BEd(BAFS) students shine bright with Gold Awards at top teaching contest

Ms Alice Li Yuen-ying and Ms Emily Cheung Yu-yi, two students from the Bachelor of Education (Honours) (Business, Accounting and Financial Studies) (BEd(BAFS)) programme, were awarded Gold Awards in the Twelfth Hong Kong Outstanding Prospective Teachers Award competition. Their success highlights the programme’s effectiveness in training high-quality educators for teaching business, accounting, and finance in secondary schools.

The competition, jointly organised by the Hong Kong New Generation Cultural Association and the Hong Kong Prospective Teachers Association and sponsored by the Tin Ka Ping Foundation, took place from January to April 2025. A panel comprising education professionals and school principals evaluated 147 nominations from various higher education institutions across Hong Kong. Following multiple rounds of assessments and interviews, the panel conferred ten gold, ten silver, ten bronze, and eighteen merit awards based on nominee’s vision, moral character, educational aspirations, societal commitment, and teaching abilities.

Gold medallist Ms Alice Li Yuen-yin shared her delight in participating in the competition. “The competition was intense, as all 147 participants made great efforts to showcase their teaching knowledge and skills. I learnt a great deal from my peers and the experienced principals on the judging panel about applying educational theories and strategies to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. Their insightful feedback not only boosted my confidence in teaching but also strengthened my professional skills for my future career,” said the fifth-year student.

Alice found discussions with the panel judges on the latest educational policies particularly rewarding. “Their expert opinions have profoundly deepened my understanding and broadened my perspective on both the subject and the teaching profession, equipping me to tackle evolving educational challenges. The competition has fostered my growth as an educator, both personally and professionally,” she said.

Ms Emily Cheung Yu-yi, another Gold Award winner from the BEd(BAFS) programme, reflected on the competition as an opportunity to consolidate the knowledge and skills she acquired over five years. “After submitting my online application, I prepared a 30-45 minute lesson plan covering business, accounting, and financial studies for secondary school students, accompanied by a three-minute video explaining the learning objectives, student profile analysis, teaching methods, and assessment strategies,” she explained.

In the final assessment round, Emily delivered a 10-minute mock teaching lesson before a panel of school principals. Although presenting before veteran educators made her nervous, she appreciated their valuable feedback on her lesson plan and teaching philosophy. Emily also expressed gratitude to Dr Eric Law Kim-fai from the Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies (SSPS) for his nomination and to the department for its unwavering support throughout the process.

Dr Alex Zhu Yuefeng, Assistant Professor in SSPS and Subject Coordinator of the BEd(BAFS) programme, Dr Ray Lee Kwok-wai, Senior Lecturer II in SSPS and Subject Coordinator and Field Experience Coordinator of the BEd(BAFS) programme, congratulated Emily and Alice on receiving their Gold Awards. They commented, “Emily and Alice have demonstrated extensive subject knowledge and exceptional dedication to teaching throughout the competition. Their achievements underscore the BEd(BAFS) programme’s success in cultivating competent educators for secondary education in business, accounting, and finance.”

The award-presentation ceremony for the Twelfth Hong Kong Outstanding Prospective Teachers Award was held on 5 April 2025. Gold winners received HK$5,000, while silver and bronze recipients were awarded HK$3,000 and HK$1,000, respectively, along with trophies and certificates.

FLASS students bagged a total of seven awards, including four gold awards, two silver awards and one merit award. In addition to Ms Emily Cheung Yu-yi and Ms Alice Li Yuen-ying, Mr Cloof Siu Chun-ping from the Bachelor of Education (Honours) (Secondary) – Information and Communication Technology programme, and Mr Chris Ho Chun-hong from the Bachelor of Education (Honours) Programmes (Primary) - General Studies (Humanities and Science) programme also received gold awards.

Gold Award

Silver Award

Merit Award