EdUHK Holds 30th Anniversary Education Summit Engages in In-depth Educational Collaboration with Over 40 Educational Organisations 2024-11-23

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The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) held the “EdUHK 30th Anniversary Education Summit cum Collaborative Agreement Signing Ceremony” on 23 November 2024. The event aimed to discuss the future of education in Hong Kong. During the ceremony, EdUHK signed a collaborative agreement with 14 local school sponsoring bodies (SSBs) that were existing partners, while also welcoming 14 SSBs and 13 school councils and school principals’ associations as new partners. This agreement seeks to deepen collaboration and promote partnerships within the Hong Kong education sector, symbolising our commitment to working together to cultivate quality teachers for the future development of education in Hong Kong.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Dr David Wong Yau-kar, Council Chairman of EdUHK and Chairman of the Education Commission; Ms Michelle Li Mei-sheung, Permanent Secretary for Education of EDB; and Dr He Jinhui, Division Director of the Education, Science and Technology Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR. Professor John Lee Chi-Kin, President of EdUHK, represented the University in signing the agreements. The representatives from the partner organisations who attended the signing ceremony included (listed in alphabetical order by organisation names):

Partners Renewing the Collaborative Agreement:

• Dr Wu Kam-yuen, Minister of Education, Caritas Hong Kong
• Mr Joseph Kung Kwong-pui, Episcopal Delegate for Education, Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong
• Mr Philip Poon Chin-chung, Chairman, Hong Chi Association
• Mr Peter Kwok Chi-kay, Director of Education Services, Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui
• Mr Samuel Chui, Head of Education Department, Kowloon Tong Church of the Chinese Christian & Missionary Alliance
• Mr Lau Chi-chung, Principal Education Secretary (Primary & Special Education), Po Leung Kuk
• Rev Jackson Yeung Yau-chi, Bishop, The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong
• Ven Ti Lun, Man, Managing Director of The Hong Kong Buddhist Association
• Professor Daisy Shum Kwok-yan, Chairperson of Education Services Department, The Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China
• Mr Lam Kwong Fai, representative of Education Service Department, The Hong Kong Taoist Associatio
• Rev Yu Yan-ming, Head of the School Education Division, The Methodist Church, Hong Kong
• Colonels Philip Maxwell, Territorial Commander, The Salvation Army
• Ms Kwong Mei-sze, Kindergarten & Special Education Section Senior Education Officer (Kindergarten & Special Education), Tung Wah Group of Hospitals
• Mr Kenny Chiu Man-kin, Chief Executive Officer, Yan Oi Tong

New Partners (School Sponsoring Bodies):

• Mr Yeung Yiu-chung, Development Director, Heung To Education Organisation
• The Hon IP Kwok-him, Chairman, Hon Wah Educational Organization
• Mrs Joise Tan-chiu, Chairman, Hong Kong And Kowloon Kaifong Women’s Association
• Professor Lau Chi-pang, President, Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers
• Mrs Wong-Chan Yuen-yeung, Chairman of Education Services Committee, Pok Oi Hospital
• The Hon Dr Jasper Tsang Yok-sing, Vice Chairman, Pui Kiu Educational Foundation
• Dr Albert So Chun-hin, Chairman, Shun Tak Fraternal Association
• Dr Lee Yiu-fai, Abbot of the Wong Tai Sin Temple, Sik Sik Yuen
• Mr Lee Ka-chung, Head of Education Department, The Association of The Directors and Former Directors of Pok Oi Hospital
• Dr Lee Shu-kam, Head of Primary, Secondary and Continuing Education Division, The Baptist Convention of Hong Kong
• Mr Michael Mok Man-too, Chairman, The Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society Kowloon
• Dr Allan Yung Tse-you, President, The Lutheran Church Hong Kong Synod
• Ms Chow Yin-yung, President, Tsung Tsin Mission of Hong Kong
• Dr Marcella Cheung Man-ka, Chairman of Board of Directors, Yan Chai Hospital

New Partners (School Councils and School Principals’ Associations):

