Gears, gadgets, and genius at Hong Kong’s biggest robotics gala
A series of knock-out matches took place at the Central Plaza of the Tai Po campus during the two-day event.
The Department of Science and Environmental Studies (SES), the “CEATE Awardee Workshop - STEM education” (STEM教育卓師工作室) and the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Chang Ming Thien College jointly organised the “Hong Kong Robotic Gala 2025 - Stand and Roll” (香港機械人盛會- 屹立不倒) on 3 and 4 July at EdUHK’s Tai Po campus. A three-part seminar titled “STEM education in the AI age” was held alongside the two-day gala to discuss the current situation, vision and necessary actions to take promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in the context of rapid advances in AI technology.
The “CEATE Awardee Workshop – STEM Education” is an educational initiative established by the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs) in the 2019/20 academic year. To strengthen STEM education through robotics activities, the workshop organised the first “Hong Kong Robotic Gala” in 2024 and held it jointly with SES for the second time in 2025. A total of 27 teams comprising 124 students from 23 secondary schools participated in the 2025 gala.
“Unlike typical robotic events that focus on competitions, the gala aims encourage the exchange of ideas and collaboration, and along with hands-on experience. It also seeks to enhance the quality of engineering education through school-based competitions,” said Mr Antony Leung Wai-yip of TWGHs Chang Ming Thien College. Mr Leung and another core member of the “CEATE Awardee Workshop – STEM education” are awardees of the Chief Executive’s Award for Teaching Excellence (CEATE).
Professor Keith Ho speaks at the opening ceremony on 3 July emphasizing that as AI and automation increasingly permeate all aspects of society, equipping students with a strong STEM education has become more crucial than ever.
Professor Ho, left, presents a souvenir flag to Mr Jacky Lam Man-kit, Principal of TWGHs Chang Ming Thien College, at the opening ceremony.
Officiating guests at the opening ceremony, from left to right: Professor Keith Ho and Ms Agnes Man Mei-sum from SES; Ms Anna Lee Man-yee, Manager (Assessment Development), The Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority; and Mr Wan Kam-wing, Emeritus Technology Educator, CEATE Awardee Workshop - STEM education.
With AI and automation permeating every part of our lives, equipping students with strong STEM knowledge is more important than ever.
At the opening ceremony on 3 July, Professor Keith Ho Wing-kei, Head of SES, thanked all involved in organising the event. “I would like to welcome Mr Jacky Lam Man-kit, Principal of TWGHs Chang Ming Thien College, along with all guests from the CEATE Awardee Workshop STEM, teachers and students. With AI and automation permeating every part of our lives, equipping students with strong STEM knowledge is more important than ever. I hope all participants gain practical experience in designing and operating robotic devices during this two-day event,” he said.
Line-up at the closing ceremony, from left to right: Professor Keith Ho Wing-kei, Head of SES, Mr Wong Tze-fung, Senior Education Officer (Secondary Education), Secondary Education Section, TWGHs Education Division, Professor Li Wai-keung, Dean of FLASS; Dr Yip Wai-ming, retired Principal of the TWGHs Mrs Wu York Yu Memorial College and Advisor to the CEATE Awardee Workshop.
During the gala, EdUHK’s robotics team hosted a booth showcasing a STEM device designed to train basketball shooting. The two students demonstrating the device are from the Department of Mathematics and Information Technology.
The two students explained that joining the robotics team offers them valuable opportunities to apply scientific, technological, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) concepts in designing, building, and programming robots.
Alongside the team competition, the gala included a three-part seminar titled “STEM education in the AI age” (AI 時代下的STEM 教育). Dr Yip Wai-ming, retired Principal of the TWGHs Mrs Wu York Yu Memorial College and advisor to the CEATE Awardee Workshop, gave the first session on the present state of STEM education in secondary schools. Mr Antony Leung Wai-yip shared his vision for STEM education in the second session. In the final session, Mr Wan Kin-kwok, Emeritus Vice-principal, TWGHs Chang Ming Thien College discussed actions needed to move STEM education forward in Hong Kong. To showcase EdUHK’s STEM education, students from EdUHK’s robotics team demoed a STEM device at a booth outside the seminar venue.
Professor Li presents the champion trophy to a representative of the joint team from TWGHs Yau Tze Tin Memorial College and Confucian Tai Shing Ho Kwok Pui Chun College at the closing ceremony on 4 July.
Front row line-up in a photo taken at the closing ceremony, from left to right: Dr Yip Wai-ming, retired Principal of the TWGHs Mrs Wu York Yu Memorial College; Mr Wong Tze-fung, Senior Education Officer (Secondary Education), Secondary Education Section, TWGHs Education Division; Mr Lee Ho-yin, Professional Sharing, Chief Executive’s Award for Teaching Excellence Teachers’ Association; Professor Li Wai-keung, Dean of FLASS; Professor Keith Ho and Ms Agnes Man Mei-sum from SES; Mr Antony Leung Wai-yip from the CEATE Awardee Workshop, and Mr Wan Kin-kwok, Emeritus Vice-principal, TWGHs Chang Ming Thien College.
At the award-presentation on 4 July, Professor Li Wai-keung, Dean of FLASS, said, “These inspiring seminars made clear that STEM education is essential for preparing future generations for a world shaped by technology. To address this, the Department of Science and Environmental Studies and the Department of Mathematics and Information Technology under FLASS have introduced several double-degree programmes teaching both pedagogy and science. These prepare students to become capable STEM educators.”
Elimination matches were held at the Central Plaza of Tai Po campus during the two-day event. In each round, two teams maneuvered their robots in a confined space, earning marks based on how efficiently and accurately their robots moved and stacked objects in a designated area. Each game included driver and automatic modes, with separate marks for each. A third mark was awarded to teams who correctly answered questions relating to secondary school physics, chemistry and mathematics.
In each elimination match, two teams maneuver their robots within a confined space. Points were awarded based on how efficiently and accurately each robot moved and stacked objects in a designated area.
After heats, semi-finals and the final, the joint team formed by TWGHs Yau Tze Tin Memorial College and Confucian Tai Shing Ho Kwok Pui Chun College took home the overall champion title. Along with overall champion, first runner-up and second runners-up, there were special awards for engineering, design, driving skills, and programming. A judges’ award also commended the team excelling in cooperation and morale. Professor Li presented prizes to the winning teams, and souvenirs to guests at the award presentation ceremony.
Click here to have the full results of the gala.
