A citywide education initiative is bringing some of mainland China's leading experts in innovation, technology, and cultural preservation into Hong Kong classrooms, giving thousands of students firsthand exposure to emerging industries and future career opportunities.
The "Master Classes for Youth" program has engaged more than 4,300 students from 23 secondary schools through talks and interactive exchanges covering topics including artificial intelligence, aerospace, robotics, energy technology, and cultural conservation.
The initiative is jointly supported by the Institute of Philanthropy (IoP) and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, with the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation organizing the program. The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups serves as the strategic partner, with additional support from the Hong Kong Rosamond Foundation.
The master classes form part of the three-year Nurturing Future InnoTech Talent Project, which aims to prepare Hong Kong's next generation of innovators through an "industry-school-community" collaboration model. By combining cutting-edge technologies with traditional Chinese culture and national development, the program encourages students to explore how innovation influences everyday life while highlighting Hong Kong's role as an international innovation and technology hub.
The broader project has already reached hundreds of participants through complementary activities. Nearly 260 secondary school students have joined mainland study visits, around 350 primary and secondary students have participated in Knowledge Quest activities, and more than 100 teachers have completed professional development under the Teacher Nurturing Scheme.
Students participating in the program said the experience helped them better understand how technologies such as artificial intelligence are transforming industries from healthcare to transportation, while also demonstrating how innovation addresses real-world challenges.
The learning journey will continue during the summer, when participating students travel to Beijing for intensive innovation and technology boot camps. Guided by industry experts, they will develop their own technology projects while building closer connections with mainland universities, research institutions, high-tech enterprises, and national innovation programs.
The program is part of a three-year initiative designed to strengthen Hong Kong's innovation and technology talent pipeline
