Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) participated in the annual large-scale “Learning & Teaching Expo 2025” from 2 to 4 July. By presenting innovative artificial intelligence (AI)-powered teaching tools developed by the University and delivering talks and seminars led by its management and teaching staff, HKMU showcased its achievements in advancing AI technology, integrating educational technology into teaching and promoting whole-person education.

AI tools enhance students' language skills

Prof. Paul Lam Kwan-sing, HKMU president, attended the expo's opening ceremony and visited the University's booths, exploring the latest AI teaching tools developed by the Office for Advancement of Learning and Teaching (ALTO). Among them, the “Speech Mentor AI” is a tool designed to assess and analyse student speeches and presentations to help students improve their English and Cantonese speaking proficiency. Through AI-powered technology, the system evaluates four key aspects of speeches—delivery (pace, clarity and fluency), language (grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation), content and organisation (logic, structure and relevance), tone and style—and identifies strengths and areas for improvement, empowering learners to systematically refine their speaking abilities. The Lee Shau Kee School of Business and Administration and the School of Education and Languages are planning to integrate this tool into their language courses to further enhance teaching effectiveness.

Another AI-powered teaching tool developed by ALTO, the “Oasis All-in-One Open English Learning Platform”, employs multimedia components and interactive games to provide a dynamic and engaging English learning experience for students. Powered by AI, the platform provides instant feedback, real-time interaction with an AI robot, and performance analysis to track learning progress. Customisable AI-generated content adapts lessons to individual needs, creating a personalised learning experience. Funded by the Quality Education Fund, the Oasis platform integrates HKMU's “Open English” textbook, which is aligned with the Education Bureau's primary and secondary school English Curriculum and is listed on the Recommended Textbook List.

Adopting the latest AI models to improve platform functionality

Prof. Ricky Kwok Yu-kwong, Vice President (Research and Institutional Advancement), used Oasis as an example during his presentation to explain the benefits of generative AI for the education sector. He noted that HKMU keeps pace with technological advancements by integrating the latest AI models to optimise platform functions. “The platform adopts a 'plug-and-play' approach, so when a new AI model emerges, we can quickly integrate it into the existing system to perform tasks more efficiently,” he said. “For example, when DeepSeek was released earlier this year, we promptly adopted it into the platform. This is the approach that HKMU is advocating: transcending AI by making use of the handiest, newest and most affordable AI tools to achieve our teaching goals.”

Dr Eva Tsang Yuen-mei, Associate Vice President (Strategic Initiatives) and Director of Advancement of Learning and Teaching, delved into how Oasis leverages innovative technology and instructional design to provide a ground-breaking learning solution for students, teachers and parents. “Today's education can no longer rely solely on traditional teaching methods to address diverse learning needs,” she said. “Teachers should adopt blended learning, combining self-directed learning with structured scaffolding, while leveraging technology for support. For instance, gamified interactions and AI-powered real-time feedback can enhance students' interest and effectiveness in learning English.”

“On the Oasis platform, students can benefit from personalised exercises and reward systems; teachers can optimise teaching through automated grading and learning analytics; and parents can monitor their child's progress anytime. This tripartite collaborative approach effectively enables blended self-directed learning, comprehensively improving the quality of English education,” she added.

Committed to raising mental health awareness

Beyond actively allocating resources to advance educational technology, HKMU prioritises students' physical and mental well-being. Ms Adele Wan Tik-lam, Director of Student Affairs, shared that HKMU has allocated HK$10 million to promote its mental health promotion scheme, aiming to nurture student resilience, a positive mindset and holistic growth. As of June 2025, over 2,600 first-year undergraduate students—nearly 90% of the cohort—had completed a mental health first aid (MHFA) course. Additionally, 15 staff members have been trained as MHFA instructors to promote the “train-the-trainer” concept.

The three-day expo, themed “Education: A Shared Future for All”, brought together innovators from the education sector from around the world, featuring over 600 booths and hosting more than 270 programmes, including keynote presentations, seminars and open lessons to showcase the latest trends and technological advancements in learning and teaching.