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Design Talents
Bursting with ambition
HKDI alumni making a name for themselves
Every year, the Hong Kong Design Institute produces thousands of graduates across the many faculties it operates, including the Departments of Fashion and Image Design (FID), of Architecture, Interior & Product Design (AIP), and of Communication Design & Digital Media (CDM), to name a few. Among these outstanding design talents, a handful are already creating a name for themselves in the industry through competitions and awards. We asked some recent HKDI graduates what their long-term objectives are as designers. This is what they told us
Predicting student satisfaction of emergency remote learning in higher education during COVID-19 using machine learning techniques
Despite the wide adoption of emergency remote learning (ERL) in higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is insufficient understanding of influencing factors predicting student satisfaction for this novel learning environment in crisis. The present study investigated important predictors in determining the satisfaction of undergraduate students (N = 425) from multiple departments in using ERL at a self-funded university in Hong Kong while Moodle and Microsoft Team are the key learning tools. By comparing the predictive accuracy between multiple regression and machine learning models before and after the use of random forest recursive feature elimination, all multiple regression, and machine learning models showed improved accuracy while the most accurate model was the elastic net regression with 65.2% explained variance. The results show only neutral (4.11 on a 7-point Likert scale) regarding the overall satisfaction score on ERL. Even majority of students are competent in technology and have no obvious issue in accessing learning devices or Wi-Fi, face-to-face learning is more preferable compared to ERL and this is found to be the most important predictor. Besides, the level of efforts made by instructors, the agreement on the appropriateness of the adjusted assessment methods, and the perception of online learning being well delivered are shown to be highly important in determining the satisfaction scores. The results suggest that the need of reviewing the quality and quantity of modified assessment accommodated for ERL and structured class delivery with the suitable amount of interactive learning according to the learning culture and program nature
Identifying stabilizing and destabilizing factors of job change: a qualitative study of employee retention in the Hong Kong travel agency industry
This study aims to investigate and compare the congruent and incongruent perceptions of managers and frontline employees toward employee retention in Hong Kong travel agencies. An integrated model was developed using data from 32 interviews with 16 manager– employee dyads. Findings categorized stabilizing and destabilizing factors of job change into four themes: job nature, industry factors, organizational factors, and personal factors. Key factors influencing employee turnover include high customer contact, anti-social working hours, working environment, office location, supervisor and co-worker relations, remuneration, and career prospect. We conclude by reviewing the theoretical and practical implications for travel trade industry management with regard to formulating staff retention policies and closing the perceptual gaps to reduce frontline staff turnover intention
Where Feelings Lie: The Urban Renewal and the Placelessness in Novels by Lee Wai-yi, Ho Lok and Cheung Yuen-man = 情感何所依 —李維怡、可洛、張婉雯小說中的市區重建與無地方性
市區重建令香港近二十年的城市景貌變化不少,許多舊區重新發展成為中產階級住宅,或者裝潢華貴的大型商場。李維怡、可洛、張婉雯等長期在香港生活的「後九七香港青年作家」面對資本重塑城市空間帶來的轉變,舊區文化消逝,無不心生惆悵,遂把自己的所見所感寫成小說。本文關注「後九七香港青年作家」小說中鮮為論者提及的面向―市區重建如何造成人與地方的情感斷裂,以及無地方性。本文首先借助地方心理學,分析「後九七香港青年作家」小說怎樣展現人與地方的情感連結,關注被迫遷者的內心感受,試圖讓讀者了解人被迫從原居地遷徙至他處時,心理健康遭受的影響。及後,本文亦會指出市區重建對於舊區建築和文化的破壞,如何讓「後九七香港青年作家」擔憂香港各區最終失去特色,產生無地方性的憂慮。最後,本文意圖點出李維怡、可洛,張婉雯三位作家的共同文學關懷,即是通過小說展現個人對資本主導的城市發展模式之抗拒,渴望日後的城市發展模式能夠尊重香港既有的歷史和文化,藉此表現對香港此城的「地方之愛」
Characteristics of particle emissions from light duty diesel vehicle fueled with ultralow sulphur diesel and biodiesel blend
This study investigates the particle emissions from a diesel vehicle fueled with ultralow sulphur diesel (B0, ULSD) and 5 % biodiesel blend (B5) by a chassis dynamometer test under three driving conditions. Elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), 30 species of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and 10 species of oxygenated PAH (oxy-PAH) were analyzed to quantify the chemical compositions of the collected particulate matter (PM). The emission factors (EFs) of OC were increased with B5 by a range between 39.5 % and 113.7 %, compared with B0. Both fuel blends recorded a trace amount of EC (0.25 mg/kg or less). It was found that the B5 EFs of total PAHs were decreased by a range between 15.2 % and 50.2 % relative to B0. 2- to 3-ring species, the dominant PAHs and oxy-PAHs, were decreased substantially when using B5. However, the results showed that biodiesel blend promoted the emission of 4- and 5-ring oxy-PAHs and 5- to 7-ring PAHs. The application of B5 shifted the composition towards a higher proportion of PAHs with higher molecular weight and more oxy-PAHs. Due to the increased emissions in PAHs with higher toxic equivalent factors (TEFs), the application of B5 resulted in an increase in toxicity expressed in BAPeq range from 11.3 % to 117.0 %
