Archives 2026

Tang Yuk-ming

Rethinking Higher Education in the Age of AI

Generative artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way universities teach, assess, and support student learning. A recent feature by Hong Kong Free Press, titled “Hong Kong academia rethinking higher education as AI disrupts teaching and learning,” explores how academics across Hong Kong are adapting to this shift and rethinking the future of higher education.

The article brings together perspectives from scholars and education specialists across several local universities, discussing both the opportunities and challenges brought by AI. While AI tools can support personalized learning, improve learning efficiency, and help students engage with complex problems, they also raise important questions around academic integrity, fairness, responsible use, and students’ long-term development of critical thinking skills.

Among the interviewed academics, Dr. Y.M. Tang shared insights on the use of emerging technologies in teaching and learning. Drawing on his research in advanced information technologies, virtual reality, and AI applications, Dr. Tang discussed how digital tools can help personalise learning experiences and provide timely support to students.

The feature also highlighted related research on immersive learning, including studies showing that virtual reality and mixed reality can enhance student motivation and academic performance. These themes closely connect with RIVRT’s broader interest in intelligent and immersive technologies for education, training, and human-centred innovation.

Tang Yuk-ming

Tang Yuk-ming, senior lecturer at the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Photo Source: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

As AI becomes increasingly embedded in classrooms and workplaces, the article points to the importance of preparing students not only to use these tools, but to use them critically and responsibly. Rather than viewing AI as a replacement for teachers or professional expertise, the discussion suggests that future education should focus on strengthening students’ problem-solving abilities, judgement, and adaptability.

VR

A virtual learning quiz game developed by the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Hong Kong. Photo Source: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

The full article is available on Hong Kong Free Press:
https://hongkongfp.com/2026/06/14/hong-kong-academia-rethinking-higher-education-as-ai-disrupts-teaching-and-learning/

Logifera Is Taking Off! Congratulations to Leo and Ivy on Their Learning Technology Startup Achievements

RIVRT is excited to congratulate Leo Matthias Sturm, Zi Fu YIN Ivy and Yueyin WANG Alex on the fantastic progress of Logifera — a student innovation project that is quickly growing into a promising learning technology startup. 🎉

Logifera began from Leo’s dyslexia-related project and has now developed into a platform that helps people better understand their learning profiles through free, science-backed screeners. 🧠✨

In simple words: Logifera helps learners find out why reading, spelling, maths, attention, or listening may feel harder than expected — and gives them a clearer starting point for getting support. 🌱

💡 What Is Logifera?

Many children, students, and adults struggle with learning challenges but may not know whether these difficulties are related to dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD, auditory processing, or something else.

Formal assessment can sometimes feel expensive, stressful, or difficult to access. Logifera aims to make the first step easier. ✅

The platform offers free online screeners that are:

  • Accessible — no credit card required 💳❌
  • Self-paced — users can complete the screeners in their own time ⏳
  • Evidence-informed — based on science-backed screening ideas 🔬
  • Practical — users receive immediate results and a downloadable report 📄
  • Low-pressure — designed as a starting point, not a formal diagnosis 🤝

Logifera is not a replacement for professional diagnosis, but it can help users understand their learning profile and prepare for a future consultation with a specialist.

🧩 Current Screeners

Logifera currently focuses on two major learning areas:

📖 Dyslexia Screener

The Dyslexia Screener looks at areas such as:

  • reading
  • spelling
  • phonological processing
  • handwriting
  • comprehension
  • related cognitive skills

It includes 15 assessments across three modules. 🧠

🔢 Dyscalculia Screener

The Dyscalculia Screener focuses on maths-related difficulties, including:

  • number sense
  • math facts
  • calculation
  • estimation
  • working memory
  • visual-spatial processing

It includes 14 assessments across three modules. ✍️

🔜 Coming Soon

Logifera is also preparing future screeners for:

  • ADHD
  • Auditory Processing Disorder, APD 👂

These additions will further expand the platform’s ability to support different learning needs.

🏆 A Big Step Forward: HK$45,000+ in Prizes and Funding

Logifera has already received strong encouragement from several innovation and entrepreneurship platforms.

So far, the project has gained more than HK$45,000 in prizes and funding support. 🎊

Recent achievements include:

  • KTEO Micro Fund 2025–26, Cohort II
    Funding support: HK$20,000 💰
  • KTEO FENG Ideation Funding Scheme 2025/26
    Award: Outstanding Entrepreneurial Idea
    Funding support: HK$5,000 🌟
  • HKSTP Ideation Programme
    Conditional offer of admission, with potential funding support of up to HK$100,000 🚀
  • HICOOL 2026 Global Entrepreneurship Competition
    Advanced to the 1st Round 🌍
  • The 16th National E-commerce “Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship” Challenge — PolyU Round
    Award: 特等獎
    Prize: HK$15,000 🏅
  • The 16th National E-commerce “Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship” Challenge — PolyU Round
    Award: 最佳創新獎
    Prize: HK$5,000 💡

These achievements show the strong potential of Logifera as a meaningful EdTech project with real social impact. 🌈

📅 More Competitions Ahead

The journey is not stopping here. Leo, Ivy, and the Logifera team are continuing to bring the project to more competitions and innovation platforms.

