City University of Hong Kong sweeps top honours at GovMedia Awards 2025
These two prestigious accolades solidify CityUHK’s position as a digital innovation and education pioneer.
Recognised for its groundbreaking efforts to become a world-leading data-driven institution, City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) was awarded the Hong Kong Digital Transformation of the Year - Education and the Hong Kong Digital Initiative of the Year - Education top honours at the GovMedia Awards 2025.
These accolades highlight CityUHK’s steadfast commitment to redefining higher education through cutting-edge technology and forward-thinking strategies.
University-wide Digitalisation Programme
This multi-year digitalisation programme, which won the Hong Kong Digital Initiative of the Year - Education award, positions CityUHK as a leading data-driven institution known for excellence in innovation, collaboration, and operational efficiency across research, teaching, and administration.
The programme began in 2024 with a digital capability assessment phase spearheaded by the digitalisation steering committee led by Professor Freddy Boey, President and University Distinguished Professor, and Professor Lee Chun-sing, Provost and Deputy President.
Thirty-one academic and administrative units reviewed CityUHK’s current digital capabilities, whilst external experts provided guidance and advised on best practices. This review stage resulted in a three-year digital roadmap outlining 21 targeted plans in strategic areas such as student administration empowerment, research intelligence, HR digitalisation, communication and engagement automation, smart administrative operations, and data utilisation.
The programme is built around five core digital capabilities: a unified data platform, intelligent automation, AI and machine learning, digital platforms, and digital culture.
Its AI-powered platforms benefit students by improving access to academic records, streamlining enquiries, and offering more personalised learning experiences. In addition, faculty get access to smart tools that reduce administrative workloads, real-time insights into student progress, and support for advanced research activities.
Meanwhile, administration staff benefit from the programme’s unified communication system and a new stakeholder management platform that improves efficiency and external engagement, enabling staff to focus on higher-value work.
This overall project supports CityUHK’s long-term development and growth strategy and aligns with government priorities in smart city development, innovation, and education. The programme also echoes the Quality Assurance Council's call for data-driven monitoring of educational quality.
In 2025, efforts will be focussed on improving operational agility, sustainability, and employee well-being. The next phase will see the rollout of digital tools, change management ideas, and continuous refinement to adapt to the evolving needs of the academic community.
Digital learning & team-based learning
CityUHK’s Digital learning & team-based learning initiative, which won the Hong Kong Digital Transformation of the Year - Education award, shifts the current academic model from traditional teaching to more active student-focussed learning. Rolled out in the summer of 2024, TBL blends digital tools with collaborative classroom strategies.
This model responds to CityUHK’s vision for inspirational, interactive, and innovative learning, empowering students to take charge of their learning journey and to move away from passive note-taking.
The initiative began with two postgraduate pilot courses, "Java Network Programming" and "Energy, Environment, and Sustainable Development,” which quickly gained traction and expanded to 20 undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Semester A 2024/25. That number more than doubled to 50 courses across ten Schools and Colleges in Semester B 2024/25.
CityUHK’s approach is structured around a series of interactive learning stages. The pre-class digital preparation strategy encourages students to use CityUHK’s custom-built digital tools, such as chatbots and TED-style videos, to assess their understanding before class. In addition, collaborative discussions motivate students to work in teams to build consensus.
Moreover, teams have extensive opportunities to apply their knowledge practically in case-based projects that mirror real-world challenges. Faculty guide the whole process, offering real-time feedback and encouraging reflection to reinforce learning.
On top of these key features, a dedicated chatbot supports students by providing course-specific guidance and encouraging independent thinking.
The project has received praise from students and faculty for increasing engagement and improving learning outcomes. Most of them noted that the classroom atmosphere became more dynamic and that the knowledge gained from discussions can be applied more effectively.
Plans to scale up the project in upcoming semesters are now in place. CityUHK looks forward to sharing its experience with global academic institutions, supporting advanced standards in higher education, and boosting digital integration to create a future-ready academic environment globally.
The GovMedia Awards recognise trends and best practices that transform the public sector in the Asia Pacific region. The awards programme promotes excellence and provides a platform for exemplary government initiatives.
The Gov Media Awards is presented by Gov Media Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2026 awards programme and be recognised for your organisation's government projects and initiatives, please contact Jane Patiag at [email protected].
