“I’ve always enjoyed my academic career in public policy.”
Professor Jingwei Alex He spoke with quiet conviction as he looked back on an academic career spanning nearly 15 years. From his years working on a PhD at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) to his current role as Professor of Public Policy at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), public policy has always been his calling.
The Beginning: Why LKYSPP
Professor He has worked in the field of public policy since his very first year of undergraduate study. As he neared the end of his master’s degree in China, he began looking at overseas options. It was LKYSPP, newly founded at the time, which caught his attention. Three things drew him to the School: NUS’ strong reputation worldwide, the significance of the young school being named after the founding father of Singapore, and a faculty whose calibre was difficult to match elsewhere. He submitted his application at the end of 2006 and began his journey at LKYSPP in 2007.
Life at LKYSPP
Several professors left a lasting mark on Alex during his time at the School. Professor M. Ramesh — whose textbook, Studying Public Policy, which he had co-authored, had been his set text in his first and second undergraduate years — was one of the reasons he applied in the first place. His doctoral supervisor, Professor Phua Kai Hong, was an eminent health policy specialist whose research focus aligned closely with his own. He also worked closely with Professor Xun Wu (the School’s only Chinese professor at the time), Scott Fritzen (his co-advisor), and Professor Darryl Jarvis — three of whom would later become his colleagues in Hong Kong.
With LKYSPP professors at Oei Tiong Ham lobby. Left to right. M Ramesh, Xun Wu, Alex He, Eduardo Araral.
The School’s international and diverse demographic left an equally strong impression.
“You could walk down the corridor and meet Vietnamese students, sit in a classroom with students from Latin America and Europe, and have Japanese and German roommates. It was like a mini United Nations,” he recalls.
The annual culture night, a mainstay of the School even before Professor He’s time, brings this spirit to life, breaking down barriers between people of vastly different cultural backgrounds.
A lovely catch-up in Hong Kong with the LKYSPP PhD community. Left to right: Kris Hartley (PhD 2016), Jan Seifert (PhD 2015), Woo Jun Jie (PhD 2014), Alex He.
Research and Career
Today, Professor He is a professor in the Division of Public Policy and Co-Director of the Master of Public Policy (MPP) Program, in addition to being Acting Director of the Institute for Public Policy at HKUST. His research is both wide-ranging and deeply specialised. Broadly speaking, he is particularly interested in how policies are made, innovated, and implemented. At the substantive level, health policy and health governance form the core direction of his work. In his own words, he is “simply a policy scientist with health policy at the heart of my work.”
Professor He’s sources of fulfilment have evolved across each stage of his career. From experiencing the thrill of seeing research published for the first time to deepening his research and publication portfolio in his mid-career to doing what he values most now — nurturing the next generation and engaging with legislators, industry leaders, and academics.
Values and Outlook
Two words capture the spirit that has carried him through: curiosity and entrepreneurship. “Curiosity constantly motivates me to tap into untapped waters.” The current challenge, Professor He acknowledged, is adapting to a new academic environment at a science and technology university — but it is one he willingly approaches as a learner.
With regards to public policy education, Professor He is optimistic, with the increasing number of both undergraduate and postgraduate students in the field worldwide. He has witnessed the robust expansion of the field across Asia, with graduates not only working in government but also across think tanks, consulting firms, and NGOs. Generative AI may displace some work, but he argues that policy professionals must hold to an ethical bottom line, use AI responsibly, and develop the leadership, communication, and collaborative skills that no technology can replicate.
A Message for the Next Generation
For LKYSPP students considering an academic path in public policy, Professor He offered two clear pieces of advice. First, build a solid theoretical foundation. A robust grasp of the field’s core theories is essential — there are no shortcuts. He suggested setting aside a day or two, free from screentime, dedicating uninterrupted time to reading in the library, and immersing oneself in literature. Second, develop research methods. The bar for what makes a good researcher has shifted, and tomorrow’s scholars will need to be quick learners, equipped with diverse methodological tools and rigorous analytical thinking.
When asked what has remained constant throughout his journey, Professor He returned to a phrase that seems to define his life's work: “transferring knowledge, making impact, and bringing people together.