An experienced “newcomer”
Professor Bernard Luk joined the Senior Management of the Hong Kong Institute of Education in September 2003, taking up a key role as Vice President (Academic). In this position Professor Luk takes overall responsibility for the academic development of the Institute; the four School Deans, eleven academic department heads and six centre heads all report to him. Those who have come into regular contact with him in his first few months in post have become familiar with his modest assertion that he is 'new' to the role. The assertion is presented as an apology in advance, in case what follows is not sensible. However, invariably, the assertion, "I am new here, but..." precedes an insightful analysis of the problem under discussion. In fact, Professor Luk brings with him a wealth of local and overseas experience as a teacher educator which has enabled him to make a dynamic impact in a very short time. He is anything but 'new' to Hong Kong education and teacher education. He was the chief architect of one of Hong Kong's first Bachelor of Education programmes when he served in the Education Faculty of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He is returning to Hong Kong after having spent the past twelve years in York University in Toronto where he established an innovative programme on Hong Kong history and built up a unique reference library to support it.

A vision for HKIEd students
Professor Luk spoke to Joy of Learning about his vision for the Institute at this time. He referred to the influence of background and experience in shaping any vision. His parents were both Hong Kong primary school teachers, graduates of the two-year part-time in-service teacher training course in the 1950s. They were both effective teachers, devoted to their work; Luk hopes that the next generation of teachers will be equally devoted and competent.