Dr Michael Rivera has been presented with the 2026 UGC Teaching Award in recognition of his achievements and passion for teaching

Dr. Michael Rivera, a Lecturer in the Faculty of Social Sciences and a member of the Common Core Community at HKU, has been honored with the prestigious 2026 UGC Teaching Award in the Early Career Faculty Members category.

Presented by the University Grants Committee, this award recognizes Dr. Rivera’s exceptional achievements, passion, and transformative approach to anthropology education. He is distinguished by his innovative teaching philosophy, which thoughtfully combines active learning, experiential enquiry, and reflective practice. By cultivating both “brave spaces” and “safe spaces” in his classroom, he fosters students’ resilience, critical thinking, and communication skills.

An inspiring and student-centered educator, Dr. Rivera teaches the Common Core courses CCST9081 All You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Humans and CCGL9080 Societies on the Water. 

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