Connecting Research and Practice:
School Leaders and Faculty Come Together at the Education in Hong Kong Roundtable

On October 5, 2026, the Faculty of Education welcomed 20 school leaders from 11 local and international schools for the inaugural Connecting Research and Practice: Education in Hong Kong Roundtable, convened by the Academic Unit of Social Contexts and Policies of Education (SCAPE) with the Academy for Leadership in Teacher Education (ALiTE).

The event brought together principals, vice principals and school leaders from across Hong Kong’s education system, including aided, Direct Subsidy Scheme and international schools at primary and secondary levels. The event also engaged faculty members from SCAPE, ALiTE, and the Academic Unit of Mathematics, Science, and Technology.

Designed as an interactive working session rather than a series of presentations, the roundtable invited participants to rotate between four themed tables, each hosted by faculty members:

At each table, participants discussed current priorities and challenges, shared innovations already under way in their schools, what current research is examining and explored practical opportunities for collaboration between schools and the University.

The conversations were rich and wide-ranging. Leadership development emerged as a recurring theme, particularly the preparation and support of middle leaders, the value of mentoring and coaching grounded in real school challenges, and the need for diverse career pathways that recognise teachers’ different areas of expertise. Participants also explored the role of shared school values and relationships in sustaining improvement, the wellbeing of educators as well as students, and the opportunities and questions that AI raises for independent learning, teaching and assessment.

Professor Paul Campbell, Co-Chair of the Roundtable and Director of ALiTE, said: “I am really delighted to see this forum come to fruition, and as we look for more diverse ways of engaging our education communities in Hong Kong for the purpose of knowledge exchange, research and impact, this is a promising approach. School leaders in Hong Kong are already doing remarkable, thoughtful work under real pressure. What struck me most was how openly they shared what is working, but also what remains unresolved. That honesty is where meaningful collaboration becomes possible, and our role as a Faculty is to listen carefully, to bring research alongside practice, and to build partnerships that make a genuine difference for teachers, leaders and students.”

Professor Frank Reichert, Co-Chair of the Roundtable, added: “We deliberately kept this first roundtable small so there would be space for genuine dialogue and equal interactions rather than presentations. The conversations across values education, family engagement, leadership and AI showed how much schools and researchers can learn from one another. This is a starting point, and we look forward to developing the ideas and partnerships that emerged into concrete, shared work.”

The event concluded with a plenary in which participants identified shared priorities and next steps for collaboration. Notes from each table will be shared with participants and added to a shared resource space, alongside materials linked to each theme. The organisers also plan further opportunities for schools and faculty to reconnect, deepen collaboration on specific themes, and connect with colleagues across the system.

School leaders interested in taking part in future roundtables are warmly invited to register at https://forms.gle/a8jFot7seJvvvhjp9