Young innovators shine at CoolThink@JC Competition 2025 hosted at CityUHK

06 July 2025

The CoolThink@JC Competition 2025 was successfully held at Wong Cheung Lo Hui Yuet Hall of City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) on 5 July, engaging Primary Four to Primary Six students in a thrilling journey of Computational Thinking (CT) education. The event aimed to enhance students' awareness and interest in CT through coding and problem-solving challenges, simulate digital creativity, and encourage collaboration.

In the morning session, 40 teams of Finalists presented their solutions and Apps developed in the format of exhibition booth and oral presentation. The judging panel comprised experts with diverse backgrounds, especially in the fields of education, technology, innovation and engineering, including three professors from the CityUHK project team: Professor Ron Kwok, Principal Investigator; project coordinators Professor Robert Li, Department of Materials Science and Engineering; and Professor King Lai, Department of Biomedical Engineering.

Assessment of Finalists’ project at exhibition booth by Professor Robert Li (1st from right) and other judges

Assessment of oral presentation by Professor Ron Kwok (2nd from right) and other judges

Professor King Lai (2nd from right) and other judges

The participating teams, together with their parents and teachers, gathered in the afternoon session to witness the creativity and ingenuity of the eight Grand Finalist Teams. The grand final featured a distinguished panel of judges, including Ir Tony Wong, JP, Commissioner for Digital Policy of Digital Policy Office (3rd from left); Ms Edith Tse, Principal Assistant Secretary (Curriculum Support) of Education Bureau (4th from left); Mr Ricky Choi, Director of Smart Living of Cyberport (1st from left); Professor Chetwyn Chan, Vice President (Research and Development) of The Education University of Hong Kong (5th from left); and Professor Matthew Lee, former Project Principal Investigator (CityUHK) of CoolThink@JC (2nd from left).

The event concluded with an award ceremony where Professor Chan Chi-hou, Vice President (Community Engagement) of CityUHK, presented souvenirs to the winning teams, acknowledging their exceptional efforts and accomplishments.

Souvenir presentation to the second runner-up by Professor Chan Chi-hou

Besides, the Competition underscored project's commitment to promoting CT and preparing young learners for the challenges of the digital age. Through this initiative, students were empowered to think critically, collaborate effectively, and embrace the world of coding and problem-solving. Participants left with a renewed sense of enthusiasm for learning and a deeper understanding of the importance of CT in today’s technology-driven society.