The Conference on Digital Innovation and Transformation in the Age of AI was successfully held on July 12, 2024, at HKU-iCube. Hosted by the HKU Business School’s Institute of Digital Economy and Innovation (IDEI) and the Area of Innovation and Information Management (IIM), the event brought together over 50 researchers, professionals, and industry experts. Participants engaged in discussions on the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in digital innovation and transformation within the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Professor Yulin Fang, IDEI Director and Professor of Innovation and Information Management at HKU Business School, welcomed attendees with remarks highlighting the conference’s aim to offer valuable insights and strategies for navigating digital transformation complexities and leveraging AI for sustainable growth and success in today’s dynamic business environment.

Professor Dongjun (D. J.) Wu, the Ernest Scheller Jr. Chair and Professor of Information Technology Management at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and Department Editor of Management Science, delivered an insightful speech titled “Endless Digital Business Model Innovation.” Professor Rajiv Kohli, the John N. Dalton Professor of Business at the College of William & Mary and Senior Editor of Information Systems Research, explored the multifaceted impacts of AI on digital innovation in his presentation titled “Digital Innovation with AI: Human, Organizational and Legal Issues.” Juan (Jane) Feng, the Hon Hai Chair Professor at Tsinghua University and Senior Editor of Information Systems Research, addressed the limitations and challenges of federated learning in promoting data collaboration across firms with her speech “Is Technology Panacea? Why Federated Learning Does Not Necessarily Lead to Inter-Firm Data Collaboration.”

Professor Jianliang (Leon) Zhao, the Presidential Chair Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Co-Head of Information Systems and Operations Management, and Director of the Center on Blockchain and Intelligent Technology, offered a comprehensive analysis on blockchains through his speech “Optimization of Collective Incentive Mechanism in Public Permissioned Blockchains: A Multi-Method Perspective.” Professor Zhenhui (Jack) Jiang, the Padma and Hari Harilela Professor in Strategic Information Management at the University of Hong Kong, discussed the nuances and challenges of evaluating large language models in his presentation titled “Large Language Model Assessment in Chinese and English Contexts.”

Professor Wonseok Oh, the K.C.B. Chair Professor of Information Systems at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and Senior Editor of Information Systems Research, highlighted the transformative potential of AI in the publishing industry with his speech “Bestseller Prediction in E-Book Markets: Leveraging Consumption Patterns with Machine Learning.” Lastly, Professor Xi Li, Professor in Marketing at the University of Hong Kong, Director of the Asia Case Research Center, and Associate Director of the Institute of Digital Economy and Innovation, emphasized the significance of historical pricing data for understanding and predicting market trends in his speech titled “Learning from Historical Prices.

Throughout the day, the sessions were chaired by esteemed academics, including Prof. Yulin Fang, IDEI Director; Prof. Junhong Chu, CIE Associate Director; Prof. Michael Chau, Deputy Area Head of IIM and Prof. Hailiang Assistant Dean Professor in IIM. Their insightful sharing and guidance stimulated and engaged the audience with innovative ideas.

Photo Caption

Group photo:

Prof. Yulin Fang, IDEI Director and Professor of Innovation and Information Management, delivers the welcoming remarks.

Dongjun (D. J.) Wu, the Ernest Scheller Jr. Chair and Professor of Information Technology Management at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and Department Editor of Management Science.

Rajiv Kohli, the John N. Dalton Professor of Business at the College of William & Mary and Senior Editor of Information Systems Research

Juan (Jane) Feng, the Hon Hai Chair Professor at Tsinghua University and Senior Editor of Information Systems Research

Zhenhui (Jack) Jiang, the Padma and Hari Harilela Professor in Strategic Information Management at the University of Hong Kong

Wonseok Oh, the K.C.B. Chair Professor of Information Systems at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and Senior Editor of Information Systems Research

Lastly, Xi Li, Professor in Marketing at the University of Hong Kong, Director of the Asia Case Research Center, and Associate Director of the Institute of Digital Economy and Innovation.

