Abstract of the seminar:

Elevate your research from “AI-automated” to human-led augmentation in this intensive 3-hour masterclass designed specifically for RPG students. Moving beyond basic chatbots, this session empowers you to navigate the “Green, Amber, and Red” zones of academic integrity while mastering “thinking prompts” that stimulate, rather than substitute, your own critical reasoning. You will learn to deploy GenAI as a sophisticated co-designer for research structures , implement rigorous three-step verification workflows to kill hallucinations , and refine your academic voice to ensure your thesis remains authentically yours. Don’t just use AI; learn to command it as a strategic collaborator that sharpens your intellectual output without compromising the rigorous standards of HKU.

About the speakers:

Prof. Amy Cheung, from the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, has extensive experience in innovative teaching and GenAI integration. She is leading multiple AI-human interaction research projects involving the development of AI literacy in social workers and AI mental health, and has applied this expertise in practice as an external advisor to AI start-ups.

Prof. Patrick Adler, from the Department of Geography, has an established track record in pedagogical innovation at HKU. His courses were among the first HKU courses to be designated within the AI Area of Inquiry, underscoring his early engagement with GenAI-related teaching and curriculum design.  By March 2026, he will complete production of the Department of Geography’s first Massive Open Online Course (MOOC).

Dr. Alan Dougherty, from the School of Computing and Data Science, teaches HKU’s required AI literacy core course, reaching approximately 800 students per cohort, and contributes to course content development. He brings extensive experience applying computer vision and AI techniques in education contexts, including prior work redesigning how students conduct remote learning through AI-enabled approaches, and has applied this expertise in practice as an external advisor to multiple AI start-ups. He has also worked in industry on AI robotics development, bringing practical experience in building and deploying AI-enabled systems.