2025 CoolThink@JC Competition Winners Announced

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 July 2025 – The concluding event of the ninth CoolThink@JC Competition, aimed at encouraging primary school students to apply digital creativity to solve everyday issues, was held today at City University of Hong Kong. The team from King’s College Old Boys’ Association Primary School No.2 emerged victorious in the “App Inventor” category, while the “Scratch” category was won by St. Mary’s Canossian School.

Organized by CoolThink@JC, a project initiated and supported by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, this year’s competition attracted over 120 team submissions, with 40 teams progressing to the finals. Among these, eight outstanding teams competed for the top prizes today. They showcased their app designs and concepts at booths to both the public and a panel of judges consisting of professionals from education, IT, and business.

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Awards at the grand finale were given by Tony Wong, Commissioner for Digital Policy at the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the HKSAR Government, and Winnie Ying, Head of Charities (Youth Development & Poverty Alleviation; and Talent & Sector Development) at The Hong Kong Jockey Club.

In her closing remarks, Winnie Ying expressed her pride in witnessing the innovative projects featured in the ninth CoolThink@JC Competition, particularly emphasizing creative initiatives such as promoting fitness in sports, learning Chinese via oracle bone script, and designing AI comics to foster financial literacy. She noted that this event reflects the Club’s dedication to cultivating computational thinking and creativity among upper primary students in Hong Kong. Since its inception in 2016, CoolThink@JC has benefited over 100,000 students and trained more than 2,000 teachers. In 2023, the Education Bureau adopted and integrated CoolThink@JC resources into all publicly funded primary schools, aligning with the Trust’s mission to bridge the digital divide, promote digital inclusivity, and nurture STEM talents. Combined with other Trust-supported STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) initiatives, like the CUHK Jockey Club AI for the Future Project, the Club aims to equip students with vital skills for the 21st-century job market, enhancing digital competence among youth in accordance with the HKSAR Chief Executive’s Policy Address on advancing digital education.

Beyond the competition, students will be able to participate in exchange programs with Mainland schools this summer through sister school partnerships. This initiative aims to foster collaboration in computational thinking and artificial intelligence education between the Mainland and Hong Kong, promoting cultural understanding and innovative ideas.

Last month, a Memorandum of Understanding titled “CoolThink@JC × Cambodia Sharing and Exchange Programme” was signed with Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport, which plans to adopt and adapt the CoolThink@JC curriculum for primary schools in Cambodia. This partnership aims to ensure equitable access to high-quality computational thinking education and develop future-ready talent in both Hong Kong and Cambodia.

CoolThink@JC has been designed and funded by the Club’s Charities Trust, and has been collaboratively developed with The Education University of Hong Kong, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and City University of Hong Kong. Launched in 2016, the project’s goal is to equip upper primary students with problem-solving and creative skills relevant to the digital era, enabling them to become technology creators. It has received three prestigious international awards, including the Silver Award in the Engineering & Technology category and the Bronze Award in the Teaching & Learning category at the QS Reimagine Education Awards 2021, as well as international recognition from the International Society for Technology in Education, demonstrating its significant impact and excellence. By 2023, it has reached all publicly-funded primary schools in Hong Kong, signifying the initiative’s commitment to closing the digital divide and ensuring all students have access to essential digital literacy. The Education Bureau has embraced and adapted the project’s educational materials for its curriculum modules aimed at innovation and technology education. For additional information, please visit: http://www.coolthink.hk/.

The Club’s support for CoolThink@JC, like all its charitable and community contributions, is made possible by its unique integrated business model, which allows racing and responsible sports wagering to generate substantial tax contributions, charitable support, and job opportunities for Hong Kong.

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Hashtag: #CoolThink@JC

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Supplementary Information on the CoolThink@JC Competition:

The grand judging panel comprised distinguished leaders from the education, IT, and business sectors, including Tony Wong, Commissioner for Digital Policy at the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the HKSAR Government; Edith Tse, Principal Assistant Secretary (Curriculum Support) at the Education Bureau of the HKSAR Government; Professor Chetwyn Chan, Vice President (Research and Development) at The Education University of Hong Kong; Professor Matthew Lee, Chair Professor, Information Systems & E-Commerce, at City University of Hong Kong; and Ricky Choi, Director of Smart Living at Cyberport Hong Kong.

Held at City University of Hong Kong, the finals and grand finale were also streamed live online, enhancing accessibility to the event. The competition featured team presentations and booth exhibitions, providing participants and judges with opportunities to explore innovative applications of emerging technologies such as programming, artificial intelligence (AI), and STEM. This interactive platform promoted creative exchanges, showcasing how computational thinking and technological innovation can successfully address real-world issues.

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