The diverse range of topics and expert perspectives provided attendees with a comprehensive understanding of the current and future landscape of digital innovation.

The Summer School for Quantitative History cum International Symposium, a cross-institutional effort initiated by Prof. Zhiwu Chen in 2013, trains aspiring young researchers from various disciplines to become successful scholars in the rapidly growing field of quantitative history, with a focus on China. This summer, the project team members and advisory board members of the Centre for Quantitative History (CQH) at the HKU Business School brought the team’s momentum again to Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), where they jointly organized the 10th Summer School for Quantitative History cum International Symposium on Quantitative History together with SJTU Department of History, and the Institute of Qing History at Renmin University of China. These annual activities, held from July 6 to 15, 2024, were a success, attracting over 250 scholars from universities and research institutions around the world.

The 9-day Summer School cum Symposium featured a series of lectures and keynote speeches by Prof. Zhiwu Chen, Prof. Chicheng Ma, Prof. Denggao Long (Tsinghua), Prof. Debin Ma (Oxford), Prof. Cameron Campbell (HKUST), Prof. Hilde De Weerdt (KU Leuven), and Prof. Stephen Broadberry (Oxford), among others who have been fully committed to this open and reciprocal academic discourse. Lectures and discussion groups were filled with lively discussions, leaving participants with more questions to be answered – an important outcome for young minds.

This year’s programme admitted 123 promising young scholars globally, including eleven from HKU. “This was not an average summer school but rather an intensive series of discussions about historical research among a community of historians and social scientists,” CQH advisory board member Prof. Hilde De Weerdt (KU Leuven) later tweeted on her account. The collaborative spirit that defines this vibrant interdisciplinary community were on full display during the summer school.

The Summer School culminated in the International Symposium on Quantitative History, held on July 13 and 14. The symposium programme included keynote speeches by leading scholars in the field, as well as 48 diverse presentations by young scholars across four parallel sessions. During the two-day event, the prestigious 7th Narada (Nandu) Quantitative History Research Best Paper Awards were announced, recognizing outstanding contributions in the field.

Also a highlight was the 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner, held on the evening of July 13, that commemorated the 10th anniversary of the team’s ongoing effort in promoting quantitative history research in China. Participants and symposium presenters were connected with alumni who chronicled the team’s transformative journey over the past decade.

The founders, including Professors Zhiwu Chen, Denggao Long, and Debin Ma, shared the original intentions behind establishing the initiative and reflected on its remarkable growth. “Emerging from our inaugural Summer School in 2013 and flourishing to mark our tenth anniversary, our core belief centers on the transformative potential of data-driven historical analysis,” said Prof. Zhiwu Chen who is the director of CQH, “we have proved ourselves as a diverse and outward-looking platform where we advocate for a paradigm shift in historical narratives.” They, together with organizing hosts Prof. Jiang Qin (SJTU) and Prof. Zhan Lin (Renmin) expressed heartfelt gratitude to the programme’s supporting parties and donors, namely the Research Grants Council’s Area of Excellence (AoE) scheme, HongShan, Longfor Group, Narada (Nandu) Foundation and Yonyou Foundation, whose generous support has been instrumental in the success of the quantitative history community in China. They also thanked alumni in the quantitative history community for their perseverance. In hindsight, it makes perfect sense why we were able to secure that charming group photograph amid the incessant downpour that had almost enveloped the day.

Looking ahead, the Centre for Quantitative History is filled with optimism as it sets its sights on the next decade. The remarkable progress made over the past 10 years has the team feeling energized and excited, envisioning a future where young scholars have more opportunities with more data becoming more easily available.

About the Centre for Quantitative History
The Centre for Quantitative History (CQH) is a focal institution for coordinating and conducting big data-based historical inquiries with quantitative methods to construct a holistic picture of China’s past development, sponsored by the HKU Business School. The focus of the Centre is on the study of the quantitative history of China. It is an area of excellence designated and funded by the Research Grants Council, a non-statutory advisory council functioning under the aegis of the University Grants Committee.

