| Goals & Objectives | Target Participants | Competition Theme | Competition Format |
Goals
In the digital era, various industries are undergoing rapid transformation. Financial technology, in particular, has driven continuous innovation in areas such as deposits, lending, insurance, investment, and payments. Therefore, it is crucial to foster the digital financial literacy of young people and cultivate proper financial attitudes.
For the third consecutive year, the Investor and Financial Education Council (IFEC), in partnership with the Education Bureau and Hong Kong Economic Journal Education, is organising the “Digital Financial Literacy Programme for Youth 2025/26 – Financial Education Podcast Competition” (“the Competition”) for secondary school students.
The Competition aims to raise awareness among secondary school students about investment, debt and borrowing, empowering them to achieve personal financial goals through effective financial management, and to stay informed about the latest trends in investment and borrowing. Moreover, award-winning Podcasts created by students will be used as learning resources to promote the importance of digital financial literacy to the public.
This year, the Competition has introduced “Financial Education Week” for the first time, allowing students to become financial education ambassadors and promote digital financial literacy among their peers on campus, benefitting more secondary school students.
Participating in the “Digital Financial Literacy Programme for Youth” enables schools to help students understand the characteristics of different loans and investment tools, recognize potential risks associated with borrowing and investing, and assist them in developing personal financial plans. The Competition fosters students’ digital financial literacy and capabilities, preparing them to embrace the challenges of the financial technology era.
Objectives
Enhance digital financial literacy among secondary school students and establish proper investment and financial management concepts.
Encourage secondary schools to focus on and promote education on digital financial literacy.
Foster financial awareness and practical skills on campus by promoting digital financial knowledge through peer sharing.
Target Participants
The Competition is open to all secondary school students in Hong Kong, featuring Junior and Senior Categories. Students may participate either individually or as a team.
| Junior Category | Senior Category | |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | S1 to S3 students | S4 to S6 students |
| Competition Format | Individual or Team (2 to 5 people) | Individual or Team (2 to 5 people) |
- All participants must enter the Competition on a school basis.
- There is no limit on the number of individual and team participants from each school.
- Participants can only participate in one group.
Competition Rounds
Shortlisting
Round
Financial
Education
Week
Grand
Finale
Competition Overview
Junior Category (S1 to S3)
Competition Theme（Choose one）
- Understanding Debt and Making Good Use of Borrowing
- Investing in the Digital Era
Competition Requirements
- Participants must create a Podcast Program (referred to as “the Program”) on the chosen theme, not exceeding 3 minutes. The program format is unrestricted and may include skits, speeches, interviews, etc.
- Organise campus activities to promote digital financial literacy during Financial Education Week.
- Deliver a 3 minute presentation to the judging panel during the Grand Finale to share the learnings and experiences from organising the Financial Education Week.
Senior Category (S4 to S6)
Competition Theme（Choose one）
- Understanding Debt and Making Good Use of Borrowing
- Investing in the Digital Era
Competition Requirements
- Participants must create a Podcast Program (referred to as “the Program”) on the chosen theme, not exceeding 5 minutes. The program format is unrestricted and may include skits, speeches, interviews, etc.
- Organise campus event(s) to promote digital financial knowledge during Financial Education Week.
- Deliver a 3 minute presentation to the judging panel during the Grand Finale to share the learnings and experiences from organising the Financial Education Week.
Shortlisting Round
Competition Format
- Complete the application form and submit the Program proposal. The proposal should include:
。The theme
。The Program title
。The Program format
。Outline of the Program content:minimum 300 words for Junior Category,minimum 500 words for Senior Category
。Roles and responsibilities of team members - Answer the questions in the application form to demonstrate understanding of the competition theme
Language
- Either in Chinese or English
Judging Criteria
- Content and Theme（40%）- Effectiveness of delivering theme-relevant educational information
- Creativity（25%）- Originality and innovation in program design
- Appeal（25%）- Interest and resonance with secondary school students
- Understanding of the Theme (10%) - Performance in answering the questions in the application form
Application Deadline
- 5 January 2026 (Monday)
Announcement of Shortlists
- 23 January 2026 (Friday)
Financial Education Week
Competition Format
- The 10 shortlisted Junior Category individuals/teams and 10 shortlisted Senior Category individuals/teams will become “Financial Education Ambassadors” and compete for the “Best Financial Education Ambassador” Award.
