy and Background Characteristics Using a Cognitive Diagnosis Modeling Framework” makes significant contributions to the fields of psychometrics and educational assessment. Her innovative research involves the development and application of cognitive diagnosis models to analyse students’ mastery of digital literacy skills across age cohorts and over time, while also examining how gender and socioeconomic status influence digital literacy development. Her work enhances the accuracy of longitudinal diagnostic assessments and supports targeted educational interventions.

Founded in 1916, the AERA is a leading national research society dedicated to advancing knowledge about education, fostering scholarly inquiry, and promoting the use of research to improve education, and serve the public good. The AERA comprises over 25,000 members worldwide, including educators, researchers, and distinguished professionals in education research.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr Liang on this achievement, which serves as an inspiration to our students and alumni.