A Shining Memory: Group photo taken for the 10th Summer School for Quantitative History cum International Symposium on Quantitative History
CQH Team and Advisory Board members bring momentum to Shanghai Jiao Tong University for the AoE-Quantitative History project From Left to Right: Prof. Kaixiang Peng (Wuhan), Prof. Nan Li (Fudan), Prof. Ying Bai (CUHK), Prof. William Guanglin Liu (LingU), Prof. Debin Ma (Oxford), Prof. Chicheng Ma (HKU Business School), Prof. Zhiwu Chen (HKU Business School), Prof. Cameron Campbell (HKUST), Prof. Stephen Broadberry (Oxford), Prof. Hilde De Weerdt (KU Leuven), Prof. Shuji Cao (SJTU and HKU Business School) and Prof. Zhan Lin (Renmin)	HKU Business School: Leading regional quantitative history research as coordinating university for the AoE research grant From Left to Right: Prof. Chicheng Ma (HKU Business School), Prof. Zhiwu Chen (HKU Business School), Prof. Cameron Campbell (HKUST) and Prof. Debin Ma (Oxford)

衷心祝贺!

香港大学赛马会

环球企业可持续发展研究所

联席所长Roni Michaely教授荣获

2024年金融研讨会“最佳论文奖”

(Best Paper Award, The Finance Symposium 2024)

该奖项由金融研讨会科学委员会(The Scientific Committee, The Finance Symposium) 提名，于2024年7月24至27日在希腊罗多斯举行的2024年国际同行评审金融研讨会，由至少两名同行评审员进行评审后，颁发予最高得分的研究论文。

奖项表彰了Roni Michaely教授在金融科学领域作出的杰出成就，彰显了人工智能科技，对解决金融理论前沿问题有显著效果。

Roni Michaely教授的得奖论文《产生人工智能创新和价值影响》 (Producing AI Innovation and Value Implications）记录了AI在过去三十年间所产生的创新总量中所占的重要份额，并见到了持续增长的趋势，科技目前已遍布各个行业和技术领域。随后，研究团队对上市公司进行了分析，发现企业在其自身、其客户、其员工接触AI的激励推动下，更多的将创新的题目导向AI。研究团队对企业创新能力和其与AI的接触进行外部交互，以衡量实际的AI生产量。研究主要发现，生产人工智能会增加公司未来的股票回报，而更高的盈利能力和更低的风险则是其主要支撑因素。结果表明，生产人工智能会增加公司价值。

再次祝贺Roni Michaely教授取得这一超卓成就！

THE FINANCE SYMPOSIUM

金融研讨会针对金融理论新趋势中的前沿问题提出新的解决方案，这些解决方案由学术界开发，并与国际从业人员的研究和行业实用经验相结合。研讨会亦大力支持学术界和实务界在金融科学方面的卓越成就，是次主题为金融及银行，促使研究、演讲和交易大厅从业人员的新观点，能通过金融领域的各种特别会议得到广泛性传播。

机构简介

香港大学赛马会环球企业可持续发展研究所（HKU Jockey Club Enterprise Sustainability Global Research Institute）是香港大学与香港赛马会之间的战略合作项目，致力于建立一个全球一流的环境、社会和治理(ESG)最佳实践中心，服务于香港、亚洲及更远的地区。通过聚集来自不同领域的杰出全球学者，我们的使命是培育一种多学科的ESG研究和培训方法，并与私营和公共部门建立伙伴关系，推动可持续发展倡导和负责任领导力倡议。 

作为ESG研究的领先机构，我们致力于通过开创性研究、可行性见解、ESG指数开发、初创企业孵化和变革性项目创造有意义且持久的影响。我们的目标是为下一代ESG专业人士和领导者提供促进负责任和可持续增长所需的知识和技能。

在追求卓越的过程中，我们认识到合作和知识交流的重要性。我们致力于促进监管机构、企业、非政府组织和学术界之间的对话与合作，以确保ESG最佳实践的发展和传播。通过共同努力，我们的目标是塑造一个更加可持续、公平和负责任的未来，造福所有利益相关者。

HKU Business School and Wynn Resorts (Macau) S.A. signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on nurturing industry leaders and elevating academic research in support of the tourism industry. The partnership marks an important milestone in strengthening collaboration between the academic and business sectors in the modern service industry. The MoU was jointly signed by Professor Hongbin Cai, Dean of HKU Business School, and Ms. Linda Chen, President, Vice Chairman and Executive Director of Wynn Macau, Limited.

