During the Learning League 2025 Opening Ceremony, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) announced the beginning of a groundbreaking education technology initiative aimed at evolving English education for Hong Kong secondary school students. With over HK$30 million in funding from the Quality Education Fund (QEF), the three-year initiative will create an advanced AI-powered English assessment and learning system that will be available free of charge to all Hong Kong secondary school students.
The project, jointly initiated by the HKUST Center for Language Education, the 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.
The Global English AI-assisted Virtual Reality Learning System (GAVIS) provides students with a revolutionary learning experience by combining the Global English curriculum with cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR). The programme, designed specifically for secondary school students, teaches them how to apply English in various circumstances 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.
Speaking about the development, 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. In collaboration with experts in language education and by harnessing the power of technology, this new approach will better equip students with the English-speaking competencies they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.
The project’s initial phase will begin during the current academic year, with pilot testing carried out at participating secondary schools. These trials will mimic English practice settings based on the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) and expose students to relevant curriculum. Future rounds will involve more applications, such as international English exams and interviews for academic or professional positions.
Prof. Melinda WHONG, Director of the Center for Language Education, added:
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 a meaningful impact on 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.
With financial support from the QEF, HKUST plans to cover all costs, including those incurred through AI, and 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. HKUST students will engage in service-learning through this programme, directly supporting 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.
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is committed to being a leader in the academic world through excellence in teaching, research and people while placing utmost value on the freedom to conduct academic activities, subject to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. It positions itself as a focused elite research university at the cutting edge in all target fields of pursuit with global influence. The University brings together global thought leaders to foster interaction and partner with government, business and industry to significantly contribute to the economic and social development both locally and nationally.
