Recap
The inaugural Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Hackathon for Social Good event was held at the University of Hong Kong in September to October 2023. Undergraduates and postgraduates across multiple disciplines used GenAI to address real-world social impact challenges. Participants tackled issues from five thematic areas: Education and Lifelong Learning; Social Inequality and Justice; Sustainable Development and Climate Action; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; and Public Health and Well-being.
With 20 teams formed, solutions included visual-to-speech content system for visually impaired students, a Cantonese language learning chatbot for minorities, an app connecting services for migrant domestic helpers, a computer-vision assisted food management application, and a speech therapist’s patient notes organisational system -and spanned a variety of GenAI modalities, including text, image, audio, music, video, or 3D. Students pitched their final iterations to a panel of judges, comprising academic experts and leaders from industry and the community.
The extended hackathon event is an accessible way for students from all disciplines to learn about artificial intelligence while fostering collaborative, critical thinking, and communication competencies in real-world transdisciplinary pursuits.
Awards - HKU Vice-President (Teaching and Learning) and Common Core Prize
Winners
| Team | Stream | Team Members/ Project Title |
| Team 3 – MindMappers | Education and Lifelong Learning | Joonyoung Moon, Jihyeon Lee, XU Ka Po Calvin, Tsui Chit Hei, Chowdhury Aosaf Ershad, Ngan Nok Hang Alvin, Qiu Yifei, Jian Yin Shan, Chan Tsz Ching – AI solution converting educational materials for visually impaired students |
| Team 7 – Pai-de | Social Inequality and Justice; Sustainable Development and Climate Action | Xiang Shu Ting, Hu Yanglin, Chen Yuhan, Chung Ka Wah – AI app teaching Cantonese to English-speaking ethnic minorities |
| Team 14 – GenEd | Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Public health and Well-being | Leung Yau Yee, Wun Ally Lok Yin, Sin Chung Hang, Chan Wai Yiu, Pun King Fung, Lu Xiaoxu, Zhao Yuhe, Li Xiaoyong, Cheung Kam Man – Virtual teaching assistant aiding deaf students by facilitating speech comprehension |
1st Runner Up
| Team | Stream | Team Members |
| Team 12 – Randomiser | Education and Lifelong Learning | Mau King Sum Ken, Chan Chin Ching, Leung Kwok Ching, Ng Hoi Yi, Ye Fung Wai, Wong Yu, Wong Yiu Wing – AI-powered platform revolutionising personalised education for transformative learning journeys |
| Team 17 – Changify | Social Inequality and Justice; Sustainable Development and Climate Action | Djoenaidi Damario Tanael, Nathalie Karina, Ari Delon David Winayu, Eliza Lesmana, Charaspreedalarp Warit – App supporting Foreign Domestic Helpers in Hong Kong |
| Team 19 – PsyPanion | Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Public health and Well-being | LEUNG Kai Him Henry, Jiayi LI, Wang Zhenghao Holden, Zihan NI, Chan Yat Fu, Marzukh Akib Asjad, Antara Fairooz Hasan, CHEUNG Hoi Lun, Jiang Nan – Empowering ADHD Patients with a Portable Personal Mental Health Recorder |
Best Tips for Most Collaborative Work Award
Winners
| Team | Stream | Team Members/ Project Title |
| Team 13 – SkillUp+ | Education and Lifelong Learning | Ka-Ying Lee, Wai-Chun Victor Chui, Shing-Chung Chow, Hing-Yi Sze, Xiuxuan Song, Hoi-Lam Cheung, Hoi-Ching Wu, Yi-Yeung Yau – SkillUp+ |
Second Prize
| Team Number/ Team Name | Stream | Team Members/ Project Title |
| Team 3 – MindMappers | Education and Lifelong Learning | Joonyoung Moon, Jihyeon Lee, XU Ka Po Calvin, Tsui Chit Hei, Chowdhury Aosaf Ershad, Ngan Nok Hang Alvin, Qiu Yifei, Jian Yin Shan, Chan Tsz Ching – AI solution converting educational materials for visually impaired students |
Third Prizes
| Team Number/ Team Name | Stream | Team Members/ Project Title |
| Team 14 – GenEd | Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Public health and Well-being | Leung Yau Yee, Wun Ally Lok Yin, Sin Chung Hang, Chan Wai Yiu, Pun King Fung, Lu Xiaoxu, Zhao Yuhe, Li Xiaoyong, Cheung Kam Man – Virtual teaching assistant aiding deaf students by facilitating speech comprehension |
| Team 17 – Changify | Social Inequality and Justice; Sustainable Development and Climate Action | Djoenaidi Damario Tanael, Nathalie Karina, Ari Delon David Winayu, Eliza Lesmana, Charaspreedalarp Warit – App supporting Foreign Domestic Helpers in Hong Kong |
| Team 19 – PsyPanion | Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Public health and Well-being | LEUNG Kai Him Henry, Jiayi LI, Wang Zhenghao Holden, Zihan NI, Chan Yat Fu, Marzukh Akib Asjad, Antara Fairooz Hasan, CHEUNG Hoi Lun, Jiang Nan – Empowering ADHD Patients with a Portable Personal Mental Health Recorder |
Judging Panel
We are incredibly grateful to our judges for giving their time and expertise towards event.
