With support from the Tai Po Wang Fuk Court Emergency Relief Fund of the Li Ka Shing Foundation, several schools in Tai Po have participated in the “Loving Baby” Emotional Support Robot Project. By leveraging innovative technology, the project aims to promote students’ emotional well-being, nurture empathy and a sense of social responsibility, and foster a positive and inclusive school culture.
The “Loving Baby” Emotional Support Robot Project is jointly led by the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), integrating expertise in education and technology. The initiative seeks to advance students’ emotional well-being and empathy development through applied research, while strengthening a caring culture within schools. On the event day, Professor Sin Kuen-fung from EdUHK and Professor Mow Wai-ho from HKUST, together with representatives of the Foundation, visited the school to engage with teachers and students, reinforcing the connection between educational innovation and positive social impact.
During the event, students participated in a wide range of interactive activities with the “Loving Baby”, including interacting with the robot (such as singing, dancing, and face-changing), playing rock-paper-scissors, and designing and creating outfits for the robot. Through creative hands-on activities, interactive play, and emotional engagement, students learned to recognise and express their emotions in a relaxed and enjoyable environment, thereby cultivating empathy and a sense of care, and contributing to a more inclusive and connected school culture.
Students showed strong interest in interacting with the robot and actively participated in all activities, expressing their emotions sincerely throughout. Teachers also observed that students were more willing to open up and share their feelings during the interactions, which enhanced emotional connections and mutual understanding among peers, and strengthened a caring school environment.
Many students shared their thoughts through “Heart Notes”:
“Thank you, Loving Baby. You bring me a lot of happiness.”
“You are great! I like you very much!”
“I want to play with Loving Baby again!”
“I want to give you new clothes.”
Despite the simple messages, they reflected genuine emotions and demonstrated students’ positive attitudes towards emotional interaction and caring communication. The activity introduced elements of care and engagement into the school environment, fostering a warm and supportive learning atmosphere and promoting empathy and mutual understanding.
Overall, the “Loving Baby” Project has provided students with a meaningful and innovative emotional learning experience. It has further strengthened schools’ focus on emotional well-being and social inclusion, while offering valuable insights for promoting whole-person development and emotional education going forward.
Dr Fung Ka-yan, the project leader of the “Loving Baby” initiative, noted that EdUHK is committed to integrating artificial intelligence, robotics, positive thinking, and the arts into educational research and to applying research outcomes in both schools and the community. Supported by the Li Ka Shing Foundation Tai Po Wang Fuk Court Fire Emergency Relief Fund, the project introduces AI-empowered robots into school settings as interactive companions that provide emotional support and care. The initiative not only demonstrates the potential of technology to enhance emotional well-being but also highlights the use of technology, innovation, and education for social good to promote whole-person development and an inclusive culture.
The Foundation mentioned that the initiatives can enhance students’ physical and mental well-being, as well as their emotional competencies. Also, the AI-empowered program can generate a sustained positive impact within the community and strengthen a culture of care and inclusion. The project team will continue to explore diversified learning and support models, enabling students to grow in an environment of care, understanding, and companionship, and further advancing the practice and innovation of emotional education in schools.