• Mrs Betty Ip-Tsang Chui-hing, Chairman, Association of Hong Kong Kindergarten Education Professional Exchange
• Ms Alice Yan Kin-foon, Chairman, Association of Principals of Government Secondary Schools
• Ms Kathy Chung Lai-kam, Chairperson, Hong Kong Aided Primary School Heads Association
• Mr Kwan Wing-bun, External Affairs Secretary, Hong Kong Direct Subsidy Scheme Schools Council
• Mr Chim Hon-ming, President, Hong Kong Island School Heads Association
• Ms Cindy Yu Lan-ching, Chairperson, Hong Kong Kindergarten Association
• Ms Levian Lee Ching-man, Chairperson, Hong Kong Special Schools Council
• Ms Lee Yi-ying, Chairman, Hong Kong Subsidized Secondary Schools Council
• Ms Jessica Man Sze-wing, Vice Chairman, Kowloon Region School Heads Association
• Mr Chu Wai-lam, Chairperson, New Territories School Heads Association
• Ms Cheung Chok-fong, Chairperson, Subsidized Primary Schools Council
• Dr Leung Wing-hung, Chairperson, The Hong Kong Special Education School Heads Association
• Ms Belinda Ip Wan-ting, Chairperson, Union of Government Primary School Headmasters and Headmistresses

EdUHK and its partner organisations will collaborate in various areas, including providing scholarships for secondary students aspiring to become prospective teachers and study at EdUHK; organising professional development programmes for teachers from schools of partner SSBs or members of partner councils and associations; arranging field experience opportunities for preservice teachers; and co-organising educational activities.

Right after the signing ceremony, the Education Summit with the theme of “The Future of Education in Hong Kong” commenced. The Summit featured two keynote speeches delivered by Dr David Wong Yau-kar and Professor John Lee Chi-Kin on the topics of “Education of Future” and “Future of Education” respectively, addressing the challenges and opportunities that the Hong Kong education sector was facing.

EdUHK Council Chairman Dr David Wong Yau-kar said, “We are in an era rich with both challenges and opportunities. As rapid technological advancements and globalisation reshape our world, education stands at a pivotal crossroads. Our education system must play a crucial role in nurturing talent and equipping students with the skills essential for the future. It is our collective responsibility to collaborate and drive the transformation and development of education in Hong Kong. Together, let us work to forge a brighter future for our children, cultivating the talents that will benefit society and contribute to the prosperity and stability of both Hong Kong and our nation.”

EdUHK President Professor John Lee Chi-Kin remarked, “Looking to the future of education, we continue to emphasise the profound importance of “Education Talent Virtue” (育才弘教 立德樹人). This includes essential educational topics such as national security, Chinese culture, artificial intelligence, professional ethics and new media. We serve a diverse group of individuals, and it is vital that everyone, not just teachers, cultivates personal virtue. Moral education is the foundation of Chinese culture, and “cultivating students” (樹人) means that teachers nurture students through moral development. Education must promote this concept using a variety of approaches, methods, and frameworks. As a publicly-funded university, EdUHK should leverage its unique position to lead the future of education.”

The Summit also featured a roundtable discussion led by various distinguished guests, including the Hon Professor Starry Lee Wai-king, a member of the Legislative Council; The Most Revd Andrew Chan Au-ming, Archbishop and Primate of Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui; Ms Lee Yi-ying, Chairman of the Hong Kong Subsidized Secondary Schools Council; Ms Kathy Chung Lai-kam, Chairperson of the Hong Kong Aided Primary School Heads Association; and Professor Kong Siu-cheung, Research Chair Professor at the Department of Mathematics and Information Technology and Director of the Artificial Intelligence and Digital Competency Education Centre at EdUHK. They explored how Hong Kong education can respond to the rapidly changing social demands and align with national development from various perspectives, including education policy, school leadership, technological development, and student growth.