HKU Business School will work closely with Wynn Resorts (Macau) S.A., a leading integrated resort in Macau to offer learning opportunities and Executive Education programmes, to equip industry practitioners with the latest leadership and service management knowledge. By enhancing individuals’ professional service capabilities, the collaboration aims to bring the quality of services in the industry to new heights. The partnership will also establish an academic cooperation framework, to support cutting-edge research projects and promote efficient information exchange for academic studies. Additionally, various forms of collaboration opportunities will be explored to accelerate industry growth.

Both parties were excited to embark on this journey of collaboration, and look forward to creating more opportunities for researchers and industry professionals to work together and share knowledge, supporting the development of the tourism industry in the region.

Caption: The MoU between HKU Business School and Wynn is signed by Ms. Linda Chen, President, Vice Chairman and Executive Director of Wynn Macau, Limited (left), and Professor Hongbin Cai, Dean of HKU Business School (right).

港大经管学院212届学位颁授典礼于2024年7月9日和10日在香港大学百周年校园大会堂隆重举行。这一为期六场的盛大典礼为所有参与者创造了一个独特而难忘的经历。

其中院长蔡洪滨教授的鼓舞人心的演讲令人印象深刻。在毕业生们准备踏入充满活力的商业世界时,蔡教授提醒他们:”秉承香港大学的校训 – ‘明德格物’，我坚信你们将能迎难而上，克服一切困难和挑战，并找到通往成功与实现理想的道路。”

毕业生代表杨睿邦、冯沛谦、Vallent Elbert、李蕙竹、Gong Yifan和杨光发表了感谢致辞，衷心感谢教职员工、家人和朋友在求学路上的坚定支持。他们的话语引发了观众的共鸣,表达了毕业生所面临的挑战、取得的成就,以及迎接未来机遇的乐观和前瞻性心态。

此次毕业典礼共有3,100多人参加,其中包括1,100名即将开启人生新篇章的毕业生,以及2,000名前来支持和庆祝这一重要里程碑的家人们和朋友们。

Congratulations to our students for winning Champion and 1^st Runner-up in MBS Simulated Business Management Competition 2024!

The MBS Simulated Business Management Competition is organised by the International Association of Business Management Simulation (IABMS) and HKU SAAS Data Science Lab. It aims to provide students with the opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge in practical and simulated business environment.

The competition involved a series of challenges that simulated real-world business scenarios. In the six intense rounds, each participating team was required to run a virtual enterprise and make strategic decisions related to marketing, finance, operations, and other business functions to achieve the highest overall business performance and profitability.

Among the thirty student teams from Hong Kong and Thailand, our students demonstrated their outstanding critical thinking and decision-making abilities and won Champion and 1^st Runner-up in the competition.

Find out more about the competition: https://www.intabms.org/mbssimulatedbizmgmtcomp2024

Champion
Team Name: RiskTakers
Team members:
Huang Hongbin, BSc(QFin), Year 2
Sun Zong Zheng, BEcon&Fin, Year 2

First Runner-up
Team Name: VPN
Team members:
Wong Man Chun, BSc(QFin), Year 2
Lian Wai Kai, BSc(QFin), Year 2
Poon Tsz Chung, BSc(QFin), Year 2

Student Sharing:

“This competition is a precious opportunity for students to utilise academic knowledge learned from the university and integrate real-life decisions. We had the chance to analyse the given economic status and choose the most suitable business strategies to outperform other teams. I learned how to cooperate and communicate with my teammates during the competition to make a guesstimation for different financial budgets and data.

