2026 Student Innovation Lab FAQ

The themes for the modules are focused on specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• Week 1: Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3) – Focusing on promoting healthy lives and well-being for all at all ages.
• Week 2: Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11) – Focusing on making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

Each week operates as an independent module, so students can join for one or both weeks to explore different global challenges.

The program offers bilingual instruction in English and Mandarin. Each course is staffed with at least one native Mandarin speaker and one native English speaker to ensure students can learn effectively in both languages. We want parents to be aware that instruction is strictly limited to these two languages; support for other languages is not available during the program.

We maintain a low teacher-student ratio. Each class has a maximum of 18 students led by two qualified teaching faculty members. Additionally, we have industrial leaders serving as mentors to support each class. Starting from Day 3 to Day 5, each class will have at least one mentor dedicated to supporting students through the entire process of their personal projects.

Our teaching philosophy is project-based, interdisciplinary, and neuroscience-informed. Key features include:

• Bilingual Instruction: Materials and technical vocabulary are provided in both English and Mandarin.
• Holistic Learning: We incorporate bilingual learning celebrations and cross-cultural perspectives.
• Real-World Application: Students work individually and in small groups to balance independent work with collaboration. The program connects problem-solving skills to the real world and sustainability.
• Mentorship: Professional industry experts join the classroom to provide feedback and bridge the gap between school and the real world.

The Game Forge track focuses on game design that addresses SDG challenges. Key learning outcomes include:

• Core Skills: Computational thinking, coding, digital design, and storytelling through game design.
• Industry Standards: User testing, accessibility considerations, social impact assessment, and industry-standard development practices.
• Mentorship: Students are supported by two mentors throughout the process. These industry experts support students throughout their personal project journey (from Day 3 to Day 5), offering professional perspectives on game development.

The Robotics track immerses students in engineering and design thinking. Key learning outcomes include:

• Design Thinking: The process includes community needs assessment (SDG-connected), user interviews, empathy mapping, and team-based problem solving.
• Hands-on Engineering: Students work in teams to tackle SDG-aligned challenges and engage in inter-term competitions.
• Mentorship: Students receive guidance from two mentors—including experts from a leading robotics company—who support them from Day 3 to Day 5 as they work on their personal projects.
• Take-Home Kit: The cost of the robotics kit is included in the tuition, and students will take their robots home after the course.

The XR Explorer track allows younger students to step into the world of Virtual Reality creation. Key learning outcomes include:

• VR Fundamentals: Students will explore the virtual world using the Delightex platform, learning how to navigate and create within 3D spaces.
• Coding Skills: The course includes an introduction to block-based coding, allowing students to add interactivity and logic to their virtual creations.
• Creativity: Students will design their own immersive environments, focusing on storytelling and spatial awareness.
• Mentorship: An expert XR mentor will guide students through the technical tools and support their creative process.

The AI Innovator track is an entrepreneurship-focused program where students explore AI as a tool for innovation. Key learning outcomes include:

• Startup Skills: Entrepreneurship focus, market research, product prototyping, user empathy mapping, and feasibility assessments.
• AI Literacy: Students learn to use AI tools for coding support, content creation, and as a "new form of labor" for their startups. They will use the school's CIS-verified educational Large Language Model platform to enhance their learning.
• Mentorship: A mentor from a leading startup incubator will support students onsite from Day 3 to Day 5. They provide professional guidance on bridging the gap between classroom concepts and real-world business viability.

If a student wishes to attend both weeks, we strongly encourage them to choose different tracks to gain a diverse range of skills and opportunities. However, if a student insists on taking the same track for both weeks, the content will not be repeated because each week focuses on a different SDG theme (Good Health/Well-being vs. Sustainable Cities), offering different project challenges.

Learning is celebrated continuously through daily process documentation, project milestone documentation, peer feedback, self-reflection journals, and mentor feedback. The program concludes with a Final Learning Celebration, where families, teachers, and mentors are invited to join. This event includes product showcases where students talk about their learning journeys.

We manage mixed-age groups effectively through:

• Low Teacher-Student Ratio: Allows for personalized guidance for younger students while older students can work at their own pace.
• Professional Mentors: Industry leaders provide extra layers of support.
• Collaborative Learning: Mixed ages are beneficial; older students reinforce knowledge by teaching younger students, while younger students are exposed to advanced concepts.

The pricing aligns with rates of similar international school programs and reflects market research. The fee includes:

• Lunch: Daily catering is provided.
• Hardware/Kits: A hardware kit for students to take home (for applicable tracks) for continued learning.
• Mentorship: Professional mentorship from industry experts.
• Access: 1-on-1 access to devices and platforms, with continued platform access through the rest of the summer (July and August).

Yes, absolutely. The program welcomes all students who are passionate about technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. We encourage all students of the appropriate age to sign up.

To complete registration, you must submit the signed registration form and full payment.

• Before April 1, 2026: You are eligible for a 50% refund.
• After April 1, 2026: No refunds will be issued.

Note: The applicant is responsible for all transaction fees charged by the payment platform; refunds will be net of these charges.

If you have further questions, please contact us via email at:

innovation-lab@cis.edu.hk

We can reply to your inquiries in both English and Mandarin.