VTC co-organised Worlddidac Asia 2016 highlights the best of vocational and professional education and training
In its second edition held in Hong Kong and riding on the success of the inaugural showcase, the international forum themed ‘The Next Shift’ was opened by HKSAR Secretary for Education, Eddie NG, who shared latest education developments and VPET insights with 47 guest speakers from 12 countries in Hong Kong. In his opening remarks, He pointed out that The Chief Executive of the HKSAR Government highlighted in his 2014 Policy Address the need to re-establish the positioning of vocational education in our education system and guide the younger generation in choosing their career. This kick-started the next shift of vocational education in Hong Kong.
Eddie NG said, “We have adopted a three-pronged strategy, namely rebranding vocational education and training to vocational and professional education and training (VPET) covering programmes up to degree level, strengthening promotion to raise the professional image of VPET, and sustaining efforts to support VPET and promote the Qualifications Framework.” He further added that in recent years, the Government has strengthened VPET in Hong Kong, including introducing the Pilot Training and Support Scheme in 2014/15 to integrate structured apprenticeship training programmes and clear career progression pathways, the Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/ Sectors in 2015/16 to subsidise students to pursue designated full-time locally-accredited self-financing undergraduate programmes in selected disciplines to meet Hong Kong’s social and economic needs, as well as a new category under the Quality Enhancement Support Scheme of the Self-financing Post-secondary Education Fund in January this year to support industrial attachment projects in self-financing post-secondary institutions that aim to increase students’ employability. The Financial Secretary also announced in the 2016-17 Budget earlier this year the implementation of a pilot scheme to provide tuition fee subsidy for students admitted to designated professional part-time programmes covering those in the disciplines of construction, engineering and technology.
Eddie NG remarked that all the said policies have demonstrated the HKSAR Government’s full commitment and determination to promote VPET.
VTC Chairman Dr Clement CHEN delivered in his keynote speech entitled ‘The Impact of a Massive Shift in Demand for TVET’. He pointed out that vocational and professional education and training (VPET) has long been playing an important role in unleashing potential of individuals for active participation in socio-economic development. Into the 21st Century, sweeping changes are taking place in the manpower market thanks to globalization and new technology, calling for a more effective and relevant education system of skills enhancement and transfer.
Dr CHEN continued to say that as the largest provider of VPET of Hong Kong, VTC has been taking forward a dual system integrating classroom learning and on-the-job training, and; enabling through train articulation pathways from Diploma to Degree as well as permeability between VPET and the traditional education system. Other guest speakers in the forum included, among others, Dr YANG Jin, Director General of Central Institute for Vocational & Technical Education, China and Anthony NG Mun-sun CEO, Malaysian Institute of Technology Academy, Malaysia.
Showcasing STEM achievements of students, another highlight of the event is the STEM Students Conversation: What’s Next Forum, to be held on 8 June, where VTC students will partner with their peers from UK, Australia and Singapore institutions to present their STEM research projects. These include an exciting engineering and information technology related to self-cleaning paint, and another involving a newly developed solar powered electric vehicle and a virtual reality project named ‘Eagle Man’.
To enable the public to gain an understanding of the professional standards achieved by VPET students, the VTC Pavilion will exhibit information on VTC and progression study, showcasing projects students of the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi), member institution of VTC, have undertaken and collaborated with industry partners. Some other exhibits include robots developed by the VTC Engineering Discipline to take part in the Robocon Competition. In addition, the WorldSkills Hong Kong 2016 Mobile Robotics Competition will take place.
Established in 1982, the Vocational Training Council (VTC) is the largest vocational and professional education and training provider in Hong Kong with some 250,000 students and trainees each year. The mission of VTC is to provide a valued choice to school leavers and working people to acquire the values, knowledge and skills for lifelong learning and enhanced employability, and also to provide valued supports to industries for their manpower development. VTC has 13 member institutions including the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) , the Institute of Professional Education And Knowledge (PEAK) , the School for Higher and Professional Education (SHAPE) , the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE) , the Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) , Hotel and Tourism Institute (HTI) , Chinese Cuisine Institute (CCI) , International Culinary Institute (ICI) , Maritime Services Training Institute (MSTI) , Youth College , Pro-Act by VTC , Integrated Vocational Development Centre (IVDC) and Shine Skills Centre.
VTC web site: www.vtc.edu.hk
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