- Shortlisted participants are required to promote digital financial literacy to fellow students on campus either from 2 to 8 March or 9 to 14 March 2026 (based on their choice), with no restrictions on the activity format.
- Shortlisted participants must document their on-campus promotional activities and present the details during the Grand Finale on 20 March 2026.
Language
- Either in Chinese or English
The Organiser cordially invites all secondary schools in Hong Kong to participate in Financial Education Week by organising financial education activities on campus from 2 to 7 March or from 9 to 14 March 2026.
Participating schools will receive an e-certificate of appreciation.
Grand Finale
Junior Category (S1 to S3)
Senior Category (S4 to S6)
Competition Format
- Finalists are required to submit their podcast recordings on or before 27 February 2026. Entries for Junior Category should not exceed 3 minutes, while those for Senior Category should not exceed 5 minutes. The content must align with the Program proposal submitted during application.
- During the Grand Finale on 20 March 2026, finalists are required to deliver a 3-minute presentation to the judging panel to share the learning outcomes and experiences from organising the Financial Education Week.
Language
- Podcast Program: Either in Cantonese, English, or Mandarin
- Presentation: Either in Cantonese or English
Judging Criteria
Podcast Program: 70% of the total score; Presentation on the Financial Education Week Outcomes: 30% of the total score
Judging Criteria for the Podcast Program:
- Content Quality（40%）- The depth of knowledge and inspiration conveyed
- Educational Effectiveness（30%）- Relevance to secondary school students and clarity in delivering educational messages
- Presentation（20%）- Fluency and control of pacing
- Use of Sound Effects（10%）- Effectiveness of music or sound effects used
Judging Criteria for the Presentation on the Financial Education Week Outcomes
- Activity Content（40%）- Relevance of activity content to the theme and its educational effectiveness
- Activity Appeal（20%）- Originality and interactivity in activity design
- Activity Effectiveness（20%）- Number of participants and their feedback
- Presentation Performance（20%）- Completeness and clarity of the presentation
The highest-scoring unit in each category (Junior and Senior) in the presentation will be awarded the “Best Financial Education Ambassador”.
Terms & Conditions
- There is no entry fee for the Competition.
- Each participant shall submit only one entry. Duplicate submissions will not be considered.
- Only original, non-award winning, and unpublished (online/offline) entries are eligible for the Competition. Plagiarised, translated, AI-generated, award-winning, or published entries (including co-authored submissions) will not be considered. The Organiser reserves the right to disqualify the participant if any violation is found. If a disqualified participant has been awarded, he/she shall return all prizes, certificates and trophies, and submit a written apology to the Organsier.
- Entry (including music and sound effects) must not contain any information or advertising for any commercial products or companies, nor infringe upon any third-party rights (including intellectual property rights, confidentiality rights, or privacy rights). Entry must not contain explicit, violent, pornographic, defamatory, offensive, insulting, controversial, or inappropriate content.
- Upon submission, the Organiser retains the right to publish and distribute all entries and reserves the right to use the entries reproduced in any form for promotion and any other purposes deemed necessary, including but not limited to public exhibitions, the Organiser’s and the Co-organiser’s websites, social media and publications.
- Participants agree to participate in activities and related promotions associated with the Competition, and understand and agree that photos and videos taken during the Competition may be used by the Organiser and the Co-organiser for future promotional purposes.
- Personal data collected from participants will only be used for the purposes of handling matters related to the Competition and contacting winners by the Organiser and the Co-organiser. All personal data will be destroyed within three months after the Competition, except for the names announced as part of the Competition’s conditions.
- The Organiser and the Co-Organiser and their staff, the appointed agencies and their sub-contractors shall not be liable for any damage, loss, liability, action, proceedings, claim, demand, costs or expenses suffered by or brought against any applicants of this Competition or any other person arising out of or in relation to the Competition.
- By submitting an application for the Competition, participants signify their agreement and acceptance of the above terms and conditions, as well as the binding nature of the terms and conditions set by the Organiser and Co-organiser. The Organiser and Co-organiser reserve the right to accept applications at their discretion.
- The decision made by the Organiser and the Co-organiser regarding the application and the results shall be final and conclusive.
- In the event of any discrepancies between the Chinese and English versions of the Competition details, rules, terms, and conditions, the Chinese version shall prevail.