Jockey Club Youth Academy for Special Educational Needs Graduation Ceremony
The Education University of Hong Kong’s (EdUHK) Jockey Club Youth Academy for Special Educational Needs (‘the Academy’) held a graduation ceremony today (7 July) for its first cohort of students at the Tai Po campus.
Supported by the Education Bureau (EDB) and Hong Kong Special Schools Council, the Academy was established in 2020 by the Centre for Special Educational Needs and Inclusive Education (CSENIE) at EdUHK, with a donation from The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) Charities Trust. The Academy’s mission is to promote lifelong learning for secondary school leavers with special educational needs (SEN).
Officiating at the ceremony were Ms Imelda Chan, Head of Charities (Healthy Community) of HKJC; Ms Chan Kit-ling Principal Education Officer (Special Education) of the EDB; Professor Stephen Cheung Yan-leung, President of EdUHK; Professor Kenneth Sin Kuen-fung, Director of CSENIE and the Academy; and Dr Leung Wing-hung, Chairman of the Hong Kong Special Schools Council. Over 200 secondary school principals, front-line teachers, course instructors from the Academy, students and their parents attended the ceremony, at which graduates shared their experiences.
Professor Cheung offered his heartfelt congratulations to the students and thanked the community for its support. “EdUHK is the first local university to establish an academy for SEN students, providing tailor-made training courses which help them learn about themselves, and also help them achieve their dreams of continuous learning at a university campus,” he said. “The Academy also helps foster an inclusive culture at EdUHK.”
Since its establishment, the Academy has brought the community’s strengths together to promote local development of integrated education through learning and teaching, exchange and other activities,” he said. “It also provides support and training for schools and teachers, helping to promote a culture of inclusivity on campuses and in society, and embodying the spirit of influencing others’ lives through your own.”
Ms Imelda Chan said, “Building a 'healthy community' is one of the Trust’s priority areas. HKJC has been developing and supporting timely and diversified projects through multi-party cooperation and innovative thinking. We are pleased to see that the Academy’s graduates have mastered various practical skills, enabling them to have greater confidence in their future career prospects and life development. It is hoped that people can see the results of their efforts, give more support to SEN students, and encourage them to continue to explore future opportunities.”
To support SEN students in their preparation for joining the workforce, the Academy provides them with continuing educational opportunities on the University’s campus for between one and three years. The courses allow them to learn a variety of life skills, including career planning, sports and fitness training, adventure education and music education. Eligible students are awarded graduation certificates on completion of the programme.
-Ends-
Jockey Club Youth Academy for Special Educational Needs Graduation Ceremony
Download all images
