Panellists in the panel discussion
(From left) Prof. Gary Wong, Mr. Chu Ka Tim, Ms. Michelle Lee, Ms. Edith Tse, Ms. Hidy Tse, and Prof. Nancy Law
The public forum "Shaping the Future of Digital Education in Hong Kong: Navigating AI and Innovation" was held on November 1, 2025 (Saturday). Organised by the Centre for Information Technology in Education (CITE) of the Faculty of Education at The University of Hong Kong (HKU), this event aimed to contribute to the formulation of the upcoming Digital Education Blueprint and the AI Literacy Learning Framework. The Forum was attended by over 100 participants, including representatives from the Education Bureau and HK Education City (HKEdCity), principals and teachers with rich experience of implementing e-learning, as well as teacher educators, education researchers, and members of the EdTech industry.
Panel Discussion on AI and Shaping Hong Kong's Digital Education Blueprint
The Policy Forum culminated in a highly productive and inspiring panel discussion featuring key stakeholders in education. The session was facilitated by Professor Nancy Law, Chair Professor of Learning Sciences and Technology, Associate Dean (Strategic Development) at HKU Faculty of Education and Deputy Director of CITE. The discussion focused on essential elements for shaping the Hong Kong Digital Education Blueprint – AI & Innovation. Ms Edith Tse, Principal Assistant Secretary (Innovation Technology Education), Education Bureau of the HKSAR, remarked that the policy blueprint, which will set out measures in achieving the vision of digital education, aims to prepare students and schools for the future. She noted that many schools already have a solid foundation in innovative and effective digital education practices, as exemplified by the five presentations jointly delivered by university researchers and school practitioners.
Ms Hidi Tse, Vice Principal at St. Margaret's Co-educational English Primary and Secondary School, a veteran practitioner and parent of a 15-year-old, cautioned that AI in education must be coupled with continuous (critical) thinking capabilities and attention to mental health. Additionally, Mr Chu Ka Tim, Chairman of The Hong Kong Association for Computer Education (HKACE) and Principal of Shatin Pui Ying College, highlighted the association's 45-year legacy in bridging different sectors to advance digital education. He emphasised the importance of engaging multiple partners as agents of change. Ms Michelle Lee, Head of Business and Communications at HKEdCity, elaborated on the role of HKEdCity as Hong Kong's official digital education platform. She explained that the platform aims to facilitate the integration of technology in schools by connecting teachers, the Education Bureau, and industry partners.
In his closing remarks, Professor Gary Wong, Associate Professor at HKU Faculty of Education and Director of CITE, reframed the goal of digital education. "The most important core is to help future students develop better problem-solving abilities to face new challenges," he said, linking the effective use of AI back to the foundational skill of computational thinking. Professor Nancy Law also summarised the key takeaways, emphasising that digital education must be grounded in sound pedagogy and prioritise the changing role of teachers to facilitate learner agency and creative problem solving. It should be integrated within a framework of 21st-century skills, and advanced through whole-school and community-wide collaboration. The forum demonstrated a clear and unified vision from Hong Kong's education community: to harness the power of AI not as an end in itself but as a tool to empower communities, transform learning, and foster a more confident, innovative and critically engaged generation. "Our goal is to prepare the next generation to be future-ready, and this is a challenge for all of us," she concluded. She closed the Public Forum by referencing CITE's mission statement: "Empowering communities and transforming learning".
Experience Sharing Sessions on Implementing AI in Teaching and Learning
During the experience sharing sessions with five different themes, teachers and principals from local schools, along with scholars from HKU Faculty of Education they partnered with, shared their experiences in pedagogical and curriculum integration of AI and digital tools to prepare students for the future.
Theme 1: A Gen AI System to Support Personalised Science Learning and Self-Regulation
Ms Yau Wing Yee, STEAM Coordinator of St. Stephen's Girls' College shared insights from students and teachers who have used FunSci, the AI application developed by Professor Shihui Feng, Assistant Professor at HKU Faculty of Education, in their Science classes. FunSci encourages students to exercise agency to explore critically and deeply in their learning. "The system doesn't simply give the answers to the students, but asks many questions, prompting students to learn how to use AI to arrive at their own answers," noted a science teacher, highlighting the role of FunSci in promoting critical thinking and inquiry.
Theme 2: Multimodal Assessment Innovations in Language Education using Gen AI
Professor George Jiang, Assistant Professor at HKU Faculty of Education, has been developing a programme for implementing Multimodal Assessment Innovations using GenAI. Multimodal assessment allows students to learn and to demonstrate their creativity and critical thinking beyond traditional literacy. A collaborating English language teacher, Ms Purswani Neha Radhakrishan of Ching Chung Hau Po Woon Primary School shared how engaging in this project would contribute towards enhancing linguistic creativity, assessment literacy, digital literacy and safety for her school. Positive student feedback was cited, such as, "Creating my story was so enjoyable. I love adding colourful pictures and funny sounds."
Theme 3: Unleash Creativity and Foster Responsible Use of AI
Mr Samuel Chan, Vice Principal of La Salle College, introduced the school's efforts in cross-subject curriculum innovation, involving the integration of language and coding education that provides students with opportunities to leverage Internet of Things (IoT) control technology to address authentic everyday problems. During the 2025-26 school year, La Salle College plans to integrate AI use in its STEAM curriculum to unleash student creativity and foster responsible use of AI. Professor Logan Chen, Assistant Professor at HKU Faculty of Education, commended the School on their remarkable commitment to realising this vision by entering the age of AI hand in hand together with every teacher and every student.
Theme 4: Promoting Computational Thinking Education through Gen AI
Professor Gary Wong pointed out that teachers' professional development is essential for advancing computational thinking education, especially as we build on existing foundations in the evolving landscape of AI education. Mr So Ping Yiu and Ms Yip Wing Tung of Kowloon Tong School (Primary Section) shared the challenges in introducing AI in primary schools and that they value the opportunity to explore feasibility and practicability issues through school-university partnership. Mr Lee Kwok Leung, Vice Principal of Tsuen Wan Public Ho Chuen Yiu Memorial Primary School opined that teachers are the cornerstone of effective AI integration. AI for inclusive, future-ready classrooms can only become reality if teachers can also play a leadership role in a supportive ecosystem that centres professional development.
Theme 5: School Level AI Policies Supporting Transformative Pedagogical Innovations and Ethics-Aware Curriculum Implementations
Dr Rachel Pak On Ko, Lecturer of CITE, introduced the Quality Education Fund supported 'Innovation Network for STEAM Mature, AI Ready Talents' (INSMART) project. This network aims to foster a self-generative and sustaining ecosystem for AI-integrated self-directed STEAM learning by developing schools' capacity to design and orchestrate multilevel connected learning across and within schools, including students, teachers, and school leaders. Ms Yuen Wai Sze, the Principal and Mr Choi Chi Kin, the E-Learning Coordinator of Christian Alliance Toi Shan H. C. Chan Primary School presented their school's vision of embedding AI ethics and literacy in interdisciplinary learning and how the school designed their team structure and strategies to promote school-wide participation in AI integration, involving whole school curriculum innovation and deepening professional collaboration. Dr Chan Wai Wun and Dr Chan Pik Ying, Principal and Assistant Principal respectively of LKWFSL Lau Wong Fat Secondary School, shared their school-based digital education policies and practices.
For details about the Public Forum, please visit: https://www.cite.hku.hk/event/20251101forum.
