The Cathay x VTC Digital LearnX Co‑Lab Programme 2026 has begun, welcoming a new cohort of 27 students from Information Technology, Business, Hospitality and Design disciplines. Building on the success of previous cycles, this initiative continues to foster collaboration between VTC students and Cathay teams to develop digital learning tools that support and enhance operational training and innovation.

A milestone check‑in session was held on 14 January 2026 at Cathay City, attended by key figures including Ms Jennifer ZHENG, Head of Cathay Academy, Service & Operational Excellence, and Ms Karen YUEN, Digital Learning Lead – Content from Cathay. VTC was represented by Ms Jamie CHENG, Assistant Executive Director of Headquarters (Industry Partnership), and Mr Francis FUNG, Senior Manager of ITCC. In addition, the milestone check‑in session was joined by discipline leaders from VTC, including Dr CHAN Fong Yee, Fanny, Deputy Academic Director of Business Discipline; Dr NG Mei Lan, Peggy, Deputy Academic Director of Business Discipline; Ms YIP Wai Kei, Gloria, Head of Department of Business; Ms LEE Yin Ching, Jillian, Head of Department of Communication Design; and Ms KUI Fung Yan, Jennifer, Principal Lecturer of Department of Hospitality. Their participation underlined the shared commitment of VTC and Cathay to nurturing future-ready talent through industry‑academia collaboration. 

Jamie CHENG shared, "This partnership with Cathay exemplifies how VTC bridges the gap between classroom learning and industry application. Our goal is clear: to move knowledge from the bookshelf to real-world scenarios, so that students can apply what they learn in class to real aviation training scenarios."

A Year of Real‑World Digital Learning
This year's programme focuses four development areas: a 3D web‑based learning game on Dangerous Goods awareness, a 360‑photo lounge familiarisation tour, a VR module on engine thrust reverser cowl procedures, and a VR CAVE application on side cargo door loading. Students are organised into core development and supporting teams to coordinate content production, interface design and prototype testing, ensuring each solution aligns with aviation training requirements.

Milestone Check‑in: Progress and Engagement
This milestone check-in serves as an opportunity to celebrate the collaborative efforts and learning experiences of our students as they engage with industry experts. Activities in the milestone check-in included a programme briefing, remarks from senior representatives, a sharing session on digital initiatives, student progress presentations, group discussions with subject specialists and a guided visit to Cathay City. These activities enabled students to deepen their understanding of Cathay's operational environment and expectations for digital learning.

Empowering Students through Co‑Creation
Through ongoing collaborations with Cathay professionals, students will refine their work to meet operational needs while strengthening their skills in technology development, project coordination and communication. All deliverables are targeted to be delivered by July 2026, equipping Cathay with practical training applications and students with authentic, portfolio‑ready experience.

Looking Ahead
VTC and Cathay will continue to work closely as the programme progresses. Project teams will conduct further prototype testing, refine workflows and prepare the applications for training deployment. The insights gained this cycle will enrich future collaboration in digital training solutions, significantly expanding the impact of the Digital LearnX Co‑Lab Programme for the aviation sector and beyond.