The HERDSA Hong Kong Branch hosted its signature Dinner Dialogue on 23 October 2025, bringing together local members and colleagues for an evening of engaging discussion and collegial exchange over dinner. Since its founding in 1997, the Dinner Dialogue series has been a hallmark of the Branch, providing a relaxed yet intellectually stimulating environment for educators to explore emerging issues in higher education.

This session featured Professor Jisun JUNG and Ms. Fengyu WU from the Faculty of Education at The University of Hong Kong, who presented their study on “Outsourcing (Un-)learning in Higher Education,” and Ms. Pengjuan WANG, also from HKU, who shared insights from her research on “Imperfections cannot conceal the brilliance: Chinese academics’ perceptions on abolishing journal peer review.” Both topics sparked lively discussion on evolving academic practices, integrity, and the future of scholarly publishing.

Participants appreciated the informal and welcoming atmosphere, describing it as “relaxing,” “collegial,” and “a great opportunity for meaningful exchange.” Many valued the opportunity to engage with the speakers in a conversational setting, noting that the dialogue format fostered deeper reflection than typical professional development events.

Feedback suggested continuing this dynamic and discussion-driven format while exploring a wider range of contemporary topics, such as AI in higher education.

The evening concluded with warm appreciation for HERDSA HK’s efforts to nurture an inclusive and supportive professional community through intellectually rich and socially engaging gatherings.

For details of the event, please see here: https://herdsahk.edublogs.org