An analysis of job description and person specifications to define the requirements for obtaining employment within strength & conditioning
The strength and conditioning (S&C) industry can appear as a saturated market: there is a lack of balance between supply and demand of S&C coaches, with the former outweighing the latter. Job descriptions may be an effective tool for aspiring coaches to identify what current skill sets employers are looking for, in particular those deemed essential, but also those deemed desirable and potentially providing a competitive edge. However, it should be acknowledged that job descriptions can vary greatly with the information they provide with regards to qualifications, experience, and skill sets they expect from the applicant. This may make it unclear for new coaches aiming to work within the industry and provide little direction as to how they can best enhance their resumé with at least the minimal standards required to acquire a paid position. In addition, this ambiguity may also affect existing practitioners looking to move occupations, and those looking to climb the leadership ladder. This paper provides S&C coaches with an insight into the minimal requirements currently needed to gain employment and progress to more senior positions. Over 50 job descriptions for paid work were reviewed, with 37% asking for one to two years’ experience and the same amount not stating a minimum requirement, thus generating some uncertainty around the practical experience employers seek. Conversely, from an academic point of view, it was highlighted that a bachelor’s degree (BSc/BA) (73%) and an NSCA CSCS (45%) or UKSCA ASCC (24%) certification was deemed as essential for most roles. This paper gives new and existing S&C coaches an overview of the basic minimal standards that employers generally require, and we hope this will help coaches to align their resumé and development in line with these requirements
Shear strength prediction of concentric and eccentric reinforced concrete beam-column joints
The empirical models for predicting the shear strength of concentric and eccentric reinforced concrete exterior beam-column joints and the interior joints are developed. To propose the empirical model, different parameters affecting the shear strength of reinforced concrete beam-column joints under reversed cyclic loads have been evaluated and identified. The identified parameters, namely, concrete compressive strength, beam and column longitudinal reinforcement, beam-column depth ratio, column axial load, eccentricity, and joint shear reinforcement, are considered in this study. The effect of the aforementioned parameters is determined from the statistical evaluation of the database consisting of specimens collected from the literature, including a large amount of results of the exterior and interior beam-column joints with the parameters mentioned above. The effectiveness of the proposed model is verified by comparing the predicted shear strength values of the proposed model with three design codes of practice. The results indicate that the shear strengths of the reinforced concrete beam-column joints predicted by the proposed model are more accurate than those predicted by other considered codes. The proposed empirical model is simple in use and can be used for the seismic design purpose to prevent premature shear failure of beam-column joints
Special - New Generation, New Force
Emerging Design Talents returns in 2020 with a diverse line-up of online exhibitions and virtual activities. The annual design show presents a curated selection of cross-disciplinary works ranging from Fashion and Image Design, Communication Design, Interior Design, Product Design, Digital Media and more. This year\u27s theme is “Design for Well-Being”, both a prompt reflection on today\u27s social needs and an advocation for better living
Theme - Values-based Design as a Path to Action
Modern life is burdened with so many problems that even when a project succeeds, it can leave one with a sense of rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. However, there is cause for optimism. As the preceding stories make clear, things get better when people get connected. Professor Kees Dorst helps us to understand this process and its importance