Deepening of professional knowledge
During the three months of participating in the projects led by Lou Weiqun on elderly care and the project on using Xi Ning’s exoskeleton robot technology to assist the elderly in movement, I significantly expanded my understanding of the professional knowledge in the field of elderly care. Taking the elderly care project led by Lou Weiqun as an example, the concept of holistic care advocated by this project not only focuses on the physical condition of the elderly, but also covers the needs of caregivers. At the same time, while conducting research, we went to the community and provided community intervention and home services. This made me realize that elderly care work requires comprehensive consideration of various factors to provide more comprehensive and personalized care services for the elderly. Through various discussions and practical activities in the project, I mastered numerous cutting-edge care methods and techniques. This knowledge will have a significant positive impact on my future work.
Expansion of interdisciplinary vision
The project on using Xi Ning’s exoskeleton robot to assist the elderly in movement involves multiple disciplines such as medicine, engineering, and rehabilitation. During my participation in the exoskeleton project, I had the privilege to engage in communication and collaboration with experts and scholars from different disciplinary backgrounds. This made me deeply realize the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation in solving complex problems. For example, during the development of the exoskeleton robot, it was discovered that many doctoral students have interdisciplinary learning experiences – they studied different majors during their undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs. This provided me with a novel perspective and made me understand that in future work, it is necessary to be good at integrating resources from different disciplines and solve practical problems in innovative ways.
Gains in Teaching and Research Methods
Learning of advanced teaching methods
The pedagogical approach at the University of Hong Kong emphasizes students’ active participation and the cultivation of practical abilities. During the learning process of the project, I engaged in numerous lectures and through academic sharing, popularization, and discussion forms, it fostered students’ interest in learning and creativity, and improved their ability to solve practical problems. Through various means, not only did I deepen my understanding of knowledge, but also cultivated teamwork and communication skills. I hope to introduce these advanced teaching methods into my own teaching work to improve teaching quality.
Improvement of research methods
Participating in these two projects also gave me the opportunity to come into contact with advanced research methods and technologies. In the project, I came into contact with emerging artificial intelligence technologies such as bionic muscle materials, various sensors, and digital twins, as well as methods for constructing predictive models. Through learning these research methods, I enhanced my research capabilities and proficiency. For example, when evaluating the effectiveness of the exoskeleton robot assisting the elderly in movement, I used professional motion analysis software and equipment to accurately measure and analyze the movement parameters of the elderly. These research methods and technologies will help me conduct more in-depth and scientific research work in the future.
Experience of Culture and Communication
Integration of diverse cultures
Hong Kong is a multicultural city, and the University of Hong Kong also gathers teachers and students from different countries and regions. During my three-month study period, I had the opportunity to communicate and collaborate with people from different cultural backgrounds, immersing myself in the rich tapestry of diverse cultures. This multicultural environment fostered in me a greater sense of openness and inclusivity, and I learned to respect and appreciate different cultures and viewpoints.
The Importance of communication and cooperation
During the learning process of the project, communication and cooperation were throughout, and close communication and collaboration with team members were the key to the success of the project. Through communication with mentors, classmates, and project partners, I not only acquired valuable knowledge and honed my skills, but also established good interpersonal relationships. During communication, we shared each other’s experiences and ideas, learned from each other, and made progress together. This communication and cooperation atmosphere made me feel the power of the team and also made me more deeply understand the importance of communication and cooperation in work and study. Under the guidance of Professor Lou Weiqun, we visited and learned about the Community Service Center for Elderly Dementia in Macau. This experience equipped me with an understanding of Eden Decision-making Care and Montessori’s human-centered intervention methodologies. Through community activities such as planting, cognitive training, reminiscence, and physical therapy, the quality of life and dignity of the elderly were enhanced. Later, I had a learning exchange with Professor Tang Haiyi from Macau University of Technology. We learned about the application of artificial intelligence in various fields and the construction cases of AI large models. This experience once again highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary and multi-field learning.
Self-Growth and Reflection
Improvement in professional skills
Through participation in these two projects, my professional skills, communication skills, teamwork skills, and problem-solving abilities have been significantly enhanced. When facing complex issues in elderly care and challenges in robot research and development, I learned to think calmly and use the knowledge and skills I have acquired to find solutions. For example, when encountering difficulties in robot debugging during the project, Collaborating with team members, I analyzed the problem and, through persistent efforts and refinements, we successfully resolved the issue. This experience made me more confident and convinced me that I have the ability to handle various challenges.
Thoughts on future work
My three-month study experience has given me a clearer plan and thinking for my future work. I aspire to apply the knowledge and experience garnered at the University of Hong Kong to practical work, promoting the development of the elderly care field. At the same time, I also hope to continue interdisciplinary research and cooperation to contribute to solving practical problems in elderly care. Moreover, I have realized that as a geriatric care worker, I need to constantly learn and update my knowledge to keep up with the times and provide higher-quality care services for the elderly.
Conclusion
The three-month visiting scholar study period was a valuable learning and growth experience. I gained significant gains in terms of knowledge, skills, culture and communication. I will cherish this experience even more and apply what I have learned to my future work and studies. At the same time, I also hope to maintain contact with the University of Hong Kong and continue cooperation and exchanges to jointly promote the development of elderly care. I am convinced that this study experience will be an invaluable asset in my life, inspiring me to keep moving forward and making greater contributions to the elderly care cause.
XU HUIPING