About AUSEIC

The Asian Universities Student Entrepreneurship Ideation Challenge (AUSEIC) Competition is an inter-disciplinary and inter-institutional innovation and entrepreneurship development competition jointly organized by the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), Ateneo De Manila University (Ateneo), East China Normal University (ECNU), National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University Singapore (NIE-NTU, Singapore), Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) Australia and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). The objectives of AUSEIC are to

  1. encourage students’ innovation and entrepreneurship to address Asian social and education related issues (in equity, diversity and inclusion);
  2. prepare student teams to be future innovators and entrepreneurs with global perspectives; and
  3. lay the foundation for an Asia-wide innovation and entrepreneurship scheme for university students.

The AUSEIC Competition would like to invite students from EdUHK, Ateneo, ECNU, NIE-NTU,  RMIT and UKM with innovative ideas that align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #4. This goal encompasses universal and equal access to quality primary, secondary, technical/vocational and higher education; equity and inclusion; universal youth literacy and global citizenship.

In our 2nd year of implementation of 2023-24 AUSEIC Competition, we are happy to welcome students from two additional universities Ateneo and RMIT and invite shortlisted students to come to Hong Kong for the “Final Pitch Weekend” on March 9 and 10, 2024.  More information on “Final Pitch Weekend” can be found below.  The 2022-23 AUSEIC Competition recap can be also found at the bottom of this webpage.

Briefing Session

If you are planning to join the AUSEIC Competition or would like to explore more before deciding, please register for the briefing session to be determined at a date and time by your University! 

EdUHK will offer an AUSEIC Briefing Session on a Date and Time To Be Determined.  Please email fridolin@eduhk.hk for the details.

Eligibility

  1. All current full-time/part-time students (undergraduate and postgraduate) from EdUHK or our co-organzing university partners (Ateneo, ECNU, NIE-NTU, RMIT and UKM) are welcome to participate.
  2. Interested students can apply as individual or team.
  3. The student/ student team shall have innovative ideas related to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #4; which includes universal and equal access to quality primary, secondary, technical/vocational and higher education; equity and inclusion; universal youth literacy and global citizenship.
  4. Applicants may invite EdUHK, Ateneo, ECNU, NIE-NTU, RMIT and UKM alumni and staff as advisors to provide practical advice to turn their ideas into impactful solutions. This is optional and not a mandatory requirement for joining the Competition.

Application Procedure

EACH interested student or student teams should apply by date and time provided by your own university (see Table below in this “Application Procedure” section). For EdUHK students only: Please apply via an online application form on or before 11:59pm on 07 January 2024 (Sunday). Late submissions will NOT be considered. Each eligible application (either in group or individual) should submit ONE application form together with a PowerPoint with no more than 10 slides to introduce your business idea under one of the themes 4.1 to 4.8, or 4a to 4b under the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #4 (Education). Some elements that you may want to highlight in your pitch deck:
  • Who are you?
  • What is your business idea?
  • What pain point(s) is/are solved by this business idea?
  • How your business can create impact related to the theme
You may use the following Pitch Deck Template in the link provided here:
Pitch Deck Template (for reference only)
Students from the following universities may submit an online application form or please email or phone your universities contact person at the contact details provided in the table below:
University Submission Method
EdUHK Hong Kong SAR China Online Application Form
Ateneo Philippines Please contact Mr. Joseph Benjamin Ilagan via phone/ email for application details.
ECNU China Please contact Xueyuan Bai and Yue Qiu via email for application details. (new link coming soon! – please contact Ms. Yue or Ms. Bai for the updated link)
NIE-NTU Singapore Please contact Ms June Koh via phone/ email for application details.
RMIT Australia Please contact Dr. Thembi Mason via phone/ email for application details.
UKM Malaysia Please contact Ms. Siti Suryani Mat Nasit via phone/ email for application details.

Training Videos

Three self-paced training videos on “Innovation and Entrepreneurship”, “Idea Generation and Design Thinking”, and “Idea Pitch, Team Formation, and Business Model” are available to be used by any EdUHK, Ateneo, ECNU, NIE-NTU, RMIT and UKM students for the AUSEIC competition.  Please contact your University AUSEIC person in charge at your university for the link to these videos.  For EdUHK students, please contact fridolin@eduhk.hk for link to access these “Online Self-paced Training Videos”.

