City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) was honoured with two prestigious awards at the recent GovMedia Awards 2025, receiving the “Hong Kong Digital Initiative of the Year – Education” and “Hong Kong Digital Transformation of the Year – Education” awards for its groundbreaking efforts to integrate cutting-edge technology into higher education. These accolades further solidify CityUHK’s reputation in digital innovation and education.

CityUHK was honoured with the “Hong Kong Digital Initiative of the Year – Education” award for its University-wide Digitalisation Programme. Led by Professor Freddy Boey, President and University Distinguished Professor, and Professor Lee Chun-sing, Provost and Deputy President, CityUHK kicked off the programme in 2024 with a comprehensive digital capability assessment, involving 31 academic and administrative units, guided by external experts. This evaluation shaped a three-year digital roadmap, comprising 21 strategic plans focusing on student administration, research intelligence, HR digitalisation, communication automation and smart operations.

In addition, the Digital Learning & Team-Based Learning (TBL) initiative, led by Professor Ray Cheung Chak-chung, Associate Provost (Digital Learning) of CityUHK, won the “Hong Kong Digital Transformation of the Year – Education” award. This innovative approach transforms the traditional academic model by seamlessly integrating digital tools with collaborative learning strategies, shifting university courses from a teaching-centric to a learning-centric framework.

Professor Cheung represented CityUHK at the GovMedia Conference & Awards 2025 in Singapore on 19 June, where he shared CityUHK’s approach to driving digital innovation with other award-winning institutions across Asia. He remarked, “CityUHK is committed to enhancing the digital literacy of students and teachers, driving campus digitalisation, and fostering independent learning through innovative educational models. We will continue to lead education innovation and shape the future learning environment.”

Professor Cheung was also invited to join a panel discussion, titled “Designing Citizen-Centric Digital Governance: From Seamless Services to Smart Societies”. In the discussion, he shared CityUHK’s experience in promoting digital learning, and strategies and insights for integrating digital elements into interactive learning.

Built on five core pillars—a unified data platform, intelligent automation, AI and machine learning, digital platforms and digital culture—CityUHK’s University-wide Digitalisation Programme enhances student access to academic records, streamlines administrative processes, and equips faculty with real-time insights and advanced research tools. Administrative staff benefit from improved communication systems and stakeholder management platforms, allowing them to focus on higher-value tasks.

This initiative will help drive innovation, collaboration and operational efficiency across CityUHK’s research, teaching and administration, aligning with the Hong Kong SAR Government's vision for smart city development, innovation and education. Looking ahead, CityUHK plans to further enhance the flexibility, sustainability and well-being of its strategies and workforce.

Another award-winning initiative, Digital Learning & Team-Based Learning, is designed to foster self-directed learning through pre-class digital preparation, team discussions and case-based learning. Dedicated chatbots further support students by providing tailored guidance and encouraging independent thinking. The initiative has been well received by students and faculty, growing from two pilot postgraduate courses to 55 courses across 10 Colleges and Schools, significantly improving engagement and learning outcomes.

With plans underway to expand the initiative in upcoming semesters, CityUHK aims to share its expertise in innovative teaching experiences with global academic institutions, advancing higher education standards and driving digital integration for a future-ready learning environment worldwide.

The GovMedia Awards recognise transformative trends and best practices in the Asia-Pacific public sector and foster excellence. CityUHK has been at the forefront of global digital transformation, leading the advancement of higher education in Asia. These awards serve as a strong affirmation of the University's exceptional efforts and leading position in the field.