Dr WANG, Yuan    王遠 博士
Associate Professor
Academy for Educational Development and Innovation
Contact
ORCiD
0000-0003-3623-4354
Phone
(852) 2948 7638
Email
wyuan@eduhk.hk
Address
10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong
Website
https://pappl.eduhk.hk/rich/web/person.xhtml?pid=321698&name=WANG, Yuan
Scopus ID
57185544200
SDGs
4 - Quality Education
9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
17 - Partnerships for the Goals
ResearcherID
A-1621-2020
Other Activities
  • Associate Editor, Management Communication Quarterly (SSCI Q1 journal) (2026−present)
  • External Examiner for Ph.D. Degree Examination, Hong Kong Baptist University (2026−present)
  • External Advisor, Hong Kong College of Technology (2025−2027)
  • External Reviewer for Promotion and Tenure, The University of Rhode Island (U.S.) (2025)
  • Panel Member, Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (2025)
  • Article Award Committee, Management Communication Quarterly (2025)
  • International Liaison, Public Relations Division, International Communication Association (2024−2026)
  • Thought Leader, Internal Communication Research Hub, University of Florida (U.S.) (2023−Present)
  • AEJMC Research & Conference Co-chair and Steering Committee Member, International Chinese Communication Association (2023−Present)
  • Editorial Board Member, Management Communication Quarterly (SSCI Q1 journal) (2023−Present)
  • Editorial Board Member, Journal of Communication Management (Scopus and ESCI journal) (2023−Present)
  • Member, Outstanding Book Award Committee, International Communication Association (2023−2026)
  • Page/Johnson Legacy Scholar, The Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication, Pennsylvania State University (U.S.) (2023−2024)
  • Board Member, Chinese Cognitive Communication Association, The Global Rhetoric Society (2022−Present)
  • External Examiner, Hong Kong College of Technology (2022−2024)
  • Associate Editor (2021−Present) and Editorial Board Member (2019−Present), Frontiers in Political Science (Scopus and ESCI journal)
  • Associate Editor, Journal of Creative Communications (a SAGE journal indexed in Scopus and ESCI) (2020−Present)
  • Member, Research Committee, Public Relations Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) (2020−2021)
  • Mentor, Mentoring Program, AEJMC Public Relations Division (2019−2020)
  • Member, Teaching Committee, AEJMC Public Relations Division (2018−2020)
  • Member, Academic Committee, 12th International Forum on Public Relations and Advertising & 4th Annual Conference of Public Relations Society of China (2019)
  • Editorial Board Member, International Journal of Crisis Communication (2017−2020)
  • Associate Editor, PR UPDATE (2017−2018)
  • Member, PRIDE Committee, Public Relations Division of the National Communication Association (NCA) (2017−2018)
  • Co-chair, Graduate Student Liaison Committee, AEJMC Public Relations Division (2016−2017)
  • Member, Selection Committee, NCA Public Relations Division (2015−2016)
  • Graduate Student Representative, NCA Asian/Pacific American Communication Studies Division and Caucus (2015−2016)


Personal Profile

Dr. Yuan Wang is an associate professor at the Academy for Educational Development and Innovation at The Education University of Hong Kong. His research interests focus on exploring the role of new media (e.g., artificial intelligence, social media, virtual reality, and mobile media) in public relations processes and outcomes through social scientific approaches. His research has been published in three dozen peer-reviewed journals, such as the Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, New Media & Society, Journal of Public Relations Research, Public Relations Review, and Mass Communication and Society. He has secured over HKD $3.2 million's research grants from various organizations. His research has won multiple top paper awards from the International Communication Association (ICA), Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC), and National Communication Association (NCA). He is currently an associate editor for the Management Communication Quarterly, Journal of Creative Communications, and Frontiers in Political Science and editorial board member for the Management Communication Quarterly and Journal of Communication Management. He has taken leadership roles in major academic associations such as ICA, AEJMC, NCA, and International Chinese Communication Association (ICCA). He has been recognized as a Page/Johnson Legacy Scholar at the Pennsylvania State University (U.S.) and a thought leader in the Internal Communication Research Hub at the University of Florida (U.S.). In Hong Kong, he has served as a panel member for the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) and an external advisor for the Hong Kong College of Technology. Previously, he was the first program leader for the Master of Arts in New Media and Social Media at The Education University of Hong Kong, a program leader in the Department of Media and Communication at City University of Hong Kong, and an assistant professor at Eastern Kentucky University (U.S.). Prior to entering academia, he gained professional experience in digital media, strategic communication, and marketing at some leading corporations. In addition, he has been interviewed, covered, and consulted by various prestigious media, such as The Economist, Xinhua News Agency, China Global Television Network, Radio Television Hong Kong, and Ming Pao. He obtained his Ph.D. and master's degree at The University of Alabama (U.S.) and a bachelor's degree at Tongji University. 