Furthermore, the competition also required us to finish an on-site presentation regarding our strategies and put forward new ideas for the company’s future development. The strict time limit gave me the experience of quick preparation and helped develop my presentation skills significantly. Overall, this competition deepened my insight into the whole industry and made me know more about business management with many soft skills.”

(by Mr. Huang Hongbin)

“Winning as the champion, though very rewarding and encouraging, was not the initial purpose. Participating in the competition was an attempt to push my boundaries and gain a better understanding of business management in real life. Indeed, my goal was achieved, and I learned a lot from this insightful experience. It taught me that the ability to adjust to new conditions is sometimes more important than coming up with a good initial strategy. “

(by Mr. Sun Zong Zheng)

“Participating in the competition gave me valuable insights into various aspects of company operations through a macro business simulation. Analysing our team’s conditions and the decisions made by other competitors, it was fascinating to uncover the rationale behind the user interface. Making decisions on different markets and long-term investments provided a hands-on experience that deepened my understanding of real-world business operations. This insightful competition expanded my practical knowledge and exposed me to the complexities of business management.”

(by Mr. Wong Man Chun)

“This competition gave me valuable insights into the fundamental activities and decision-making procedures involved in companies’ financial and marketing aspects. It enhanced my understanding of business practices and helped me develop a keen business sense. The competition entailed examining diverse business data to make informed decisions regarding production distribution, marketing approaches, and research and development investments, all crucial for succeeding in the ever-changing business landscape.”

(by Mr. Lian Wai Kai)

“Participating in IABMS workshops and bootcamps offered a great opportunity to acquire and develop technical skills from hands-on field experience. I learned to extract insights from large data and interpret economic indicators. Representing different departments, we analysed and debated business issues like production flow, inventory management, research and development, and project financing. Through active discussion, we created a clear, interconnected presentation. This competition broadened my business horizons, enhanced my technical knowledge, and improved my interpersonal skills.”

(by Mr. Poon Tsz Chung)

The HKGCC Pitch Perfect Programme 2024 is an all-round training programme organised by Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC). This year, the programme was sponsored by six companies – Cathay Pacific Airways, Ernst & Young, MTR Corporation, The Mills Fabrica (Nan Fung Group), New World Development and NEC Hong Kong.

The programme consists of four stages, which aims to equip students with essential workplace skills through a series of training courses, company visits, and mentorship opportunities. In the semi-final and final round, students underwent hypothetical job interviews with senior executives from sponsoring companies and HKGCC leadership.

Among the 150 undergraduate students across universities in Hong Kong, students from the HKU Business School have demonstrated their exceptional interview and pitching skills, and were crowned as Winner and Overall Champion in this programme.

Find out more about the programme: https://www.hkgccppp2024.com/

Winner and Overall Champion:
Chan Chun Yan Natalie, BBA(Law)&LLB, Year 3

Winner:
Singh Karndeep, BEcon&Fin, Year 2

Student Sharing:

“The HKGCC Pitch Perfect Programme 2024 has been an invaluable learning experience for me on multiple levels. I have learned a tremendous amount about resilience, adaptability, and effective communication. The high-pressure pitch competition environment challenged me to think quickly, respond to tough questions, and maintain composure under stress. I am enormously grateful to have been a part of this experience, and I know the skills and connections I have gained will continue to serve me well in my career.”
(by Miss Chan Chun Yan Natalie)

“Having mentors like Mr. Victor Lam, JP, who brought the perspective of a business owner, and Mr. Kevin So, Arcadis, who brought the perspective of a corporate, they both provided me a lot of guidance and answered all of our questions about presenting oneself at an interview. My public speaking skills have definitely improved, and I have been given various tips on how to best present myself in a job interview setting.”
(by Mr. Singh Karndeep)

The annual summer programme, “Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in China (CIEC)” was successfully concluded online on June 19, 2024. Right after the completion of the fourth cohort of the CIEC programme, an in-person networking event was held on June 22, 2024 at Shenzhen Campus. The event offered CIEC past participants an opportunity to exchange ideas and forge connections with CIEC guest speakers and the student community.

