Press Release

(Hong Kong – 3 September 2024) "The opportunity favours the prepared mind," and this couldn't be more true! This summer (2024), eight passionate STEAM gifted students from the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE) demonstrated this saying. With their outstanding performances gained from HKAGE’s AI and cloud computing programmes, they successfully caught the attention of innotech companies and secured internships, marking their first foray into the workplace and exploring the future of innovative technology.

Background of the Workplace Experience Programme

With its aim to cultivate talent through a whole person development approach, the HKAGE, beyond imparting knowledge, offers creative learning experiences that broaden students' horizons and assist in their career planning. The eight gifted students qualified for the internship opportunities after completing either the "Artificial Intelligence Course (Level IV): AI and Big Data Analysis" or the "Computer Course (Level IV): To Learn Cloud Computing from Scratch", both being HKAGE advanced learning courses lasting for nearly 100 hours. Students from the AI course met company representatives who recognised their talents at a Gerontech-related event, while those from the computer course were nominated and trained by the co-organising institute. After rigorous interviews, these outstanding performers gained the valuable work experience opportunities. The students, ranging from S3 to S5, had the chance to explore various fields in innotech companies, including AI applications, optimising gaming programs, understanding commercial AI promotion, and participating in educational AI projects in schools.

LAM Wai Yue Enzo: Discovering Diverse Interests

LAM Wai Yue Enzo, newly promoted to S6, recently participated in the AI and Big Data course. He later met his “bo-le (talent scout)” at a Gerontech-related event and was invited to apply for the company's summer internship programme. This summer, Enzo applied what he had learned to conduct researching on AI operations and business promotion during his two-month stint, nearly 100 hours, with Parami Co Limited (Parami) at the Science Park. "I am grateful for this opportunity. My responsibilities included market research, business promotion, and business development, which required me to understand how to communicate with customers and identify their needs, such as how to help children understand AI and how to simplify workflows for businesses to adapt to AI applications. I also needed to learn what aspects of the company's products appeal to different people. Through this internship, I discovered that I have diverse interests in various fields (technology, marketing, etc.), and I need more time to explore and understand my future direction."

FONG Ho Wang Owen: Optimising Video Game Programs

Fifteen-year-old FONG Ho Wang Owen, the youngest intern recently promoted to S4, candidly admitted, "Influenced by the negative impressions of workplace from TV dramas, I couldn’t sleep the night before my first day of work." Through the arrangement of SEED Foundation, he interned at a gaming company for a month, working five days a week for 7.5 hours each day. His role involved optimising the programming of video games and designing dialogue prompts to help players complete games more quickly and effectively. A memorable experience during the internship was the brainstorming exercise with three colleagues for an activity. After a day of no ideas, they decided to let loose and brainstorm in a corner of the office, which led to creative and imaginative concepts. "The biggest gain from this internship was the boost in my confidence. I often fear I can't handle certain tasks, but with encouragement and feedback from my supervisor, I felt more motivated to work. I found technology to be more interesting than I had imagined, and I might pursue a career in the tech industry in the future."

Unlimited Potential of High School Interns

Oliver CHAN, Associate Director of Experience Design at SEED Foundation, noted that their organisation aims to equip young people to face a tech-driven economy, acting as a bridge between students and innotech companies. "We hope the work experience programme can help high school interns step out of their comfort school environment, gain insights, and understand what is required for the transformation from a student acquiring knowledge to an employee creating value for a company. Over the period, we have witnessed the growth of students, who have turned more matured and developed better interpersonal skills through working in a real workplace. We hope more companies will welcome high school students as interns in the future."

Derek NG, the Technology Director of Parami who met the gifted students at a Gerontech-related event, expressed his appreciation for them. "Their skills and abilities in technology, along with their passion, are outstanding. They can apply what they've learned to invent solutions that help solve problems in society. Their enthusiasm for technology gives them a determination that sets them apart from other students, making their projects exceptional. Some of these gifted students' abilities even exceed those of university students."

Eight gifted students share their experiences as summer interns at innotech companies, savouring their first taste of the workplace!

FONG Ho Wang Owen focuses on optimising the programming of video games during his internship.	Owen (centre) poses for a photo with Ms Oliver CHAN, Associate Director, Experience Design, SEED Foundation (left), and Dr Jimmy WONG, Executive Director of the HKAGE (right).

LAM Wai Yue Enzo expresses gratitude for the opportunity to intern at an award-winning tech company.	Enzo (centre) takes a photo with Mr Derek NG, Technology Director, Parami Co Limited (left), and Dr Jimmy WONG (right).

Group photo from the 2024 internship Programme Sharing Session

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