e collaborates with local academics and overseas researchers from the University of Oxford, the University of Cyprus, the University of Groningen, the University of Nottingham, and the University of Helsinki in local and international research projects.James has extensive training and education in linguistics, psychology and education, with diplomas and degrees from Canada, Hong Kong, and the U.K.

Prior to his doctoral study, James was an EFL teacher for about 20 years and a department head of a secondary school for 10 years.

He led several innovative projects in student discipline, counselling and guidance, social and emotional learning, curriculum development, teacher professional development, and organisational learning, receiving external funds from the Educational Department, ICAC and Citibank.

His research experience and interests are diverse. He has worked on various large-scale research projects funded by the RGC in Hong Kong and by the ESRC and DSCF in the UK. He collaborates with local academics and overseas researchers from the University of Oxford, University of Cyprus, University of Groningen, University of Nottingham, and University of Helsinki in local and international research projects.

He does mixed-method research and tries to keep his mind open to ideas of both qualitative and quantitative camps. He is a Research Fellow of the Institute's Joseph Lau Luen Hung Charitable Trust Asia Pacific Centre for Leadership and Change (APCLC).