Joseph Lau Yui-yip, who leads the student affairs department at the Polytechnic University’s college of professional and continuing education, has been selected as a finalist in the culture category of the annual Spirit of Hong Kong Awards. Lau is being honored for his unconventional pedagogical methods, which prioritize experiential learning outside of traditional classroom settings.

Lau’s curriculum often involves taking students to sites typically avoided in academic environments, including cemeteries, funeral parlours, and various heritage exhibitions. According to the report, Lau believes that certain aspects of Hong Kong’s cultural identity can only be fully understood through direct engagement with these locations. His research interests are broad, spanning from the study of traditional funeral customs to the documentation of obscure local practices, such as the Hakka animal dance.

By integrating these topics into his student affairs work, Lau aims to remove the stigma surrounding death and encourage students to engage more deeply with the city's history and social fabric. The Spirit of Hong Kong Awards, which highlight individuals who have made significant contributions to the community, identified Lau’s work as a notable effort in cultural preservation and education. While the report focuses on his specific teaching philosophy, it highlights that his approach is part of a broader effort to bridge the gap between academic study and the lived reality of Hong Kong’s diverse cultural heritage.