Schedule

October 2023 Open for Applications
(Based on University Partner’s own timeline) Briefing Session
November 2023 Training Sessions I – III
December 2023 Application Deadline and Submission of Final Pitching Deck (Please contact your university for details). EdUHK deadline is 17 Dec 2023 before 11:59pm
January 2024 January 15, 2024: Deadline for nomination and registration of their shortlisted teams from each university for AUSEIC Competition
9 and 10 March 2024 (Sat and Sun) Saturday: “Innovation and Entrepreneurship” and “AI in Education” Series Sunday: Face-to-face Final Pitching by Shortlisted Teams + Award Presentation

Final Pitch Weekend March 9 and 10, 2024 at EdUHK campus in Hong Kong
+
Registration

Arriving to Hong Kong. Please see the following link:   https://www.eduhk.hk/gao/articles/56#:~:text=Make%20your%20way%20to%20the,departs%20from%20the%20same%20terminus.

How to get to EdUHK Campus. Please see the following link:  https://www.eduhk.hk/en/visitors/getting-to-our-university/transportation-information 

Accommodation: AUSEIC international students, supervisors and Judges will be housed at the Jockey Club Student Quarters (JCSQ) on EdUHK Campus

Campus Map: Here is the link to the EdUHK campus map and how to get to JCSQ, Canteen and Mong Man Wai Library – the venues for our AUSEIC Competition.

Saturday, March 9, 2024

TimeActivityVenue
09:00-09:15

Welcoming Address by EdUHK President John Lee Chi-Kin and Chair Professor of Curriculum and Instruction

Opening Remarks Associate Vice President (Research) Ken Yung Kin-lam and Chair Professor of Biology and Neuroscience

Mong Man Wai Library

C-1/F-01M

09:15 – 11:15

“Innovation and Entrepreneurship” Talk Series

The list of speakers (with times and titles TBC)

  • 09:15-09:45: Ms. Doris ZHAO (General Manager of Regional Business Development, NetDragon Websoft Holdings Ltd.).  Talk Title: Transforming Education with AI: The Impact of AI and Emerging Trends  
  • 09:45-10:15: Dr. Susanna Siu Sze YEUNG (Associate Prof. in Dept. of Psychology, EdUHK) in partnership with Roborn Technology Limited; Talk Title: Social Robot for English Language Learning among Young Learners
  • 10:15-10:45: Dr. Charles CHENG (CEO, eClass). Talk Title: From Local Startup to Industry Leader: My Journey in EdTech, with a Glimpse of AI in the Future
  • 10:45-11:15: Dr. Yang ZHANG (COO, XunfeiVR). Talk Title: Embracing the Age of Generative AI: Nurturing Creativity and Adaptability

Mong Man Wai Library

C-1/F-01M

11:45 – 12:45LunchCanteen (Podium, Block B4-C)
13:30-15:30

HKSTP Site and Start-up Visit

  • 13:30-14:00: Mr. Ali SHAMAZ (Founder, Fan{task}tic AI). Talk Title: A Better World by Design
  • 14:00-14:30: Mr. Leo LAU (CEO, ConnectAR). Talk Title: How to use Deep-Tech to bridge the digital divide 
  • 14:30-15:00: Dr. Xueping CHEN (CTO and Co-Founder of Vitargent (International) Biotechnology Ltd.). Talk Title: The Journey of Technology Entrepreneurship 
  • 15:00-15:30: Start-up/Enterprise + HKSTP visits

HKSTP

Studio in INNO2 Building

16:30-20:30Hong Kong Peak Tourist ActivityHK Peak

Sunday, March 10, 2024

TimeActivityVenue
10:00-14:00Finalist Teams give Final Pitches and Q+A session

Mong Man Wai Library

C-1/F-01M

14:15 – 15:15LunchCanteen (Podium, Block B4-C)
15:30-16:00Awards Ceremony

Mong Man Wai Library

C-1/F-01M

16:00 onwardsStudents, Supervisors and Judges are free 

To Register and Attend the

  • “Innovation and Entrepreneurship” Talk Series on Saturday, Mar. 9 from 9:00-11:15am, or
  • “Final Pitches and Awards Ceremony” on Sunday Mar. 10 from 10:30am-16:00

 

please click on the following

Registration link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeMQI-M4KfnHgITZcXvhYBQyol8nband_mZtmiwYhc10lS2ZQ/viewform  

 

to either attend

  • face-to-face(limited seating, first come first serve) or
  • via Zoom.

Award Winners 2023-24

Congratulations to all our shortlisted teams for your great efforts, and being shortlisted by your university!!  

