An interdisciplinary team led by Dr Rodney Chu Wai-chi, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Applied Social Sciences of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), achieved remarkable success at the QS Reimagine Education Awards 2024. Their project, "Engage, Empower, Excel: PolyU's Smart Campus Innovation," performed outstandingly and won multiple awards, including the Gold Award in the Smart Omnichannel Campus category and the Global Education Award. This achievement highlighted PolyU's commitment to innovation in educational technology and established it as the first Hong Kong institution to receive the overall award.
The project features the development of a generative AI chatbot, Virtual Assistant TIMS (VAT), which provides students with accessible learning resources. VAT responds to student inquiries anytime and anywhere. Its Dialogue Podcast System utilises advanced natural language processing technology to transform challenging academic content into engaging conversational podcasts to improve students’ learning efficiency.
In a recent media interview, Dr Chu and Dr Pauli Lai Po-yan, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of PolyU, discussed how this technology significantly reduces teachers' administrative workloads and enhances student engagement. There is also the Artificial Intelligence Review Assessment System (AIReAS) that offers immediate feedback and feedforward on assignments, enabling students to engage in cycles of continuous improvement that align with their progress.
Students have been positively received by the integration of AI learning tools, and report that it effectively boosts their motivation and fosters a relaxed environment for asking questions. This innovation not only enhances the overall quality of education but also has a transformative impact on the future learning environment.
Full interview with HK01 (In Chinese Only)
For more: