HKU’s Tam Wing Fan Innovation Wing (Inno Wing), a hub for student innovation and a symbol of the University’s dedication to creativity and technology, marks its fifth anniversary in December 2025. The centre is led by Professor Chui Chun-kit from the Faculty of Engineering, who was also honoured with the 2024 University Distinguished Teaching Award. Dream Big, Start Small, Learn Fast When Professor Chui Chun-kit was an undergraduate, he realised there had to be a better way to learn than passively listening to lectures and absorbing information. This realisation inspired him to become a university professor, determined to transform the learning experience for future generations of students. Two decades later, Professor Chui has not only achieved his goal but also expanded its impact beyond his own engineering students. As the Director of the Tam Wing Fan Innovation Wing, he has created a platform where students can gain hands-on experience, test The Inno Wing’s design reflects this ethos. It is purposefully configured to encourage interaction and ideasharing, breaking down barriers between individuals and teams. The space is built around five key principles, represented by the acronym SMART: ‘S’ stands for the social space, designed to bring together students from different disciplines to collaborate. ‘M’ represents the makerspace, where students receive training and access to high-quality equipment. ‘A’ signifies the activity space, where students can experiment and share their outcomes. (Notably, a ship’s bell has been installed to call attention when students want to share an important discovery.) ‘R’ refers to the resource hub, which provides funding, technical support, peer support, and crucial academic advising for student projects. Finally, ‘T’ highlights the thematic workshops, a unique feature of the Inno Wing that ensures students stay engaged with emerging ideas and advancements in technology. “We regularly review the tech themes to ensure new ideas enter the space, keeping it lively and dynamic,” Professor Chui said. The Inno Wing’s approach has proven immensely popular. It now has more than 3,500 members, with more than a quarter coming from non-engineering faculties, and its members have achieved remarkable successes. For instance, one group developed a cooling device for construction safety helmets, recognised as one of the top 20 student inventions in the James Dyson Award 2024. Another team created a robotic fish that set a Guinness World Record for the fastest swim by such a device. Many other groups have earned both local and international recognition for their innovative projects. their ideas, and collaborate with peers from diverse disciplines. His dedication to educational innovation was recognised when he received the University Distinguished Teaching Award in 2024. “My experience as an undergraduate sparked my interest in bringing hands-on self-learning into teaching. Classroom instruction alone isn’t enough. We need to drive change and nurture a culture that fosters student innovation,” he said. The Inno Wing fulfils this mission by providing a space where students are empowered to go beyond their coursework, explore new technological solutions, and develop prototypes to bring their ideas to life. While students are encouraged to participate in competitions or even pursue commercialisation, the primary focus remains on cultivating a practical, hands-on learning environment that nurtures future leaders in engineering and technology. “Our goal is to create a vibrant, open community where students from different disciplines can naturally connect and collaborate,” Professor Chui said. Students-as-partners is also integral to the centre. Professor Chui introduced Student-initiated Interest Groups, where senior students mentor junior peers throughout a semester. These groups have been especially effective in encouraging students from other faculties, even those without engineering backgrounds, to explore and contribute to technological Peers and collaborators SMART approach innovation. Students also take the lead in organising workshops on specific skills or topics, fostering a collaborative and inclusive learning environment. The Inno Wing also engages in collaborations with other faculties. For example, students assisted in developing an AI chatbot that helps social work students practise roleplaying in counselling scenarios. The Inno Wing also supports other innovation-focussed units within the University, including the new School of Innovation, the TechnoEntrepreneurship Core, and the iDendron incubator. Professor Chui attributes the Inno Wing’s remarkable achievements to many fortunate factors, including the unwavering trust and support of colleagues in the Faculty of Engineering, the generosity of donors Mr and Mrs Tam, whose HK$140 million donation made the initiative possible, and the dedication of the students, who fuel the space with their passion, creativity and achievements. At the heart of all these initiatives has been Professor Chui’s guiding philosophy: “I want students to dream big, start small, learn fast, and take ownership of their learning journey.” HKU Bulletin | Nov 2025 Teaching and Learning 30 31 Our goal is to create a vibrant, open community where students from different disciplines can naturally connect and collaborate. Professor Chui Chun-kit The Inno Wing also hosted students from local secondary schools in thematic workshops, such as the Robotic Spider Workshop shown here, to promote engineering education.
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