An academic at City University of Hong Kong (CityU), has developed a unique intellectual teaching model designed to stimulate creativity and innovation by means of Chinese wisdom and fostering entrepreneurship with Western scientific methodology.

This innovative model, called the V Model, earned Dr Sun Hongyi, Associate Professor in the Department of Advanced Design and Systems Engineering at CityU, a first-class award from the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education Alliance of China (IEEAC), and has been included in his textbook Innovation and Entrepreneurship Foundation.

Building on enhanced elements related to innovation and discovery embedded into the CityU curriculum and the foundation of the PIPE (problems, ideas, product, enterprise) model, previously developed by Dr Sun, the V Model consists of six steps.

The six steps emphasise “problem from intention", "preparation of information", "ponderation and incubation", "proposal illumination", "prototype iteration" and last but not the least, "plan for implementation".

The V Model is described by Dr Sun as a Mind–Matter Model. "Mind" is inspired by Chinese Buddhism and Confucianism, forming the fundamental core, while ‘Matter’ is driven by Western science.

“Natural consciousness, intuitive thinking and intention enable a student to identify original ideas to solve a problem,” explained Dr Sun. “The next step is strong determination to take action. This is how Chinese wisdom helps stimulate creativity.”

The Western culture or system, on the other hand, focuses on knowledge, theory, scientific analysis and experiments to realise or materialise an idea – a process to turn an idea into a practical product that can satisfy or create a market need.

“The V Model encourages students to think creatively with the help of the Chinese mindset and philosophy and accomplish results with Western scientific methodology,” Dr Sun enthused.

Thanks to CityU’s determination in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, Dr Sun was able to develop a related course on his V Model under the HK Tech 300 initiative this semester.

HK Tech 300 is a large-scale flagship innovation and entrepreneurship programme launched by CityU for aspiring entrepreneurs among CityU students, alumni and research staff, as well as members of the public wishing to leverage the University’s intellectual properties to set up start-ups in Hong Kong.

To recognise the University’s efforts and support in driving developments in this area, CityU was awarded by the IEEAC as an Excellent Organising/Supporting University of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.