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Supported by the UGC Inter-Institutional Collaborative Activities scheme for the Fund for Innovative Technology-in Education (FITE), the inaugural Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence (AI) Educational Expo was held in the Main Library at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) on June 19.

Designed to engage not only higher education professionals but also the general public, the Expo aimed to increase awareness of AI technologies and literacy. The event attracted the participation of 30 Edtech companies and organisations. Over 700 people registered for the event, including university teachers and students from both public and private institutions, as well as school principals, teacher and students in Hong Kong.

The Expo also featured the launch of the new book co-authored by Professor Cecilia Chan and Mr Tom Colloton, titled “Generative AI in Higher Education: The ChatGPT Effect”. The book is considered an essential read for educators, students, and scholars who are keen to understand the broader societal implications of GenAI and its transformative role in pedagogy and research. Professor Chan is the Director of the Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre (TALIC) at HKU, and a Professor in the Faculty of Education. She has a dual discipline expertise in engineering and education

Professor James Tang, Secretary General of the University Grants Committee, commended in his opening speech the event as an outstanding example of the university's dedication to promoting excellence in teaching and fostering the growth of our youth, especially during a period when challenges arise from transformative technologies.

“As educators we have a responsibility to not only embrace these transformative technologies, but also to incorporate our students the values to navigate the digital landscape responsibly and ethically, by ensuring that technological advancement serve the betterment of our society,” said Professor Tang. He congratulated Professor Chan and Mr Colloton on their new book which he believes “is the first book in examining the comprehensive use of generative AI in higher education”. "It is going to serve a very important resource for educators, researchers and university leaders. ” Professor Tang remarked. 

The Expo was co-hosted by HKU, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and also with different units in HKU including Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre (TALIC), HKU Libraries, the Faculty of Education, Information Technology Services (ITS), the Techno-Entrepreneurship Core, Consortium for Higher Education Research in Asia (CHERA), and Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS).

Other guests of honour included Professor James Tang,  Secretary General of the University Grants Committee; Ms. Flora Ng, Chief Information Officer and University Librarian at HKU; Mr. Tom Colloton; Dr. Wilson Kwok, Assistant IT Director at HKU; Mr Paul Wang, Director of the Techno-Entrepreneurship Core at HKU; Ms Kate Lam, Director of Careers and Placement at HKU; Dr Theresa Kwong, Director of the Centre for Holistic Teaching and Learning at HKBU; Dr. Sean McMinn, Director of the Centre for Education Innovation at HKUST; and Professor Samson Tse, Dean of Student Affairs at HKU.

The book launch event featured an engaging discussion on the use and impact of Generative AI in higher education between Professor Cecilia Chan and esteemed panellists including Professor Hugo Horta, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Education at HKU; Dr Julia Chen, Director of the Educational Development Centre at PolyU; Dr Benjamin Moorhouse, Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Studies at HKBU and Professor Gary Wong, Director of the Centre for Information Technology in Education at HKU.

About Professor Cecilia Chan
Professor Cecilia K. Y. Chan is a Professor in the Faculty of Education at The University of Hong Kong (HKU), where she is also the Director of the Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre (TALIC). Professor Chan has a dual discipline expertise in engineering and education; she has been playing a key role in enhancing engineering and science education, as well as teaching and learning in higher education. Her combined expertise in these fields and multi-cultural experience enabled her to lead and conduct research on topics such as assessment and feedback, experiential learning, technology enhanced learning, artificial intelligence in education and the development and assessment of 21st century skills spanning in education from east to west.

Please click here for Professor Cecilia Chan’s book "Generative AI in Higher Education - The ChatGPT Effect".  

For the highlights of the event, please click here to preview. 

For media enquiries, please contact:
Communication and Public Affairs Office, HKU
Ms Melanie Wan (Tel: 2859 2600 / Email: melwkwan@hku.hk)
Ms Jaymee Ng (Tel: 3910 3612 / Email: ngjaymee@hku.hk)
Mr Kenneth Choi (Tel: 3917 2607 / Email: khkchoi@hku.hk)