The CIEC programme provides the younger generation with an in-depth understanding of the economic development in Hong Kong and Mainland China, as well as the latest trend in education, business, creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship in the Greater Bay Area since its launch in 2019. In 2024, 62 students from different faculties at The University of Hong Kong and other top universities with diverse background were enrolled in the programme. With the innovative pedagogical approach, students actively participated in the CIEC with the guidance from CIEC Programme Co-Directors, Prof. Joseph Chan and Dr. Jing Li, throughout the class time, regardless of their geographic location.

This year, the CIEC programme collaborated with 10 companies from all walks of life, including biotechnology, drone technology, education, asset management, finance, human resources, property development, construction, retail and other innovative technology, such as Web3 development. The guest lectures offered students the opportunities to learn and gain insights into various industries from the guest speakers, who are either senior management or founders of the corporates. After learning from these business leaders, the programme provided students with ample opportunities to discuss, brainstorm and present their innovative ideas on various topics in smart construction, drone technology applications, retail business development and digital transformation in the debate sessions.

CIEC Programme Co-Directors, Prof. Chan and Dr. Li, had conducted interviews with guest speakers from these companies before the programme began. After broadcasting the interview videos, students got the chance to interact with the industry experts in the Q&A sessions throughout the 9-day programme. These interactive sessions offered valuable opportunities for students, not only to understand the real business landscape and environment, development and policy of different industries but also to explore their own future development and planning. 10 speakers for the guest lectures included (in alphabetical order of industry partners):

• June Leung, Chairperson, BExcellent Group Holdings Limited
• Rui Zhe Shao, Assistant President, China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Limited
• Tommy Cheung, Managing Director, Club Essence
• Jimmy Tsang, Deputy General Manager, Goldlion Holdings Limited
• Junwei Tan, Chairman, Guangzhou Zhihui Group
• Sammi Wong, Leader, HKSTP Ventures
• Jackson Chan, Co-founder & Executive Director, KOS International Holdings Limited
• Justin Yeung, Secretary to the Board of Directors, Shenzhen DAMODA Intelligent Control Technology Co., Limited
• Timmy Leung, Director of Treasury, Shui On Land
• Jimmy Tao, CEO, Vitargent (International) Biotechnology Limited

Towards the end of the programme, Mr. Chan gave his greatest appreciation, not only to Dr. Jing Li, the CIEC Programme Co-Director, Dr. Ernest Lo who supported the guest interview shooting, the student ambassadors who supported the translation of the guest lectures, the CIEC working team and its collaborators, but also to all participating students who were fully engaged and involved in learning throughout the 9-day programme.

“Different guests have shared their own experience, thoughts and insight in different areas. I believe students are able to learn, not only from their past experience but more importantly, how they see the current business environment”, said Mr. Chan. He hopes these insights can open up the students’ mind with a better understanding of different industries so that they can seize future opportunities ahead. Mr. Chan added, “Although the programme has come to an end, the CIEC community is here to support your future development with the resources we built.”

Dr. Li also expressed her appreciation for the active participation of all students. “Your reaction, contribution and participation throughout different sections helped to develop a very good synergy between teachers and students. I am also deeply impressed by your growth and significant improvement from the first debate session to the last one”. Dr. Li is confident that the comprehensive information delivered through the guest lectures, Q&A, discussion and lectures will be useful for students’ future learning and career development. “You will find some clues or reference from today’s CIEC programme when trying to develop new connections or solve new problems in future”.

After the conclusion of CIEC 2024, we took the opportunity to host a CIEC Alumni Networking Event at the HKU Business School Shenzhen Campus. Past participants from 4 cohorts since 2019 and guest speakers gathered for the whole day event on June 22, 2024. The CIEC community had the chance to explore the Shenzhen Campus and its incubation centre – YUAN Valley in the morning, followed by a networking session with prominent CIEC guests in the afternoon.