| Judge | Education and Lifelong Learning Stream |
| Prof Pauline Chiu | HKU Associate VP (T&L)/ Faculty of Science |
| Dr Patrick Cheung | SIE Fund (社創基金) |
| Prof Ying Chan | HKU Journalism and Media Studies |
| Judge | Social Inequality and Justice; Sustainable Development and Climate Action |
| Prof Victor Li | HKU Faculty of Engineering |
| Mr Peter Shum | iREd Solutions/ Federation of HK Industries (香港工業總會) |
| Dr Ricky Tsui | Arup |
| Judge | Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Public health and Well-being |
| Prof Samson Tse | HKU Dean of Student Affairs/ Faculty of Social Sciences |
| Dr Leon Lam | Merit Medical |
| Prof Julian Tanner | HKU Common Core Office/ Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine |
Organising Committee
The University of Hong Kong
Jack Tsao, Common Core Office
Nancy Law, Center for Information Technology Education (CITE), Education
Leon Lei, Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre (TALIC)
Penny Tse, Common Core Office
Anson Fan, Common Core Office
Chun Kit Chui, Innovation Wing Engineering
Christophe Coupe, Digital Humanities, Arts
Tom McDonald, Sociology, Social Science
Xiao Hu, Center for Information Technology Education (CITE), Education
Shihui Feng, Center for Information Technology Education (CITE), Education
Lukas Liu, Center for Information Technology Education (CITE), Education
Miranda Legg, Centre for Applied English Studies (CAES)
Esther Woo, Libraries
Cindy Liang, Libraries
Special Thanks
The University of Hong Kong Staff
Yahsin Shen, Techno Entrepreneurship Core/ iDendron
Olivia Ngan, Medical Humanities and Ethics, Medicine
Brian Tang, Law Innovation Technology Entrepreneurship (LITE) Lab, Law
Janet Chan, Biological Sciences, Science
Emmanuel Chun-Ka Wong, Cardiology, Medicine
Anson Fan, Common Core Office
Heidice Law, Horizons Office
Kin Shing Au, Common Core and Horizons Office
Match Wai Lun Ko, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering
Paula Mosera, Asia Global Institute/ United Nations Development Programme Accelerator Lab Uruguay
Louis Chong, Asia Global Institute/ Pacific Founder Venture
Prasoon Sharma, Asia Global Institute/ Pradivya Software
Jil Ebanoidze, Asia Global Institute/ Venture Garden Group
Dilfuza Kurolova, Asia Global Institute/ World Bank
Sanjeev Sharma, Asia Global Institute/ Microsoft
Alan Chow, Business School
David Villena, Philosophy, Arts
Joshua Ho, Emergency Medicine, Medicine
KH Lam, Electrical Engineering, Engineering
Vincent W.L. Tam, Electrical Engineering, Engineering
Hayden K.H. So, Electrical Engineering, Engineering
Johnny, George, Pat, Jacki, Ray, Eda, and Wing from TALIC/ TELi
The University of Hong Kong Students
Ashley Yau Yu Chan (Student), Education
Sophie Wenhui Li (Student), Education
Yap En Yu (Student), Science
Xinyao Liu (Student), Medicine/ The Project Clinic
Sien Gurr (Student), Medicine/ The Project Clinic
Community
Rachel Chan, Esperanza Hong Kong
Vince Siu, Press Start Academy
Gordon Yiu, Oracle
Supporting Faculties and Units
