University-Wide Deployment of GenAI@Work Workshops: Boosting AI Literacy at HKU

As Generative AI (GenAI) technologies rapidly transform higher education and professional landscapes, fostering robust AI literacy among university communities has become a strategic priority at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). In response to the digital transformation, the Centre for Applied English Studies (CAES), in partnership with the Registry, initiated the GenAI@Work workshops as a university-wide effort to embed AI competencies and ethical practices within daily workflows of administrative staff. The pedagogical rationale is to bridge the gap between emerging technological capabilities and day-to-day administrative practice, ensuring staff are empowered with the necessary language skills and technical knowledge to navigate and leverage GenAI tools effectively into their workflows.

The GenAI@Work workshops were designed to deliver foundational and practical training in GenAI applications tailored for administrative staff across diverse departments and units. The series features interactive sessions focused on core GenAI concepts, hands-on exercises in prompt engineering, and guided discussions on the ethical considerations of AI in higher education settings. Workshops are customized for different administrative functions and are designed to introduce the practical integration of AI tools, such as Microsoft Copilot, into real-life tasks like data management, reporting, and creative media production. Relevant resources and language support are provided to encourage continued engagement and independent skill development of administrative staff.

This presentation will discuss the design, implementation, and challenges of a university-wide deployment of GenAI@Work workshops specifically developed for administrative staff. The initiative entails customizing sessions to accommodate the varied nature of administrative workflows. Looking forward, the GenAI@Work series will be expanded to enhance AI literacy across the curriculum and support the professional development of academic staff. The pilot phase demonstrated that these scalable workshops effectively prepare the university community for emerging AI technologies, aligning with HKU’s objectives for innovation and digital transformation. A campus-wide implementation is currently being planned, with sustained focus on addressing challenges such as discipline-specific adaptation in teaching and learning. Additionally, the initiative evaluates how participants integrate AI into their work to inform future strategic decisions.