BUS News

Mr Aiji Caballero Umemori, a student of HKBU School of Business’s Master of Science in Finance (FinTech and Financial Analytics) [MScFin (FTFA)] programme, was part of an inter-university team that won the Silver Prize in the Future Work & Enterprises Track at the 2026 Inter-University GenAI Hackathon for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on 24 October 2026.

Comprising students from universities across Hong Kong, Team Smurf developed Lumio, an AI-powered workplace simulation platform designed to help graduates develop job-ready skills through authentic workplace scenarios. The team created the platform to enable users to practice real workplace tasks and receive assessments based on evidence-based rubrics co-developed with employers.

The project addresses a growing challenge faced by fresh graduates entering the workforce. As artificial intelligence increasingly automates routine entry-level tasks, opportunities for graduates to gain practical experience are becoming more limited. Lumio seeks to bridge this gap by providing a credible and accessible way for graduates to demonstrate their capabilities to prospective employers.

Organised annually, the Inter-University GenAI Hackathon for SDGs is a month-long territory-wide competition that encourages students to leverage multimodal generative AI technologies to develop innovative solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Bringing together participants from different disciplines and institutions, the hackathon provides a platform for collaboration, innovation and the exploration of pressing social challenges. Finalists present their solutions to a judging panel comprising representatives from academia, industry and the community.

The School congratulates Mr Umemori and his teammates on their achievement.