Students impress with enthusiasm and passion for tackling social issues

May 11, 2018

The Cisco Innovation Challenge, an annual competition for secondary school students to come up with indigenous solutions on a wide range of social problems, concluded on May 5, 2018 on a high note.

Hosted by Cisco and took place at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the event recruited a total of 100 teams from 35 schools in Hong Kong to present innovative ideas on 3 categories: smart cities, community unity, and healthcare and food safety. The program aims to promote STEM education in secondary schools in Hong Kong, and has provided principal and instructor workshops, mentorship, corporate visits and internship opportunities for participants.

Prof Gary Chan, Director of the HKUST Entrepreneurship Center and one of the panel judges of the final around, was most impressed with the enthusiasm and passion shown by the participants, many of whom were learning the social issues they were tasked to solve for the first time. “There were many deserved winners who showed great teamwork,” noted Prof Chan. “I am amazed by how eager the students were to utilize technology to solve problems in their daily lives. The whole experience was refreshing for all.”

Thirty teams from 21 schools competed in the final round, and students from the Tsuen Wan Government Secondary School were crowned winners for their idea on creating “SmartLid Recycle Bin Covers”. Two teams from Carmel Alison Lam Foundation Secondary School finished 2^nd and 3^rd. Merit Awards went to HKTA The Yuen Yuen Institute No.1 Secondary School, ELCHK Lutheran Secondary School and Carmel Holy Word Secondary School, while St Paul’s Convent School, the Y.W.C.A Hioe Tjo Yoeng College and Lok Sin Tong Leung Kau Kui College won Creative Awards for their presentations.

The 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd placed teams will receive in school tutoring from Cisco staff, a visit to the Cisco Innovation Center, and internship opportunities during the summer of 2018 at Cisco Systems.