Dr Michael Lai, Assistant Professor at Rita Tong Liu School of Business and Hospitality Management, won Saint Francis Teaching Excellence Award for his dedication to enhancing student learning experiences and advancing teaching excellence. He received the award at the 3rd SFU Annual Learning and Teaching Symposium held on 5 May 2026.
Dr Lai's commitment to innovative and student-centred teaching has been demonstrated through the integration of AI, the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) 5E instructional model, structured gamification, experiential learning, and research-informed pedagogy. His teaching practice places strong emphasis on engaging students actively in the learning process in addition to encouraging them to explore real-world issues, apply concepts in authentic contexts, and reflect critically on their learning outcomes.