Digital Literacy and Co-Creation: A Student Partnership Approach

In the evolving digital landscape of higher education, the Students as Partners (SaP) initiative has proven effective in enhancing digital literacy among students and faculty. Recognized for its positive impacts on various aspects of higher education, including student learning and faculty development, SaP operates under a principle described as a "transformational ethos and way of working within higher education" (Judd et al., 2021). This project is a joint effort among three higher education institutions in Hong Kong: the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the University of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Baptist University.

The SaP initiative included two student partnership co-creation programs in 2023 and 2024, where students and teachers work together to reimagine the educational experience. Some teams employed technology-assisted learning methods, incorporating tools such as game-based learning, AR/VR technologies, and GenAI to improve educational delivery. This approach, informed by the perspectives of the students, has guided updates in teaching strategies and allowed students and educators to jointly develop programs that respond to the current needs of higher education.

The initiative's approach ensures that participants learn digital skills and apply them in practical educational settings, enhancing teaching and learning outcomes. This project's results have been twofold: it has broadened faculty understanding and integration of technology in teaching and enriched students' educational experiences, empowering them as active contributors to their learning journeys. Furthermore, this project aligns with global educational trends emphasizing co-creation and digital fluency as essential elements of modern higher education.