It was an unforgettable gathering, bringing together a diverse array of CIEC past participants and guests for an invaluable opportunity to forge connections, exchange ideas, and strengthen the vibrant CIEC community after the programme. This event underscores the continued growth and unity of the CIEC community, and we look forward to bringing more positive impacts towards students’ development.

For more event photos, please visit https://www.hkubs.hku.hk/ciec/gallery/.

HKU Business School and Alibaba Cloud Academy successfully launched the first cloud computing credit course for undergraduate students. In the second semester of 2023/24, over 50 students worldwide enrolled in the course. Nearly 90% of the students attained the Alibaba Cloud Associate (ACA) Cloud Computing Certification at the end of the course.

The comprehensive curriculum leveraged Alibaba Cloud Academy’s resources to introduce key cloud computing concepts to our students and provide real-life industry scenarios to accelerate their learning. Our students immersed themselves in a comprehensive curriculum curated by Alibaba Cloud Academy, diving into cutting-edge technologies and practical applications of the Alibaba Cloud ecosystem. Seamlessly blending technical prowess with business acumen, they explored the intersection of Alibaba Cloud’s technology and their own entrepreneurial ideas, helping them understand cloud computing’s transformative potential. Alibaba Cloud also extended unwavering support for the students’ commercial projects with utmost dedication. The culmination of the course saw students equipped with academic knowledge and practical experience. Several students also secured coveted roles in cloud computing-related fields post-graduation.

HKU Students at Alibaba Cloud Hong Kong Office

Cloud Computing Credit Course Session at HKU

Congratulations to all contestants for their outstanding effort at the HSBC/HKU Asia Pacific Business Case Competition 2024 – the world’s largest business case competition for undergraduates.

The final round of this year’s competition, which took place from 26 to 29 May, was held in-person for the first time since 2019.  Students from 24 prestigious universities in 19 different locations globally gathered in Hong Kong, showcasing their ideas and exploring the city’s vibrant culture and innovative spirit. 

The final case of the 4-day event featured GreenPrice, a successful grocery chain with a mission to reduce waste. Co-founded by two HKU Business School alumni from the class of 2019, GreenPrice showcases the ability of our youth to combine innovation and social responsibility. The contestants were inspired by the case company’s story and entrepreneurial spirit.

Speaking at the awards presentation ceremony, Dr Peter WONG, Chairman, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, and The Hongkong Bank Foundation, said, “As we get together in Hong Kong, we’d like students to draw inspiration from a city which is always experimenting, exploring, and defining its new identity. We all need to find relevance in a changing world. I strongly believe that when the participants graduate, they will bring fresh perspectives towards addressing the biggest challenges including the priority of sustainability, the impact of AI, and the importance of diversity and inclusion.  HSBC is proud to offer continuous support to the HSBC/HKU Asia Pacific Business Case Competition since 2008, benefitting over 90,000 students.”

Over the years, more than 1,500 HSBC executives have volunteered as judges, exemplifying HSBC’s commitment in nurturing tomorrow’s business leaders and contributing to the global economy. 

Professor Hongbin CAI, Dean of HKU Business School, said, “HKU Business School and HSBC have joined forces to help nurture the next generation of leaders for Hong Kong and beyond in the last 17 years.  Now the HSBC/HKU Business Case Competition has evolved into the world’s largest business case competition for undergraduates and serves as a true measure of students’ multifaceted skills, challenging them to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-life situations.  It was impressive to see the students demonstrate their entrepreneurial spirit and critical thinking by coming up with innovative solutions to tackle complex business problems, especially in emerging areas like ESG.  I believe this experience will be invaluable in shaping them into leaders who can create a sustainable future for our communities.”     

The Competition, organised by the Asia Case Research Centre, HKU Business School, aims to nurture future business leaders by sharpening their critical thinking and broadening their global perspectives.  It also bridges the gap between academic theories and real-world business practices, while actively promoting a culture of diversity and inclusion.

The 24 teams came from 19 different locations including Australia, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, mainland China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, Mauritius, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, The Philippines, USA and Vietnam.

More about the competition: https://competition.acrc.hku.hk