Dr Mohammed Aquil Mirza

Senior Lecturer, Department of Computing

Courses taught: Programming Fundamentals and Applications (COMP1012), Operating Systems, Computer Networking, AIoT — 2,000+ students reached across computing and interdisciplinary subjects.

Dean & Professor, School of Low Altitude and Digital Intelligence

An adaptive assessment engine that adjusts challenge based on verified learner performance, supporting personalised, scalable assessment. The work behind the IEEE ICCSP 2026 Best Paper on Smart Education Systems, a Hong Kong short-term patent, and a PCT international application, with dissemination through QS Reimagine Education 2026 and the eLFA Symposium 2026.

An adaptive coding game platform combining computerized adaptive testing with a 3D hair-cutting robot simulator. Learners solve programming challenges by arranging code blocks to control a simulated robot, with a CAT engine estimating ability from task performance and dynamically adjusting difficulty, and a digital-twin safety-verification sandbox checking movement and cutting plans before execution.

PolyU Junior Researcher Mentoring Programme (Group 09): guiding seven secondary-school students to build "smart" classrooms using sensors and MQTT to track classroom environment and student movement — hands-on AIoT with Arduino and Raspberry Pi, from protocols and programming through research methods to conference presentation.

A mentored student project ("PulmoSight | 肺見", team lead K.H. Lio) that uses AI to support early lung-cancer detection — rapidly analysing patient data, assessing cancer risk, and marking lesion locations so doctors can prioritise high-risk cases and speed up diagnosis. The team is working with medical professionals toward clinical application.

Industry-connected AIoT projects that convert abstract computing into applied problem-solving — practical programming with robotic systems, humanoid robots, and AIoT platforms across construction safety, healthcare, PPE monitoring, and robotics.

A three-workshop academy camp — Robo-Builder Challenge, Virtual Barber Shop, and Final Competition — where participants build and program their first hair-cutting robotic arm. Organised with IEEE Finland CASS and IEEE Nanjing TEMSCISC, using the HCR 3D Learning Simulator as its virtual practice environment.

Formal and experiential development in service-learning and community-engaged pedagogy — a Continuing Education Course certificate in service-learning pedagogy and practice, deepened through engagement in the Philippines across educational and community contexts shaped by different social, linguistic, and resource realities.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Senior Lecturer · Department of Computing

Teaches large, highly diverse computing cohorts — 2,000+ students reached since joining PolyU in September 2023, with course cohorts of 300+ in Programming Fundamentals and Applications. eSFQ scores of 4.6–4.8/5, with reported withdrawal reduced to 0% and pass rate improved to 100% in the evaluated course context.

• Courses: Programming Fundamentals and Applications, Operating Systems, Computer Networking, AIoT
• Learners from computing, engineering, fashion, design, physics, linguistics, biology, building sciences, and data science
• Visible-to-impact pedagogy: cognitive visibility, translational explanation, adaptive support, output conversion, and evidence-informed refinement

Teaching Recognition & Awards

Selected honours

Institutional and external recognition of teaching excellence and pedagogical innovation.

• University Nominee, UGC Teaching Award — Early Career Faculty Sector (2026)
• IETI Teaching Excellence Award, presented at ISBDAI 2026, PolyU (May 2026)
• Early Career Teaching Faculty Award for Outstanding Achievement, PolyU (2025)
• Teaching Grant, Faculty of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, PolyU (2025)
• eLearning Forum Asia Award nomination & poster presentation (2026)
• My Favourite Poster Award, IET Young Professionals Exhibition & Competition 2026, Hong Kong (Jul 2026)
• Certificate in Service-Learning Pedagogy and Practice, PolyU SLLO (2026)

Student Research Mentorship

Mentor · Undergraduate, JRMP & beyond

Mentors coursework into conference papers, competition wins, prototypes, patents, and start-up pathways — 40+ student conference papers, 10+ external awards, 10+ start-up finalist teams, and 5+ patent/start-up initiatives since 2025. Currently guides seven secondary-school students through the PolyU Junior Researcher Mentoring Programme.

• Best Paper Award, IEEE ICCSP 2026, India — student course project converted into recognised scholarship
• Best Paper Award, Springer ICWSNUCA 2026, India — interdisciplinary AIoT work
• 1st Place / Outstanding Grand Award, CTM Macau AI + Big Data Competition 2026 (~800 teams)
• Best Student Paper Award, IEEE ICNSC 2025, Finland · 2nd Place, OLVI-Säätiö NeuroChallenge 2025, Finland
• Best Paper and Best Poster, IEEE ICAIRCA 2025, China · Best Application Paper, IEEE ASCC 2026, Hong Kong
• Gold Award & Overall Champion, 2026 Global Youth Innovation and Invention Competition
• PolyU Micro-Fund and FCMS Ideation Funding winners among mentored teams

Academic Leadership & Community Engagement

Conference chairing, outreach & service-learning

Leads conferences, academic camps, and community-engaged education initiatives connecting the classroom with professional and community contexts.

• General Chair, First International Conference on Smart Health with AIoT and Robotics, PolyU (Nov 2025)
• Camp Director & Lead Instructor, Robo-Barber Academy Camp 2026 (IEEE Finland CASS & IEEE Nanjing TEMSCISC)
• Invited speaker, IMSEA 2026, Wuhan University of Technology · 5-Day Faculty Development Programme, MRIIRS, India
• Service-learning engagement in the Philippines, commended by the President of the University of the Philippines
• Memento of Appreciation for community service from the President of the Indian Muslim Association, Hong Kong