Unleashing the Power of Qwen, Alibaba Cloud Kicks Off Hong Kong Inter-School AIGC Competition

Alibaba Cloud’s first AI competition promotes tech inclusion and talent development in the city

Hong Kong, October 4, 2024 - The Hong Kong Inter-School AIGC Competition, hosted by Alibaba Cloud—Alibaba Group's digital technology and intelligence backbone—has officially launched. The initiative is co-hosted by the startup tech companies Materia Logic and Gamenoodlesoup, with support from the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, the Association of I.T. Leaders in Education and the Hong Kong Association for Computer Education. Themed 'Unleashing the Power of Qwen', the AI competition will be the largest of its kind in Hong Kong to host all primary and secondary school students (including special education institutions) and marks the company's 10th anniversary in the city. Through this competition, Alibaba Cloud aims to provide teachers and students with opportunities to leverage cloud and AI technologies, continuing its decade-long effort to promote sustainable innovation and nurture future tech talent.

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The Hong Kong Inter-School AIGC Competition themed 'Unleashing the Power of Qwen', hosted by Alibaba Cloud—Alibaba Group's digital technology and intelligence backbone—has officially launched. From left to right: Herbert Chia, member of the Digital Economy Development Committee and the Education Commission, Michelle Li, Permanent Secretary for Education, Education Bureau, Leo Liu, Vice President of International Business, General Manager of North APAC Region, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, Sr. Margaret Wong MH, Supervisor and Principal of St. Paul's Convent School

Aiming to inspire innovation and advocate inclusion, the competition welcomes entries from three categories – primary schools, secondary schools, and schools for students with special education needs (SEN). Participants will use Alibaba Cloud's Large Language Model Qwen and its text-to-image model Tongyi Wanxiang, to create visual and textual works. Primary and secondary school participants will create storybooks and interactive novels based on designated themes. SEN students can create an image on any theme that expresses their interests, emotions, or needs. Entries will be judged based on the use of AI models, creativity and originality, relevance to the theme, and presentation and formatting.

At the kick-off ceremony, held at St. Paul's Convent School in Causeway Bay, Michelle Li, Permanent Secretary for Education, Education Bureau, said: “To align with the national strategy of invigorating China through science and education and to support Hong Kong's aspiration to become an international hub for innovation and technology, the Education Bureau is vigorously promoting STEAM education in primary and secondary schools. This initiative aims to bolster students' innovative spirit and nurture young talent for scientific and technological innovation. The integration of artificial intelligence into educational practices has the potential to transform teaching methodologies and learning experiences, thereby igniting students' creative thinking and problem-solving skills. The collaborative inter-school competition organized by Alibaba Cloud, with the education sector, not only enhances students’ learning experiences in technological fields but also fosters the integration of education with technology. This endeavor holds significant value for the broader advancement of educational digitalization.”

Amy Lam, Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers (HKFEW), stated, “This competition serves as a platform for young talents to showcase their capabilities in innovation and technology application. It is wonderful to find that Alibaba Cloud is coaching bright young minds to transform technological creativity into products that will enhance the quality of life. Alibaba Cloud has successfully established a global platform for cultural, technological, and knowledge exchange, broadening young talents’ understanding of the latest developments in various industries, and fostering entrepreneurship. This initiative allows us to present a compelling narrative of China from a global perspective.”

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Supported by partners from different domains, the “Unleashing the Power of Qwen - Hong Kong Inter-School AIGC Competition” aims to inspire innovation and creativity among young minds in Hong Kong. (From right to left) Principal Kwan Wing Bun, Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Island School Heads Association; Mr. Liang Kwun Fan, Chairman of the Association of Hong Kong Chinese Middle Schools; Mr. Chen Dion, MH, Chairman of the Hong Kong Direct Subsidy Scheme Schools Council; Mr. Lin Chun Pong, Chairman of the Hong Kong Association of the Heads of Secondary Schools; Ms. Lee Yi Ying, Chairlady of the Hong Kong Subsidized Secondary Schools Council; Dr. Chiu Cheung Ki, Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Huaxia Educational Institute; Principal Lam Chui Ling, MH, JP, Chief Vice Chairman of the New Territories School Heads Association and Vice Chairman of HKFEW; Principal Dr Cheung Chok Fong, Vice Chairman of the Kowloon Region School Heads Association and Chairlady of the Subsidized Primary Schools Council; Principal Kwan Wing Bun, Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Island School Heads Association; Sr. Margaret Wong MH, Supervisor and Principal of St. Paul's Convent School; Leo Liu, Vice President of International Business, General Manager of North APAC Region, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence; Amy Lam, Vice-Chairman of HKFEW; Chik Shing Patrick YUEN, Vice-Chairman, Association of I.T Leaders in Education; Wai Fan TAM, Co-opted Council Member, The Hong Kong Association for Computer Education; Mr. Cheng Chi Hung Danny, Director of Information Technology at the Affiliated School of JNU for Hong Kong & Macao Students School; Nelson Wong, Co-Founder of Materia Logic, Anderson Yu, Founder of Gamenoodlesoup

