Through their outstanding performances in the BOCHK Challenge 2026, the Inter-University FinTech Innovation Competition 2026, the 2026 Hong Kong Web3 Ideathon, and the Personal Finance Ambassador Programme, students from the Department of Economics and Finance at Hong Kong Shue Yan University (HKSYU) have demonstrated creativity, resilience, and a strong commitment to community impact.
BOCHK Challenge 2026 – Top-6 Finalist
FinTech Year 2 students secured a finalist position in the Bank of China (BOC) HK Challenge 2026, emerging as one of only six student teams selected from over 300 applications.
Their project, CantoCare, is a Cantonese AI voice designed to help seniors avoid scams and debt. The team enjoyed an exclusive visit to BytePlus headquarters and participated in a mentorship workshop with seasoned industry experts before competing at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre at the end of August.
Dr Philip Lee, Associate Head of Department of Economics and Finance and Director of BCom (Hons) in Financial Technology, expressed immense pride in the team, noting that their concept reflects the university’s core spirit of community service. He emphasised that participating in such competitions complements classroom learning by providing hands-on opportunities to solve real-world problems.
Inter-University FinTech Innovation Competition – Second Runner-Up
Guided by Dr Philip Lee, students from the same team transformed coursework from the “BUS251 Blockchain for Business” course into a winning project on the timely theme: “Tokenisation and Digital Assets Revolution.” Competing against finalists from CUHK, EdUHK, HSUHK, HKBU, and LU, the HKSYU team secured the Second Runner-Up position.
The team captured the judges’ attention by focusing on tokenising reinsurance ledgers for internal human resources management. Their achievement highlighted the growing intersection of blockchain and insurance, signalling the increasing popularity and market relevance of InsurTech. Dr.Lee commended their growth and the exchange of knowledge with peers from other institutions, emphasising that such interactions are vital for their future professional development.
2026 Hong Kong Web3 Ideathon: AI, FinTech, and Financial Literacy – Finalist and Prize Winner
A team comprising two Year 4 FinTech students, one Year 3 FinTech student, and one Year 3 Economics and Finance student advanced to the final nine out of 147 teams, winning HK$5,000 after participating in the Final Pitch Fest.
The competition, co-organised by the Centre for Technology and Business Ecosystem of the HKUST Business School, the Investor and Financial Education Council (IFEC), and Cyberport, brought together tertiary students from across Hong Kong to explore innovative solutions in Web3, artificial intelligence, financial technology, and financial literacy.
The HKSYU team stood out with their innovative ideas and successfully progressed through the selection process to become one of the top nine finalists. At the Final Pitch Fest, the students demonstrated both their technical understanding and their ability to apply emerging technologies to practical financial scenarios. Their success reflects HKSYU students’ growing capabilities in interdisciplinary innovation and their readiness to engage with emerging developments in finance and technology.
Dr Philip Lee, who guided the team throughout the competition, commended the students for their dedication, teamwork, and perseverance. He noted that competitions of this kind provide valuable opportunities for students to strengthen their problem-solving, presentation, and entrepreneurial skills, while gaining exposure to the fast-evolving fields of Web3 and FinTech. He also emphasised that such experiences help students broaden their perspectives and prepare for future challenges in the digital economy.
Personal Finance Ambassador Programme – Early Access Recognition
The award-winning student team in the Personal Finance Ambassador Programme, sponsored by the HKEX Foundation and co-organised by the Investor and Financial Education Council (IFEC) in collaboration with St James’ Settlement, gained early access to a new game at IFEC’s FinEd Hub.
The student team, together with mentor Dr Vivian Wang from the Department of Accounting and Dr Philip Lee, were invited to try the game and share their experience with the IFEC system development team. The game aims to immerse players in various engaging scenarios and enhance their financial literacy to protect against different financial scams.