Upcoming or submitted competitions include:

  • HICOOL 2026 Global Entrepreneurship Competition — 2nd Round 🌍
  • The 16th National E-commerce “Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship” Challenge — Hong Kong Round 🏆
  • PolyU International Future Challenge 2026 🔮
  • Young Professionals Exhibition and Competition, YPEC 2026 👩‍💻👨‍💻
  • James Dyson Award 2026 🛠️
  • The 8th Greater Bay Area Digital Education STEAM Excellence Award 2026 🎓

These competitions will help the team gain more feedback, sharpen the business model, and explore future opportunities in incubation, funding, and real-world deployment.

🌱 From Student Project to Real-World Impact

Leo, Ivy, and Alex have also been part of RIVRT’s Multi-level Competition-Based Learning with International Learning Exposure initiative.

Through this programme, students are encouraged to learn by doing — forming teams, developing research-based projects, joining competitions, presenting their ideas, and receiving feedback from academics, industry experts, and judges. 💬

Previously, RIVRT students and project teams achieved several exciting results, including:

  • Poster Session Best Presenters Award at ICEMT 2025 🖼️
  • Merit Prize in Innovation & IT at the 11th Hong Kong University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition 💻
  • Silver Award at the 8th Global Competition on Design for Future Education 🥈

Logifera is a great example of what can happen when research, mentorship, competition-based learning, and entrepreneurship come together.

What started as a student project is now moving toward something bigger: a practical platform that may help many learners better understand themselves. 🌟

❤️ Why This Matters

Learning difficulties are often misunderstood. Many people grow up thinking they are “bad at reading,” “bad at maths,” or “not focused enough,” without ever receiving clear guidance.

Logifera aims to change that. ✨

By offering free and accessible screeners, the platform gives users an easier way to begin asking important questions:

  • Why do I struggle with reading? 📖
  • Why is mental maths so difficult for me? 🔢
  • Could my learning challenges have a deeper reason? 🧠
  • What should I discuss with a teacher, parent, therapist, or specialist? 🤝

This is exactly the kind of human-centered technology that RIVRT is proud to support — technology that does not only innovate, but also helps people. 💙

🎉 Congratulations!

RIVRT warmly congratulates Leo Matthias Sturm, Zi Fu YIN Ivy, and the Logifera team on these wonderful achievements.

We are excited to see Logifera continue to grow, compete, and develop into an impactful platform for learners of all ages. 🌍

Keep going, Team Logifera — this is only the beginning! 🚀

PIE & PISM Career Sharing & Academic Advising Dinner 2026

Overview

The PIE & PISM Career Sharing & Academic Advising Dinner was successfully held on 15 April 2026 at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, bringing together academic staff, industry representatives, and students for an engaging evening of career sharing, academic advising, and professional networking.

The event provided a valuable platform for students to gain first-hand insights into different career pathways, workplace expectations, industry trends, and future development opportunities. Through direct interaction with guest speakers from diverse professional sectors, students were able to better understand the important connection between academic development and career planning.

Around 40 to 50 students participated in the dinner, creating a warm, open, and interactive atmosphere throughout the evening.

Date: 15 April 2026
Venue: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University


Opening Remarks

The dinner began with opening remarks delivered by distinguished academic leaders from the Department:

  • Prof. Xiaowen Fu 符嘯文
    Chair Professor of Logistics Engineering and Head of Department
  • Prof. Chak-yin Tang 鄧澤賢
    Professor and Associate Head

Their remarks highlighted the importance of academic guidance, career preparation, and continuous engagement between students, educators, and industry professionals.


Industry Sharing and Guest Speakers

The event featured a lively exchange between students and invited guest speakers from a wide range of sectors, including e-commerce, artificial intelligence, supply quality management, healthcare, logistics, and business development.

The University extends sincere appreciation to the following speakers and guests for sharing their valuable experiences and professional insights:

  • Mr. Wilson Ho
    Honorary Chairman, Hong Kong Ecommerce Association
  • Dr. Jacky Ting
    Head of AI Innovation, AS Watson Group
  • Mr. Tony Chan
    Senior Supplier Quality Manager, Mattel
  • Ms. Joyce Keung
    Yan Chai Hospital
  • Ms. Linda Choi
    Senior Manager, OOCL Logistics
  • Mr. Linus Au
    L&Y Asia Pacific Ltd.

Through their sharing, students gained practical perspectives on career development, industry expectations, personal growth, and the skills required to succeed in today’s professional environment.


Student Engagement and Academic Advising

One of the highlights of the dinner was the active participation of students during the sharing and discussion sessions. Students had the opportunity to ask questions, exchange ideas with speakers, and receive advice on academic planning and career preparation.

The dinner format encouraged informal yet meaningful conversations, allowing students to learn from real-world professional experiences while reflecting on their own future pathways.