Our list of winners for the 2023-24 AUSEIC Competition are as follows:

  • Championship Prize: US$1500: NurturePals (ECNU)
  •   1st Runner-up Prize: US$1000: MentorshipHK (EdUHK)
  • 2nd Runner-up Prize: US$500: Autiverse (UKM)
  • Best Idea Award: Safety AI-d (NIE-NTU)
  • Best Pitch Prize: Aface Planet (ECNU)
  • Student Choice Award: NurturPals

 

AUSEIC 2023-24 Final Pitch Weekend Photos

Here is a link to the photo gallery for our Final Pitch Weekend in Hong Kong:  AUSEIC 2023-24 Photos 

 

AUSEIC 2023-24 Final Pitch Weekend Video Highlights

Here is a link to a 2-minute video of the highlights of our AUSEIC 2023-24 competition:

Judging Criteria (Tentative)

CriteriaDescriptionPercentage
Innovativeness
  • New idea in solving the identified problem/ an improved solution based on current method for solving the identified problem
  • Creative and innovative internationally (highest), regionally, or locally (lowest)
30%
Feasibility
  • Feasible and reasonable business model in terms of market share, growth potential, competitiveness and capture social & economic value
  • Comprehensive market research and analysis e.g. target user/ customer size, competitive analysis
  • Have you produced similar products before, and had success?
30%
Team Capability
  • Competence and relevance of skills to form a strong team (e.g. technical skills, marketingand business skills, etc.)
  • Experience/ appropriate background to excel in the area
15%
Social Impact
  • Relevance to SDG4
  • To what extent does your solution generate positive impact to society in terms of improving the quality education aspect.
25%

2023-24 Organizing Committee and Sponsors

Many thanks go towards the Sponsors and Organizing Committee of the AUSEIC competition, including:

  • Main Organizing Committee Members from each Collaborating University:
    • Professor Maria Mercedes T. RODRIGO at Ateneo
    • Professor Shuangye CHEN at ECNU
    • Professor Simon WHITE, Dean of the School of Education at RMIT
    • Dr. Mazlina Binti Mohd SAID, Associate Professor at UKM
    • Dr. Stephen Francis BURNS, Associate Professor at NIE in NTU
    • Dr. Fridolin TING, Senior Lecturer I at EdUHK (Chair of Organizing Committee)
  • Prof. Stephen CHOW, Director of KT-Suboffice and Mr. Lemon KWAN, Senior Manager/Head of KT-Suboffice
  • Dr. Sammy HUI, Dean of Students, Student Affairs Office (SAO)
  • Mr. Donny SIU, Director of Global Affairs Office (GAO)
  • Professor Cher Ping LIM, Chair Professor of Learning Technologies and Innovation; Associate Dean (International Engagement), Faculty of Education and Human Development 
  • Prof. Phillip YU, Dr. Gary CHENG, and Dr.  CHEUNG Ho Yin from the MIT Dept. at EdUHK
  • Student Affairs Office of EdUHK 

2022-23 AUSEIC Recap

After promotion of our inaugural AUSEIC competition beginning August 2022, selection and training of AUSEIC applicants in innovation and entrepreneurship, 12 teams were shortlisted for the AUSEIC Final Pitch Session held on the morning of Saturday, February 4, 2023. The 12 finalist teams were chosen based on assessment of their 15-page pitch decks based on their innovativeness, feasibility of project, team capability and social impact.  Distinguished Judges from each of the four participating universities, along with an industry expert, were invited to comb through 12 shortlisted pitch decks and pitch videos, and evaluate each team’s final pitch and answer questions at the AUSEIC Final Pitch Session.

Many thanks to our judges, listed here, for the 2022-23 competition:

  • Dr. Chua Bee (Associate Dean of Professional Practice in Office of Teacher Education at NIE in NTU)
  • Dr. PM Lai (Co-Founder of Goldbox Technologies and Partner at Ooosh Tech Lab and NH-Accelerator and industry expert)
  • Professor Stephen CHOW (Director of Knowledge Transfer at EdUHK);
  • Mr. Shahrizan Bin Abd Latif, Founder of Mindstraits in Malaysia,
  • Dr. WANG Haiying (Associate Professor of Faculty of Economics and Management from ECNU)

 

CONGRATULATIONS! to the winners of our 2022-23 AUSEIC competition listed here, along with the cash prizes for which they have won as follows:

  1. Champion: Bridge Neuro (EdUHK) – US$1200
  2. 1st Runner Up: Light Up Stars (ECNU) – US$800
  3. 2nd Runner Up: Joint Hands (ECNU) and #WOMEN. (NIE NTU, Singapore) – US$500/2=US$250 for the two teams for 2nd runner up
  4. Best Idea Award: READable (UKM)
  5. Best Pitch Award: ZERO Waste Camp (NIE NTU, Singapore)

 

Also, congratulations to all the shortlisted teams!!