On April 15, 2025, BOLD Lab was represented at an international PhD oral examination at the University of Hong Kong. The dissertation Enhancing Dialogic Teaching in Hong Kong ESL Classrooms through Video-based Professional Development by Wang Pengjin explored how structured, video-based teacher support can foster more dialogic classroom practices in second language education.

The thesis consists of four interconnected studies, combining bibliometric analysis, student surveys, classroom video recordings, and teacher interviews. Together, they offer a multifaceted view on how professional development can meaningfully impact both teaching and learning.

Klára Šeďová participated as an external examiner. The discussion focused on methodological aspects of video coding, the interpretation of student-reported data, and the coherence across the dissertation’s mixed-method design. The experience reaffirmed our belief that educational research thrives when rooted in international dialogue—and we’re proud to be part of it.