Special Thanks to the Organizers

The deparment extends special thanks to:

  • Prof. Gary Tsui 崔智邦
    Associate Professor
  • Ir Dr. Y.M. Tang 鄧育明
    Senior Lecturer

for organizing the event and for their continuous dedication to supporting students in exploring possible career paths, academic directions, and future development opportunities.

Their efforts made the dinner a successful and meaningful occasion for both students and guests.


1. Opening Remarks

2. Guest Speaker Sharing

3. Dinner and Networking

News Coverage Update: DeepSeek and Mental Health Support Among Chinese Youth Is Gaining Global Attention

We are excited to share another milestone for RIVRT: our new book, DeepSeek and Mental Health Support Among Chinese Youth: Use Cases, Risks, and Broader Implications (CRC Press, 1st Edition, Copyright 2026) has been picked up by multiple news outlets and is quickly gaining viral attention online.

Co-authored by Dr. Olive K. L. Woo (clinical psychologist) and Dr. Yuk Ming Tang (AI expert; Principal Investigator of RIVRT), the book examines how AI tools such as DeepSeek can provide scalable, culturally sensitive emotional support—while also highlighting critical risks, ethical concerns, and policy implications for responsible adoption in mental health care.

DeepSeek and Mental Health Support Among Chinese Youth: Use Cases, Risks, and Broader Implications

1) Bioengineer.org (Feb 16, 2026)
Bioengineer published a dedicated feature on how AI innovations like DeepSeek could revolutionize emotional and mental health support for Chinese youth—discussing stigma, access barriers, 24/7 availability, privacy concerns, and the importance of human oversight in AI-assisted care.
Link: https://bioengineer.org/how-ai-innovations-like-deepseek-are-revolutionizing-emotional-and-mental-health-support-for-chinese-youth/#google_vignette

2) RamaOnHealthcare (via Medical Xpress / Taylor & Francis) (Feb 15, 2026)
RamaOnHealthcare amplified a Medical Xpress/Taylor & Francis news piece summarizing the book’s core message: Chinese youth face a growing mental health crisis, and AI tools like DeepSeek may become an accessible “lifeline”—if implemented with care and responsibility.
Link: https://ramaonhealthcare.com/how-ai-tools-like-deepseek-are-transforming-emotional-and-mental-health-care-of-chinese-youth/

3) GeneOnline
GeneOnline also covered the book’s focus on how AI technologies like DeepSeek may help address rising mental health challenges among Chinese youth, extending the discussion to broader public-health relevance and the need for responsible deployment.
Link: https://www.geneonline.com/ai-technologies-like-deepseek-address-rising-mental-health-challenges-among-chinese-youth/

4) Medical Xpress
Medical Xpress published coverage highlighting the book’s themes: the “silent epidemic,” the role of AI-driven emotional support, and the balance between innovation and ethical safeguards.
Link: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-ai-tools-deepseek-emotional-mental.html#google_vignette

5) EurekAlert
EurekAlert! has published an official news release (Taylor & Francis Group) covering our book DeepSeek and Mental Health Support Among Chinese Youth: Use Cases, Risks, and Broader Implications and the wider discussion around AI-driven emotional support for young people in China.
Link: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1115440

If you’d like to explore the book, view its table of contents, or share it with colleagues and students.
🛒 Available now from Routledge:
👉 Order the book here

New Book Release | DeepSeek and Mental Health Support Among Chinese Youth: Use Cases, Risks, and Broader Implications

We are proud to announce the release of DeepSeek and Mental Health Support Among Chinese Youth: Use Cases, Risks, and Broader Implications, co-authored by our Principal Investigator, Ir. Dr. Yuk Ming Tang, in collaboration with clinical psychologist Dr. Olive K. L. Woo.

Published by CRC Press, this timely book offers a unique interdisciplinary perspective on the growing intersection of AI technology and mental health intervention in modern China. It explores how tools like DeepSeek—an emerging AI-driven emotional support system—are transforming the landscape of adolescent mental health care, and provides vital analysis of ethical concerns, social implications, and future directions of AI in mental wellness.

🔍 Key Highlights of the Book:

  • A critical discussion of the mental health crisis among Chinese youth, including societal taboos and systemic obstacles.
  • Real-life case studies showing how the DeepSeek AI has been applied in practice.
  • In-depth insights into the technological underpinnings of DeepSeek and its potential to complement traditional mental health services.
  • Exploration of ethical, regulatory, and policy issues surrounding AI-based emotional support.
  • Practical guidelines for integrating AI into healthcare responsibly.
DeepSeek and Mental Health Support Among Chinese Youth: Use Cases, Risks, and Broader Implications

🛒 Available now from Routledge (PRE-ORDER: Ships after Feb. 16, 2026):
👉 Order the book here

Whether you’re a mental health professional, policymaker, AI researcher, or public health advocate, this book is an essential read for understanding the complex nexus of technology and human care.


Stay tuned with RIVRT as we explore transformative solutions at the intersection of intelligence, empathy, and technology.