Professional Services

  • Associate Editor, Management Communication Quarterly (SSCI Q1 journal) (2026−present)
  • External Examiner for Ph.D. Degree Examination, Hong Kong Baptist University (2026−present)
  • External Qualifying Panel Member for Ph.D. Students, City University of Hong Kong (2025−present)
  • External Advisor, Hong Kong College of Technology (2025−2027)
  • External Reviewer for Promotion and Tenure, The University of Rhode Island (U.S.) (2025)
  • Panel Member, Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (2025)
  • Article Award Committee, Management Communication Quarterly (2025)
  • International Liaison, Public Relations Division, International Communication Association (2024−2026)
  • Thought Leader, Internal Communication Research Hub, University of Florida (U.S.) (2023−Present)
  • AEJMC Research & Conference Co-chair and Steering Committee Member, International Chinese Communication Association (2023−Present)
  • Editorial Board Member, Management Communication Quarterly (SSCI Q1 journal) (2023−Present)
  • Editorial Board Member, Journal of Communication Management (Scopus and ESCI journal) (2023−Present)
  • Member, Outstanding Book Award Committee, International Communication Association (2023−2026)
  • Page/Johnson Legacy Scholar, The Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication, Pennsylvania State University (U.S.) (2023−2024)
  • Board Member, Chinese Cognitive Communication Association, The Global Rhetoric Society (2022−Present)
  • External Examiner, Hong Kong College of Technology (2022−2024)
  • Associate Editor (2021−Present) and Editorial Board Member (2019−Present), Frontiers in Political Science (Scopus and ESCI journal)
  • Associate Editor, Journal of Creative Communications (a SAGE journal indexed in Scopus and ESCI) (2020−Present)
  • Member, Research Committee, Public Relations Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) (2020−2021)
  • Mentor, Mentoring Program, AEJMC Public Relations Division (2019−2020)
  • Member, Teaching Committee, AEJMC Public Relations Division (2018−2020)
  • Member, Academic Committee, 12th International Forum on Public Relations and Advertising & 4th Annual Conference of Public Relations Society of China (2019)
  • Editorial Board Member, International Journal of Crisis Communication (2017−2020)
  • Associate Editor, PR UPDATE (2017−2018)
  • Member, PRIDE Committee, Public Relations Division of the National Communication Association (NCA) (2017−2018)
  • Co-chair, Graduate Student Liaison Committee, AEJMC Public Relations Division (2016−2017)
  • Member, Selection Committee, NCA Public Relations Division (2015−2016)
  • Graduate Student Representative, NCA Asian/Pacific American Communication Studies Division and Caucus (2015−2016)


Other Activities
  • Associate Editor, Management Communication Quarterly (SSCI Q1 journal) (2026−present)
  • External Examiner for Ph.D. Degree Examination, Hong Kong Baptist University (2026−present)
  • External Advisor, Hong Kong College of Technology (2025−2027)
  • External Reviewer for Promotion and Tenure, The University of Rhode Island (U.S.) (2025)
  • Panel Member, Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (2025)
  • Article Award Committee, Management Communication Quarterly (2025)
  • International Liaison, Public Relations Division, International Communication Association (2024−2026)
  • Thought Leader, Internal Communication Research Hub, University of Florida (U.S.) (2023−Present)
  • AEJMC Research & Conference Co-chair and Steering Committee Member, International Chinese Communication Association (2023−Present)
  • Editorial Board Member, Management Communication Quarterly (SSCI Q1 journal) (2023−Present)
  • Editorial Board Member, Journal of Communication Management (Scopus and ESCI journal) (2023−Present)
  • Member, Outstanding Book Award Committee, International Communication Association (2023−2026)
  • Page/Johnson Legacy Scholar, The Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication, Pennsylvania State University (U.S.) (2023−2024)
  • Board Member, Chinese Cognitive Communication Association, The Global Rhetoric Society (2022−Present)
  • External Examiner, Hong Kong College of Technology (2022−2024)
  • Associate Editor (2021−Present) and Editorial Board Member (2019−Present), Frontiers in Political Science (Scopus and ESCI journal)
  • Associate Editor, Journal of Creative Communications (a SAGE journal indexed in Scopus and ESCI) (2020−Present)
  • Member, Research Committee, Public Relations Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) (2020−2021)
  • Mentor, Mentoring Program, AEJMC Public Relations Division (2019−2020)
  • Member, Teaching Committee, AEJMC Public Relations Division (2018−2020)
  • Member, Academic Committee, 12th International Forum on Public Relations and Advertising & 4th Annual Conference of Public Relations Society of China (2019)
  • Editorial Board Member, International Journal of Crisis Communication (2017−2020)
  • Associate Editor, PR UPDATE (2017−2018)
  • Member, PRIDE Committee, Public Relations Division of the National Communication Association (NCA) (2017−2018)
  • Co-chair, Graduate Student Liaison Committee, AEJMC Public Relations Division (2016−2017)
  • Member, Selection Committee, NCA Public Relations Division (2015−2016)
  • Graduate Student Representative, NCA Asian/Pacific American Communication Studies Division and Caucus (2015−2016)


