Student Project Presentation and Award Ceremony of the 13th Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Learning Programme (2024-25)
The 13th Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Learning Programme (2024-25) Student Project Presentation and Award Ceremony was successfully held on March 8, 2025! Nearly 200 students from 22 primary and secondary schools gathered to showcase how they delved deeply into topics and directions of interest through project-based and experiential learning, transforming their research into practical and innovative sustainable development solutions.
The programme, jointly organised by the Hong Kong UNESCO Association, the Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development, and the Education University of Hong Kong, aims to “cultivate future leaders and advance the Sustainable Development Goals” Spanning five months, the programme covered various thematic areas such as marine and environmental conservation, heritage preservation, mental health, gender equality, and life education. Students participated in a range of activities including workshops, lectures, field visits, and mentorship sessions, fostering innovative thinking and developing eight interdisciplinary skills for sustainable development: collaboration, planning, anticipation, normative, critical thinking, self-awareness, systems thinking, and integrated problem-solving competencies.
Professor Karen Cheung, President of the UNESCO Hong Kong Association and Director of the Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development, delivered a concluding speech, emphasizing the programme’s goal of broadening students’ horizons and enhancing their observational and thinking skills. She highlighted how the themes align with global sustainable development priorities, such as marine conservation responding to the UN Ocean Decade and Climate Change Conferences, heritage preservation aligning with UNESCO’s efforts to protect world heritage and intangible cultural heritage, and mental health connecting with the WHO’s 2024 guidelines on mental health services for children and adolescents. She encouraged students to be more aware of the interconnectedness of the UN Sustainable Development Goals through these diverse themes.
The students’ written reports and presentations were evaluated by a panel of honourable judges, including Professor Karen Cheung, Professor YING Yu Hing, M.H, Dr. CHEUNG WONG Wan Yiu, Angela, MBE, JP, and other distinguished guests from the education sector and various professional fields. The judges and award presenters included:
• Mr. Raymond Chan, Senior Trainer at the Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development and former Project Manager (Heritage Conservation) at the Commissioner for Heritage’s Office of the Development Bureau of the HKSARG.
• Prof. Alvin Yip Cheung-on, Founding Director and former Chief Researcher at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Social Innovation Design Institute.
• Dr LEE, Wing Stephanie, Associate Head of the Division of Social Sciences, Humanities and Design at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s College of Professional and Continuing Education.
• Prof. Anita Chan Kit Wa, Associate Professor and Associate Head of the Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies at the Education University of Hong Kong.
• Dr. AU Chi Kin, Associate Professor in the Department of History at Hong Kong Shue Yan University.
• Ir. Edward Chow, Head of Carbon and Environmental Excellence Management at the Hong Kong Productivity Council.
• Dr. Kanie Siu Mei-kuen, Chief Executive Officer of Plan International Hong Kong.
• Mr. David LAU, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Federation of Handicapped Youth.
• Dr. Jane so, Deputy Consultant and Operational Chairman of the Mental Health Experience Hall at Castle Peak Hospital.
• Mr. Ho Ka Chun, Peter, Social Work Supervisor of the New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association.
• Mr. Elvis Wong from the Coral Academy.
The venue of the award ceremony was supported by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPCE). Dr CHAN, Kai-yue Jason, MH, JP Associate Dean of CPCE and Vice President of the Hong Kong UNESCO Association, announced the “Most Popular Award” winners, selected by votes from students, teachers, and guests. The winning teams were FDBWA Szeto Ho Secondary School – “The Culture of Temples in Kowloon: Stories Behind and Future Prospects” and The Salvation Army Tin Ka Ping School – “Respecting Life, Building a Sustainable Future.”
Congratulations to the students from Pentecostal Lam Hon Kwong School, who won the first prize in the secondary school category with their project “EMO Hotel: Promoting Adolescent Mental Health and Emotional Education.” .
In the primary school category, the students from St. Francis of Assisi’s Caritas School won the first prize with their project “Respecting Life, Building a Sustainable Future”.
Award Winners and Themes:
Secondary School Category:
• First Prize: Pentecostal Lam Hon Kwong School – “EMO Hotel: Promoting Adolescent Mental Health and Emotional Education”
• Second Prize: Pooi To Middle School – “Promoting Female Leadership Stories: Breaking Gender Stereotypes, Becoming Tomorrow’s Stars”
• Third Prize: Queen Elizabeth School Old Students’ Association Secondary School – “Plastic Reduction Revolution: Development and Design of a Mealworm Gut Bacteria Plastic Decomposition and Recycling System”
• Other awards included Best Presentation Award, Best Written Report Award, Best Innovation Award, and Best Solutions Award for each theme.
Primary School Category (Theme: Respecting Life, Building a Sustainable Future):
• First Place: St. Francis of Assisi’s Caritas School
• Creativity Award: ELCHK Lutheran Academy (Primary)
• Theme and Content Award: The Salvation Army Tin Ka Ping School
• Presentation Skills Award: EdUHK Jockey Club Primary School
Most Popular Award:
• Secondary School: FDBWA Szeto Ho Secondary School – “The Culture of Temples in Kowloon: Stories Behind and Future Prospects”
• Primary School: The Salvation Army Tin Ka Ping School – “Respecting Life, Building a Sustainable Future”
Participating Schools in the 13th ESD Learning Programme for the 2024-25 Academic Year: (in order of Chinese Character Strokes)
- The Chinese Foundation Secondary School
- Pentecostal Lam Hon Kwong School
- FDBWA Szeto Ho Secondary School
- Queen Elizabeth School Old Students’ Association Secondary School
- Pooi To Middle School
- Ma On Shan St. Joseph’s Secondary School
- ELCHK Lutheran Academy (Primary)
- ELCHK Lutheran Academy (Secondary)
- Tseung Kwan O Government Secondary School
- The Salvation Army Tin Ka Ping School
- Kau Yan College
- EdUHK Jockey Club Primary School
- Shun Tak Fraternal Association Cheng Yu Tung Secondary School
- Salesian English School
- Shau Kei Wan Government Secondary School
- St. Francis of Assisi’s Caritas School
- St. Paul’s Secondary School
- St. Catharine’s School for Girls
- St. Rose of Lima’s College
- Mu Kuang English School
- Kit Sam Lam Bing Yim Secondary School
- Henrietta Secondary School
The Hong Kong UNESCO Association sincerely thank the judges, schools, teachers, and students for their active participation. Nearly 90% of participants agreed in the satisfaction survey that the programme enhanced students’ awareness of sustainable development and their interdisciplinary competencies.
Information about the 14th ESD Learning Programme for the 2025-26 academic year is now available at: https://unesco.hk/web/esd-learning-programme-2025-26/. Schools are welcome to inquire and register.