HKU MFA Showcase and "Black Box Magazine" Anniversary Issue Launch: Creative Writing Across Forms and Formats

HKU’s MFA in Creative Writing in English has recently held its 2026 Showcase at the HKU Black Box. It took place alongside the launch of the anniversary issue of Black Box Magazine, a student arts, culture, and literary publication curated by the current MFA cohort and the wider postgraduate community of the School of English. The combined event, led by Dr. Antony Huen, the Director of the MFA programme and Founder and Editor of Black Box Magazine, drew a full-house audience of faculty members, students, and invited guests, including novelist Matthew Wong Foreman and photographer Joyce Yung.

Photo by the HKU School of English

The Showcase presented original works by the MFA cohort, spanning spoken word, short drama, and cross-media performances drawing on music, dance, digital art, and Gen AI. Audiences were transported into surreal, futuristic, Gothic, and digital worlds, where new meanings around contemporary human concerns emerged. Adapted from the students’ creative dissertations, these live presentations showcased a wide range of worldviews, personas, and themes, sparking unexpected insights and new ideas.

A dance presentation by an MFA student. Photo by the HKU School of English

A dramatic dialogue between two MFA students. Photo by the HKU School of English

A notable feature of this year’s Showcase was the integration of art and technology. Many works explored human–AI interactions and the ethical questions emerging in the era of smart technology. Some performances used AI as a collaborator, while others incorporated programming and digital tools to enhance theatrical effects. These technological elements highlighted the cohort’s willingness to experiment and engage with emerging tools and practices.

A musical duet by two MFA students. Photo by the HKU School of English

A dramatic monologue by an MFA student. Photo by the HKU School of English

Within the Showcase, the anniversary issue of Black Box Magazine was also launched. In a brief conversation with the Editor, Dr. Antony Huen, the student editing leads of the issue and guest contributors Matthew Wong Foreman and Joyce Yung discussed the issue’s theme, “Margins”, and its creative and critical implications. The dialogue highlighted the MFA’s commitment to crossing boundaries in contemporary writing.

A dialogue on Issue 2 of "Black Box Magazine." Photo by the HKU School of English

Guest contributors Matthew Wong Foreman (left) and Joyce Yung (center) in dialogue with Dr. Antony Huen (right). Photo by the HKU School of English

Together, the MFA Showcase 2026 and the launch of Black Box Magazine’s second issue marked a celebratory moment in the growing range of achievements of the MFA community at HKU and beyond.

MFA student hosts (first and second from the left) with Professor Tong King Lee (Head of School) (third from the left), Dr. Antony Huen (third from the right), Matthew Wong Foreman (second from the right), and Joyce Yung (first from the right). Photo by the HKU School of English

Hong Kong’s universities have once again demonstrated academic strength on the international stage. The latest 2026 ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects shows that at least 90 subjects across Hong Kong’s universities have entered the global top 50, with 21 subjects ranking among the world’s top 10. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) claimed the top spot globally in two subjects: Transportation Science & Technology and Hospitality & Tourism Management. The University of Hong Kong (HKU), The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), and The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) all made it into the global top 10 for Education, underscoring the city’s overall strength in the field.

The University of Hong Kong, Photo source: reference image

HKU’s Education subject ranked second globally in this year’s ranking, its highest-ever position, while retaining its place as the top in Asia. Professor Yang Rui, Dean of the Faculty of Education at HKU, expressed his delight at the achievement. He noted that it fully reflects the collective efforts of faculty members in conducting high-level research and publishing in leading international academic journals, as well as the Faculty’s close partnerships with research collaborators worldwide, which continue to expand the reach and impact of its work. “I am deeply grateful to our Faculty members for their commitment to advancing educational knowledge and promoting the exchange and application of these outcomes worldwide,” he said.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Photo source: reference image

PolyU delivered the most outstanding performance in this ranking, with 23 subjects entering the global top 50, the highest number among all Hong Kong institutions. Six of its subjects ranked in the global top 10. In addition to the two subjects that topped the world, these include Management (global 2nd), Civil Engineering (global 3rd), Energy Science & Engineering (global 4th), and Mechanical Engineering (global 10th), spanning multiple traditional strengths in engineering and management.

The City University of Hong Kong, Photo source: reference image

City University of Hong Kong (CityU) had 44 subjects ranked this year, two more than last year. Twenty-two subjects entered the global top 50, with four subjects- Library & Information Science, Metallurgical Engineering, Energy Science & Engineering, and Public Administration- making it into the global top 10. Furthermore, CityU ranked first in Hong Kong in 10 subjects, including Library & Information Science, Business Administration, and Veterinary Sciences, leading other local institutions in multiple areas.

The Lingnan University, Photo source: reference image

Lingnan University had eight subjects ranked this year, a nearly twofold increase from three last year. Five subjects, including Computer Science & Engineering and Electrical & Electronic Engineering, appeared on the list for the first time. Its Artificial Intelligence subject, newly listed last year, jumped dramatically in the rankings and entered the global top 100 for the first time, placing in the 76–100 band. Professor Qin Si Zhao, President of Lingnan University, said the results reflect growing international recognition of the University’s academic and research work. “Lingnan will review the ranking results and their assessment indicators, using them as a reference to further consolidate our ‘Liberal Arts + Technology’ development direction,” he said.

Photo source: shanghairanking.com

The ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects is released by ShanghaiRanking, a higher education evaluation agency. It covers 57 subjects across five major fields: Natural Sciences, Engineering, Life Sciences, Medical Sciences, and Social Sciences. The ranking uses international academic indicators to assess the performance of higher education institutions worldwide in each subject, evaluating five categories: World-Class Faculty, World-Class Research Output, High-Quality Research, Research Impact, and International Collaboration. This year’s ranking assessed over 3,000 universities globally, with more than 2,000 institutions from about 96 countries and regions appearing on the lists.