Ms. Lam stressed that “The mission of HKFEW is to serve the educators in a professional and supportive manner. She also conveyed her appreciation to Alibaba Cloud for the opportunity to partner in this meaningful event. Amy expressed her gratitude to all the esteemed guests from the education sector, namely: Principal Kwan Wing Bun, Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Island School Heads Association; Principal Dr Cheung Chok Fong, Vice Chairman of the Kowloon Region School Heads Association and Chairlady of the Subsidized Primary Schools Council; Principal Lam Chui Ling, MH, JP, Chief Vice Chairman of the New Territories School Heads Association and Vice Chairman of HKFEW; Dr. Chiu Cheung Ki, Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Huaxia Educational Institute; Ms. Lee Yi Ying, Chairlady of the Hong Kong Subsidized Secondary Schools Council; Mr. Lin Chun Pong, Chairman of the Hong Kong Association of the Heads of Secondary Schools; Mr. Chen Dion, MH, Chairman of the Hong Kong Direct Subsidy Scheme Schools Council; Mr. Liang Kwun Fan, Chairman of the Association of Hong Kong Chinese Middle Schools; Ms. Chung Lai Kam, MH, Chairlady of the Hong Kong Aided Primary School Heads Association; Principal Kenneth Cheng, Vice Chairman of Association of Professional Mental Health and Wellness Education HK under HKFEW; and Mr. Cheng Chi Hung Danny, Director of Information Technology at the Affiliated School of JNU for Hong Kong & Macao Students School.

Lam reiterated the federation's commitment to collaborating with various educational associations in Hong Kong to encourage participation from secondary, primary, and special educational needs schools. She looks forward to partnering with Alibaba Cloud and key stakeholders from different domains to inspire innovation and creativity among young minds in Hong Kong and foster an international platform for technical, knowledge, and cultural exchange.

Herbert Chia, member of the Digital Economy Development Committee and the Education Commission, said: “In this era of rapid digitalization, nurturing future technological talent is of paramount importance. This competition not only provides a platform for students to showcase their creativity but also represents an important step in promoting innovation and technology education in Hong Kong. We hope that through such activities, the younger generation will be inspired to explore and apply cutting-edge AI technologies. This will stimulate students' creativity and enhance their problem-solving skills and teamwork spirit. We look forward to seeing how the young participants will bring a refreshing vigor to Hong Kong's innovative landscape.”

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Leo Liu, Vice President of International Business, General Manager of North APAC Region, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, gave an opening speech at the kick-off ceremony

Leo Liu, Vice President of International Business, General Manager of North APAC Region, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, said: “As Alibaba Cloud celebrates its 10th anniversary in Hong Kong, we remain committed to contributing to the digital transformation of various industries locally. Hong Kong is developing into an innovation hub in the Greater Bay Area, and the rapid development in the fields of innovation and technology in recent years is very encouraging. These achievements also underscore the importance of, and imminent need for talent development. AI, as an emerging field and future trend, should be an inclusive technology and integrated into school curricula in diverse forms. Through this competition, we hope to encourage teachers and students in Hong Kong to use AI technology, to explore more applications in teaching and learning, and to enable students with different abilities to showcase their talents and embrace innovation. We aspire to foster an interest in technology among students and nurture them to become the driving force behind Hong Kong's future technological innovations.”

The competition will remain open for submissions until October 30, 2024. The results of the competition will be announced on November 13, and the award ceremony is scheduled for November 27, 2024. The competition is free to enter. Winning teams will have the opportunity to visit Alibaba's headquarters in Hangzhou, and outstanding work by the winners may be showcased at the Alibaba Cloud Hong Kong Summit. Additionally, all eligible participants will receive a participation certificate issued by Alibaba Cloud.

Fostering Local Tech Talent

Over the past 10 years, Alibaba Cloud has been dedicated to nurturing talent and supporting the growth of Hong Kong's innovation and technology ecosystem. In 2023, Alibaba Cloud and the HKU Business School jointly announced the first cloud computing credit course for undergraduate students. To date, over 50 undergraduate students from different majors, including computer science, finance, law and design, have completed the course. The program encourages students to apply academic knowledge and integrate cloud technology as a way to inject technology and creativity into different industries. Previously, Alibaba Cloud launched its Cloud Talent Program in the city, providing over 2,000 students with access to more than 300 free training courses covering cloud computing, data analytics, AI and machine learning, and helping them obtain relevant Alibaba Cloud certifications.

This summer, 10 students participated in the Alibaba Cloud Hong Kong Summer Internship Program, including postgraduate and undergraduate students from local and overseas universities, and four local high school students. They worked and learned alongside different teams in the areas of marketing, technical support, and training, gaining insights into the latest trends in the cloud computing industry and developing their teamwork skills.

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Unleashing the Power of Qwen, Alibaba Cloud Kicks Off Hong Kong Inter-School AIGC Competition

Fostering Local Tech Talent

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