HK$100 million pot to be used to fund Hong Kong universities’ development of new technology and teaching and learning innovations in the sector

New ‘Fund for Innovative Technology in Education’ will be handled by University Grants Committee

Cash to be used to ‘harness innovative and breakthrough technologies’ to improve education in the eight publicly funded universities

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Public universities are to share in a HK$100 million fund set up to pay for technology innovations in the education sector. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Published: 7:27pm, 28 Jun 2023

The eight public universities in Hong Kong are to share in a HK$100 million (US$12.7 million) fund set up to transform teaching methods, curriculums, assessments and boost digital expertise among students and staff.

The University Grants Committee said on Wednesday HK$20 million would be earmarked for collaborations on innovative technology.

It added that the universities should submit proposals to compete for the rest of the cash in the new “Fund for Innovative Technology in Education” (FITE) to create their own initiatives on teaching and learning.

“Integrating technology and its associated social issues in every aspect of teaching and learning is strategically significant for students, universities, various industries and our economy as a whole,” Tim Lui Tim-leung, the committee chairman explained.

“The FITE aims to provide an impetus for universities to harness innovative and breakthrough technologies in transforming pedagogies and enriching student learning experiences,” the committee said.

Rocky Tuan, the vice-chancellor and president of Chinese University, says the new fund will help the sector make faster progress in technology education. Photo: Jonathan Wong

The universities have been asked to submit proposals by August on how they want to use the cash.