Language Events

Join us for an exciting 3-hour journey of innovation and creativity at the AI for Language Education: Micro-Hackathon 2026. This beginner-friendly event is designed to help you bring your thoughts to life—whether you create a full webpage design, an interactive mockup, or simply a preliminary idea.

Eligibility and Rewards
The event is open to all HKUST students. There is no prior coding experience or technical background required to participate. This micro-hackathon is designed to be fully accessible, showing you how to design interactive webpages, tools, or conceptual ideas using natural language prompts. Additionally, by joining the hackathon, you stand a chance to win amazing mystery gifts during the event!

Your Mission
During the hackathon, your goal is to identify a common student language learning challenge (such as mastering pronunciation, practicing conversations, or vocabulary retention)—whether it involves English, Mandarin, Cantonese, or other languages—and design a GenAI-powered solution. Whether you propose a fully designed visual webpage, a basic interactive tool, or just a preliminary idea, you can develop your concept during the session and pitch it to the audience.

What You Will Experience
Through hands-on participation, you will gain experience in three key areas. First, you will explore no-code AI building, learning how to use user-friendly AI prototyping tools like Lovable, Base 44, and Sketchflow to turn your concepts into visual webpages in minutes. Second, you will understand smart learning UX, discovering simple design secrets and cognitive principles like Cognitive Load Theory to make your tool or idea effective for learners. Finally, you will participate in interactive pitching, practicing presenting and refining your concept in a friendly, supportive environment.

Event Agenda

• 02:00 PM - 02:05 PM: Welcoming Speech

• 02:05 PM - 02:30 PM: Masterclass on Prototyping Without Code and Designing Effective Learning Tools

• 02:30 PM - 02:50 PM: Gamified Activities featuring Quick Prompting Warm-ups and Identifying Learning Needs

• 02:50 PM - 03:00 PM: Challenge Reveal and Getting Started

• 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM: Design and Conceptualize session for Prototyping Webpages or Refining Ideas and Pitch Preparation

• 04:00 PM - 04:45 PM: Pitches and Voting

• 04:45 PM - 05:00 PM: Closing

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need coding or technical skills to participate?
No programming background is required. This event is designed specifically for beginners, and we will demonstrate how to use intuitive AI tools to build webpages or outline your concepts through simple conversational prompts.

Do I need to form a team before registering?
No pre-formed team is required. You can participate individually or choose to collaborate with other participants on the spot during the event.

What should I bring to the event?
Please bring your laptop, your charger, and your creativity!