Norman Mendoza earned his PhD in Educational Psychology and Assessment at the Department of Curriculum and Instruction of the Education University of Hong Kong.

His research is focused on the psychosocial mechanisms that influence students’ self-directed learning practices and the adaptive school outcomes such practices predict. To this end, he integrates psychological and educational theories in conceptualising quantitative studies and designing interventions for students and pre-/in-service teachers.

He is also the co-founder of a non-profit youth organization in the Philippines (i.e., LifeRisksPH) which is registered in the country's National Youth Commission. The organization is focused on youth well-being and mental health. He is also engaged in research surrounding well-being across populations.

Dr. Michelle Cheng is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, the Education University of Hong Kong. She obtained her doctoral degree from the University of Hong Kong as a recipient of the HKU Postgraduate Fellowship. Prior to that, she earned her Bachelor of Social Sciences in Psychology, also from HKU, graduating with first-class honours.

As an academic, Michelle's research focuses on the design, implementation, and evaluation of experiential learning in higher education. She is particularly interested in utilizing student housing and living-learning programs to promote holistic student development and well-being. Michelle was a recipient of the RGC Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme during her position as a postdoctoral fellow at EdUHK. Subsequently, she worked as a Research Assistant Professor at Lingnan University.

Michelle is also passionate about enhancing teaching and learning in higher education. She completed her Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Professional and Vocational Education) at EdUHK with distinction, following her doctoral studies. She is currently a Registered Teacher recognized by the Hong Kong Education Bureau. She recently completed the Service-Learning for Faculty in Asia 2024 program offered by the United Board to further enhance her professional skills.

Dr XIONG Weiyan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of International Education at the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK). He received his PhD in Higher Education Management from the University of Pittsburgh. Weiyan is the author of Ethnic Minority-Serving Institutions: Higher Education Case Studies from the United States and China (Palgrave Macmillan, 2021) and has published journal articles on indigenous and ethnic minority education, international higher education, higher education policy, and more.

Weiyan developed a constructivist and pragmatic approach in the research to address an essential question: how can a university better develop and play its role in teaching and learning, scientific research, and social service? With an international perspective, Weiyan’s pragmatic orientation pushes his studies to be policy-relevant to enhance institutional development or provide higher education policy recommendations in specific social contexts.

Before joining EdUHK, Weiyan was an Assistant Professor and the Director of two taught-postgraduate (TPg) programmes (MA in International Higher Education and Management; MSocSc in Organisational Psychology and Education Management) at Lingnan University, Hong Kong. He also served as a Program Coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh Institute for International Studies in Education and a Visiting Student Researcher at the UC Berkeley Myers Center for Research on Native American Issues.