The CAES Conference 2026 brings together distinguished guests and more than 300 participants.
The Centre for Applied English Studies (CAES) at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), in association with the Association of Hong Kong Language Centres (AHKLC), hosted the conference "Innovations in Language Education: Advancing Pedagogy, Practice and Research" from 2 to 3 June 2026 at the HKU Lee Shau Kee Lecture Centre. The two-day Conference brought together more than 300 participants from the eight UGC-funded universities and around the world. It provided a dynamic platform for academic exchange, professional learning, knowledge sharing and international collaboration.
The Opening Ceremony was attended by distinguished University leaders, including Professor Jay Siegel, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) of HKU; Professor David Pomfret, Dean of the Faculty of Arts; and Professor Clive Lee, Director of CAES.
In his address, Professor Siegel highlighted the essential role of communication in education and society, stating: "Without communication, we don't have society. Without communication, we don't have education. Without communication, we don't have an enterprise to drive us forward." His remarks underscored the central importance of language education in enabling learning, knowledge creation, collaboration and social development.
Featuring more than 140 sessions, including keynote addresses, paper presentations, workshops, colloquia, demonstrations, poster presentations, and a Keynote Speakers Forum, the scale and diversity of the programme highlighted the vital role of language education in supporting student learning, digital literacy, and research-informed teaching practices. The academic programme addressed contemporary and emerging issues in the field across six key sub-themes: Technology and innovation in language teaching and learning; Evolving pedagogical approaches, curriculum, and materials; Language learning, acquisition, and use in context; English for Academic and Specific Purposes (EAP/ESP); Assessment and evaluation in language education and Policy, professional development, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Four world-renowned scholars delivered keynote addresses on critical challenges facing modern educators. Professor Christine Goh (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore) discussed "Beyond Effective Oral Communication: Oracy Development for Academic Participation and Flourishing in Higher Education", focusing on how spoken communication supports student confidence and academic success. Professor Ken Hyland (University of East Anglia, UK) presented "Feedback Fatigue: Can AI Save Us from Ever More Marking?", critically evaluating the potential and limitations of AI in writing assessment and feedback. Professor Kay O'Halloran (University of Liverpool, UK) delivered "Multimodal Approach to Language Education and the Challenges of Generative AI", exploring how multimodal literacy intersects with generative AI technologies. Professor Xiaofei Lu (Pennsylvania State University, USA) shared "Connecting Language Patterns to Genre Purposes: New Perspectives for Research and Teaching", offering fresh insights into research-informed academic writing instruction.
Speaking at the Closing Ceremony of the Conference, Dr Lillian Wong, Conference Chair of the CAES Conference 2026 – AHKLC Symposium, said:
"We are delighted by the success of the CAES Conference 2026 – AHKLC Symposium. The Conference brought together a vibrant international community of scholars, educators and practitioners who share a commitment to advancing language education through innovation, research and collaboration.
Over the two days, we witnessed rigorous academic exchange, inspiring keynote discussions, practical sharing of pedagogical approaches and many meaningful professional connections being formed. The success of the Conference reflects HKU's and CAES's commitment to teaching and learning innovation, international engagement and knowledge exchange. We are confident that the ideas, conversations and partnerships developed during the Conference will continue to generate impact beyond the event."
The Conference concluded by reaffirming the importance of language education in higher education and the need for continued innovation in pedagogy, practice and research. As HKU celebrates its 115th anniversary, the successful hosting of the CAES Conference 2026 – AHKLC Symposium represents a meaningful contribution to the University's mission of advancing knowledge, nurturing talent, promoting international collaboration and supporting excellence in teaching and learning.
View the Conference Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndwGwdwJAzM
Visit the CAES Conference 2026 website: https://caes.hku.hk/conference2026/
About HKU Faculty of Arts
The Faculty of Arts is one of the flagship faculties of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and is an internationally renowned and leading humanities faculty. It is ranked 1st in Hong Kong and 19th in the world in Arts and Humanities in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026. HKUArts' presence amongst the best institutions in the world is evidence of its exceptional record in achieving academic excellence, and it strives to attract and nurture outstanding scholars and students from around the world through excellence and innovation in teaching and learning, research, and knowledge exchange. (https://arts.hku.hk/)
About the Centre for Applied English Studies, HKU
Established in 1992, the Centre for Applied English Studies at The University of Hong Kong provides English language and academic communication support for undergraduate and postgraduate students across the University. CAES is actively engaged in teaching, curriculum development, applied linguistics research, professional development and knowledge exchange. Through its work, the Centre contributes to HKU's commitment to high-quality teaching and learning, academic literacy development and internationalisation. (https://caes.hku.hk/)
