HKU and Tencent Partner to Develop Global Youth Talent in AI through the “Business and Innovation with Digitalisation” Summer Programme

The HKU Academy for the Talented (the HKU Academy), a global talent platform for secondary school students worldwide managed by the Admissions Office of The University of Hong Kong (HKU), announced the successful completion of its inaugural “Business and Innovation with Digitalisation” summer programme in Singapore. Held in collaboration with Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and Tencent WeTech Academy, the 5-day programme marked the first partnership among the three parties. 

Designed for high-performing secondary school students in Years 10-13, the programme brought together 40 exceptional participants from 10 countries and regions, including Mainland Chinese, Southeast and South Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania. Through hands-on workshops and a real-world business case project, students explored business strategy, design thinking, and AI-powered digital transformation. Over the course of the five days, they effectively used AI coding tools to develop comprehensive business models—a remarkable achievement that highlighted the value of immersive, project-based learning.

First HKU-NTU Initiative in Partnership with Tencent
This marked the first-ever collaboration between HKU and NTU Singapore for the HKU Academy’s summer offerings, further strengthened by a technology partnership with Tencent WeTech Academy. Through the partnership, students gained hands-on experience with WorkBuddy, Tencent’s agentic AI workspace, and applied AI tools to tackle real-world business challenges. Representatives from Tencent also delivered interactive career sharing sessions, providing valuable industry insights.

Professor Bennett Yim, Director of Undergraduate Admissions and International Student Exchange at HKU and Chairman of the HKU Academy, expressed, “As the first collaboration among the HKU Academy, NTU Singapore, and Tencent Singapore, this partnership demonstrates how immersive, collaborative learning can equip students with practical AI skills and the confidence to tackle real business challenges. By combining university expertise with Tencent’s applied digital tools and industry insights, we delivered an experience that was both intellectually rigorous and inspiring for a diverse group of talented students. We thank NTU Singapore and Tencent WeTech Academy for their strong partnership, and we look forward to expanding opportunities for emerging talent across the region.”

Murphy Zhao, Country Manager of Tencent Singapore, said, “It is a privilege for Tencent to be a part of this collaboration. Giving students hands-on experience with applied AI tools, set against real business challenges, is exactly the kind of learning that we believe will prepare them for the future. We hope to continue working with both universities to support emerging talent across the region by drawing on Tencent’s platforms and resources, like WeTech Academy, to foster curiosity, creativity and an innovative mindset among young people.”

Bringing Together the Strengths of Two Leading Global Universities
The programme brought together the academic strengths of two of Asia’s leading institutions. Professor Joseph Chan of HKU, Associate Director of the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, led sessions on innovation, entrepreneurship, design thinking, and career planning. Mr. Francis Tay Kwang Yong of NTU Singapore, an expert in digital transformation and business intelligence, delivered sessions on enterprise challenges, future-readiness, business strategy in uncertainty, and sustainable transformation. 

Beyond the classroom, participants enjoyed a campus tour at NTU Singapore, immersing themselves in the vibrant academic environment of one of Asia’s top universities. They also attended an HKU admissions talk to gain valuable insights into higher education opportunities at HKU. The programme also featured an inspiring alumni sharing by Tiffany Ng, a graduate of HKU Business School who is now based in Singapore. She shared her journey from consumer hardware to software, and on to AI products, along the way offering insights into how AI will shape the future of media. She encouraged students with a powerful message: “Don't say it, just build it. The best time to build it was yesterday, the next best time is now.”

Empowering Future AI Leaders: Skills, Community, and Scholarship Opportunities
Participants shared that the programme gave them greater clarity about their academic and career pathways, strengthened their presentation confidence, and sparked greater interest in entrepreneurship. They particularly valued the hands-on use of AI tools to analyse business challenges, synthesise information, and apply AI effectively. They also appreciated the diverse, supportive community—through dorm life and shared activities—which helped them build meaningful connections and turn their ideas into next steps.

A key highlight of the programme was the scholarship opportunity offered to participants by the HKU Academy and Tencent WeTech Academy. Selected students with financial need received full scholarships covering all programme expenses, demonstrating HKU and Tencent WeTech Academy’s commitment to providing young talents with equitable access to AI education.

Looking Ahead
Building on the success of this inaugural programme, HKU, NTU Singapore and Tencent look forward to deepening their collaboration and exploring future opportunities to offer more transformative learning experiences for talented students across the region.

About the HKU Academy for the Talented
Directly managed by the HKU Admissions Office, the HKU Academy for the Talented was established in 2011 and offers exclusive academic programmes for exceptional secondary students worldwide.

About Tencent WeTech Academy
Tencent WeTech Academy is a pioneering talent development platform launched by Tencent. Powered by Tencent's cutting-edge technologies and resources, it cultivates innovative and socially responsible talent. It offers a progressive learning pathway that integrates education, research, and competition, promoting the holistic advancement of technology and innovation education.