The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) announced the launch of a pioneering education technology initiative aimed at revolutionizing English education for secondary school students in Hong Kong during the Opening Ceremony of Learning League 2025. With over HK$30 million in funding from the Quality Education Fund (QEF), the three-year initiative will develop an advanced AI-powered English assessment and learning system, offering free access to all secondary school students in Hong Kong.
The project, jointly initiated by HKUST Center for Language Education, HKUST Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies, and Trumptech, a leading education technology company in Hong Kong, addresses two critical goals: promoting "education equity" by supporting students from diverse backgrounds and abilities, and fostering "education equality" by providing every school with equal access to affordable professional English learning resources.
By integrating the Global English curriculum with cutting-edge technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR), Global Englishes AI-assisted Virtual Reality Learning System (GAVIS) offers a transformative learning experience for students. Tailored to secondary school students, the curriculum enables them to apply English appropriately to different contexts and audiences. The system utilizes AI to evaluate students' English performance in specific scenarios and provides personalized feedback and recommendations. It also incorporates VR-enhanced learning to immerse students in practical, real-world environments, fostering experiential learning that deepens their understanding and application of English.
Prof. QU Huamin, Dean of Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies, said, "The innovative AI-assisted self-directed VR learning approach pioneered at HKUST for English speaking training among secondary students can overcome the physical limitations of traditional training methods. Our initiative integrates AI-based assessments to evaluate students' English performance in specific scenarios, offering personalized feedback and recommendations that empower them to develop their spoken communication skills at their own pace. By combining this with VR-enhanced learning, we immerse students in practical, real-world environments, fostering experiential learning and boosting their confidence in public speaking. In collaboration with experts in language education and by harnessing the power of technology, we hope this new approach will better equip students with the English-speaking competencies they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving world."
Prof. Melinda WHONG, Director of the Center for Language Education, said "This pioneering approach to improving learners' abilities in English makes the most of new technologies by providing personalized feedback for targeted improvement, with a focus on contemporary, real life language contexts. We hope this project will have meaningful impact in our community. All students should be given the best chance to improve their English communication skills so that they can succeed in the interconnected world that we live in."
The first phase of the project will commence during the current academic year, with pilot tests conducted at participating secondary schools. These trials will simulate English practice scenarios aligned with the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) and introduce students to relevant coursework. Future phases will expand to include additional applications, such as international English exams and interviews for academic or professional opportunities.
With financial support from the QEF, HKUST plans to cover all costs including those incurred through the use of AI, and to ensure this application will be freely available to all secondary school students in Hong Kong, providing equal access to preparation resources ahead of the HKDSE English exam in 2025.
In addition to the AI learning system, the University will collaborate with the Hong Kong Sun Lions Club to launch the University Teaching Opportunity Program, a six-month outreach initiative. Through this program, HKUST students will engage in service-learning activities, offering direct support to secondary school students in local communities.
This initiative has earned support from some of the world's leading experts in English education, who serve as honorary academic advisors. These esteemed figures include Prof. LI Wei, Dean and Chair Professor, UCL IOE - Faculty of Education and Society, University College London; Prof. Heath ROSE, Professor of Education and Vice-Principal of Linacre College, University of Oxford; Prof. Eric FRIGINAL, Head of the Department of English and Communication, Hong Kong Polytechnic University; and Prof. Jette G. HANSEN EDWARDS, Associate Dean (Education), Faculty of Arts, and former Head of the Department of English, Chinese University of Hong Kong.
