1. Introduction
On 12 March 2026, the Revalidation Panel convened at the HKU SPACE campus to review the delivery, outcomes and quality assurance processes of Unit 3E Nutrition and Evaluation, a core component of the MSc Sports & Exercise Nutrition programme. The meeting brought together academic staff, external experts, a student representative and the Programme Director. The purpose of the panel was to ensure that the unit remains current, rigorous and aligned with professional standards established by the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) and the Nutrition Society of Hong Kong.
2. Panel Attendance
- Prof. Alan Cheng Programme Director (Chair)
- Dr. MeiLing Wu Senior Lecturer, Unit Coordinator
- Dr. Carlos Santos External Examiner, University of Barcelona
- Ms. Rachel Lam Representative, HKU SPACE Student Union
- Mr. Thomas Ng Quality Assurance Officer, Office of Academic Development
3. Agenda
- Welcome and opening remarks
- Review of unit aims and learning outcomes
- Curriculum and teaching methodology
- Assessment design and moderation
- Student feedback and performance data
- Industry relevance and professional alignment
- Recommendations and action plan
- Closing remarks
4. Learning Outcomes appraisal
The panel examined the six stated learning outcomes (LOs) and found them to be clearly articulated, measurable and suitably challenging for postgraduate students:
- LO1: Critically evaluate the role of macronutrients and micronutrients in sport performance.
- LO2: Design evidencebased nutrition intervention plans for athletes of different disciplines.
- LO3: Apply appropriate statistical methods to interpret nutrition research data.
- LO4: Communicate nutrition recommendations effectively to multidisciplinary teams.
- LO5: Demonstrate ethical considerations in nutrition research and practice.
- LO6: Reflect on personal professional development within sport nutrition.
No revisions to the wording were deemed necessary. The panel noted that LO3 could be supported further by a dedicated module on advanced data analysis software (e.g., R, SPSS) in the next curriculum review.
5. Curriculum and Teaching Methodology
The unit comprises 12 weekly seminars, two laboratory sessions, and a capstone project. Teaching strategies include flippedclassroom lectures, casebased discussions, and handson analysis of realworld dietary data.
Strengths identified:
- Effective use of blended learning with prerecorded minilectures.
- Integration of current scientific literature students regularly review articles from Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition and Nutrition & Metabolism.
- Collaboration with local sports clubs for practical data collection.
Areas for improvement:
- Increase interactive components in laboratory sessions to enhance datahandling skills.
- Provide supplementary tutorials on nutrition software (e.g., NutriBase, FoodWorks).
6. Assessment Design and Moderation
The unit uses a mixedmode assessment approach:
- Individual literature critique 20%
- Data analysis assignment 30%
- Group project (nutrition intervention plan) 35%
- Reflective portfolio 15%
The panel praised the alignment between assessment tasks and the learning outcomes, particularly the authentic group project that mirrors professional practice. However, the following recommendations were made:
- Introduce a formative peerreview stage for the literature critique to improve critical appraisal skills.
- Standardise marking rubrics across all assessors and conduct a doublemarking pilot for the data analysis assignment.
7. Student Feedback and Performance Data
The most recent student survey (2025/26 intake) reported an overall satisfaction rating of 4.2/5. Key comments included:
The case studies are very relevant to my work with elite athletes, but I would like more guidance on statistical software.
The group project helped me build a network with peers from other sports science modules.
Academic performance data show an average pass rate of 88% with a median final grade of 73%. The dropout rate remains below 2%, indicating strong retention.
8. Industry Relevance and Professional Alignment
The units curriculum aligns with the competency framework of the Sports Nutrition Specialist (SNS) certification. Guest lecturers from the Hong Kong Sports Institute and the Hong Kong Nutrition Association presented recent case studies, reinforcing the bridge between theory and practice.
The panel recommends that the programme formalises a mentorship scheme linking students with practising sport nutritionists to further enhance employability.
9. Recommendations and Action Plan
| Recommendation | Responsibility | Target Completion |
|---|---|---|
| Add a 2hour workshop on R/SPSS for LO3. | Dr. MeiLing Wu | September 2026 |
| Introduce peerreview for literature critique. | Unit Coordinator & Teaching Assistants | May 2026 |
| Pilot doublemarking for data analysis assignment. | Quality Assurance Officer | June 2026 |
| Develop mentorship partnership with local sport nutritionists. | Programme Director | January 2027 |
| Review laboratory session structure for increased interactivity. | Dr. Carlos Santos (External Examiner) | December 2026 |
10. Conclusion
The Revalidation Panel concluded that Unit 3E Nutrition and Evaluation maintains a high standard of academic rigour, relevance to professional practice and student satisfaction. The minor enhancements outlined above will strengthen the units capacity to produce competent sport nutrition specialists equipped to meet the evolving demands of the industry.
Prof. Alan Cheng
Programme Director, MSc Sport & Exercise Nutrition
HKU SPACE
10 March 2026