Projects
Impact of Chatbots and ChatGPT on University Student Learning: Examines the Effects of Educational Chatbots on Student Learning Experiences, Dialogic Communication, and Cognitive Development
This sub-project is a part of the project titled "AI, New Media, Social Media and Futures of Education: A Multigenerational and Multistakeholder Exploration," whose principal investigator is Prof. John Lee Chi-Kin. The funding sources for this project are the Research Matching Grant Scheme of the Research Grants Council (RGC) and Hong Kong Orange Osmanthus Foundation Limited.
Project Start Year: 2026, Principal Investigator(s): WANG, Yuan
SDGs Information: 4 - Quality Education
 
Impact of Chatbots and ChatGPT on University Student Learning: Examines the Effects of Educational Chatbots on Student Learning Experiences, Dialogic Communication, and Cognitive Development
This sub-project is a part of the project titled "AI, New Media, Social Media and Futures of Education: A Multigenerational and Multistakeholder Exploration," whose principal investigator is Prof. John Lee Chi-Kin. The funding sources for this project are the Research Matching Grant Scheme of the Research Grants Council (RGC) and Hong Kong Orange Osmanthus Foundation Limited.
Project Start Year: 2026, Principal Investigator(s): WANG, Yuan
SDGs Information: 4 - Quality Education
 
Impact of Chatbots and ChatGPT on University Student Learning: Examines the Effects of Educational Chatbots on Student Learning Experiences, Dialogic Communication, and Cognitive Development
This sub-project is a part of the project titled "AI, New Media, Social Media and Futures of Education: A Multigenerational and Multistakeholder Exploration," whose principal investigator is Prof. John Lee Chi-Kin. The funding sources for this project are the Research Matching Grant Scheme of the Research Grants Council (RGC) and Hong Kong Orange Osmanthus Foundation Limited.
Project Start Year: 2026, Principal Investigator(s): WANG, Yuan
SDGs Information: 4 - Quality Education
 
An Empirical Study on the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Public Relations
This project aims to explore the value, strategy, and impact of Chinese and American technology enterprises’ usage of chatbots by using a mixed-method design.
Project Start Year: 2025, Principal Investigator(s): WANG, Yuan
SDGs Information: 9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
 
Fostering Digital Internal Listening: The Impact of EORs and Employees’ Supportive Behaviors
This project explored the value/impact and know-how of digital internal listening by using a mixed-method design. First, through conducting in-depth interviews with 20 internal communication managers working in large organizations in the U.S. and China, we unearthed how to use digital analytics for ethical internal listening (e.g., strategies, channels, and the role of digital technologies) and why and how digital internal listening can influence employee outcomes. Then, we conducted a comparative survey of 824 employees working in large organizations in the U.S. and China to empirically test a conceptual model that links digital internal listening to employee–organization relationships (EORs) and employee supportive behaviors. The survey study found that an organization’s digital internal listening leads employees to perceive psychological empowerment and better relationships with their organization. Good EORs facilitate employees’ advocacy for their organization and organizational citizenship behavior. Furthermore, psychological empowerment mediates the relationship between digital internal listening and favorable EORs.
Project Start Year: 2023, Principal Investigator(s): WANG, Yuan

 
An Empirical Study of Relationship Management and Communication Technology
Grounded in a dialogic theory framework, this project proposed and tested a theoretical model for understanding the effect of dialogic communication on relationship quality and, subsequently, on supportive behaviors. It also studied how to create dialogic communication internally and the specific role of dialogic communication in generating favorable relationships. A pilot study was conducted to ensure the validity of the measurements. The researcher conducted a survey of employees working in large organizations in China.
Project Start Year: 2022, Principal Investigator(s): WANG, Yuan

 
A Study of Dialogic Communication and Employee–Organization Relationships
Many corporations face the challenge of establishing favorable relationships with their employees. Grounded in the framework of dialogic theory, a theoretical model was proposed and tested in this project to examine the effect of dialogic communication on employee–organization relationships and affective commitment and their subsequent influence on employee supportive behaviors, including megaphoning behavior on social media and organizational citizenship behavior. This project conducted a survey of employees working at large companies in the U.S.
Project Start Year: 2021, Principal Investigator(s): WANG, Yuan