In the concluding remarks of the roundtable discussion, Professor May Cheng May-hung, Vice President (Academic) of EdUHK, stated, “EdUHK is dedicated to fostering strong connections with educational organisations to enhance the quality of education in Hong Kong. School sponsoring bodies, school councils, and school principals’ associations are essential stakeholders in this endeavor, providing invaluable support in teacher education that empowers EdUHK to nurture generations of exceptional educators. Looking ahead, the skills students must develop will go beyond traditional subject knowledge. To cultivate students’ confidence in facing future challenges, we must draw upon the collective support and collaboration of all sectors. In today’s rapidly changing landscape, the partnership between EdUHK and various organisations is more crucial than ever.”

Third SSBs Forum and Signing Ceremony of Collaborative Agreement 2017-11-21

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The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) today (21 November) signed a collaborative agreement with 14 local school sponsoring bodies (SSBs), 11 of which were existing partners renewing agreements, while other three are new partners. These SSBs sponsor one-third of the schools in Hong Kong.

Officiating at the signing ceremony was Mr Tim Lui Tim-leung, Chairman of the Education Commission. Other participants at the event included Professor Stephen Cheung Yan-leung, President of EdUHK; Mrs Michelle Wong Yau Wai-ching, Deputy Secretary for Education of the Education Bureau; Mr Timothy Ha Wing-ho, Chairman of the Hong Kong Association of Sponsoring Bodies of Schools; Mr Peter Lau Chiu-yin, Episcopal Delegate for Education of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong; The Reverend Canon Peter Douglas Koon, Provincial Secretary General of Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui; Mr Chan Shiu-choy, Director of Education Services of the Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China; Dr Alan Lee Yuk-lun, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tung Wah Group of Hospitals; Miss Abbie Chan Sai-kit, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Po Leung Kuk; Ven Yin Chi, Hon Secretary and Chairperson of Education Committee of the Hong Kong Buddhist Association; The Reverend Kan Kei-piu, Head of the School Education Division of the Methodist Church, Hong Kong; Miss Christina Lee Oi-ping, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Yan Oi Tong; Mr Henry Tong Sau-chai, Head of the Education Services Department of the Hong Kong Taoist Association; Mrs Brenda Wong, Vice-Chairman of the Education Executive Committee of the Hong Chi Association; Mr Yee Shui-yew, Head of School Education Department of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong; Mr Chan Wai-cheung, Chairman of the Trustees of Kowloon Tong Church of the Chinese Christian and Missionary Alliance; Dr Paul Lau Wai-keen, Chairman of the Education Committee of Caritas Hong Kong; and Lieut-Colonel Ian Swan, Officer Commanding for The Salvation Army.

Under the agreement, EdUHK and its partner SSBs will collaborate in different areas, including setting up scholarships for secondary students who aspire to become prospective teachers; organising professional development programmes for teachers from the schools of these SSBs; arranging teaching practicum opportunities in different schools for preservice teachers; and co-organising various education conferences, seminars and educational events. This collaboration will generate opportunities for EdUHK, the SSBs and other parts of the education sector to exchange experience, benefiting the next generation and the development of local education.

Addressing the ceremony, Professor Stephen Cheung said that religious groups and charity organisations were both important school sponsoring bodies in Hong Kong, leading the way in and enhancing the development of local education. “The University has developed close ties with local SSBs, primary schools and kindergartens since The Hong Kong Institute of Education era,” he said. “And our common goals and passion for enhancing local education remain the same.”

“Although each of us comes from a different background, it does not change the fact that the growth of our children and teenagers is our top priority, and we have devoted ourselves to promoting quality education and contributing to Hong Kong society and our next generation,” he added.

A forum titled “The Establishment of School Leadership and Team Capacity” was held after the ceremony. The topics included SSBs, incorporated management committees, and the leadership, interaction and relations of supervisors and principals. Leaders of the SSBs and scholars from the education sector explored key topics in keynote speeches and discussion sessions, titled “The Enhancement of the Interaction and Relations between SSBs and Incorporated Management Committees”, and “The Leadership of Supervisors and Building of School Management Team”.

Mr Wong Kwok-kong, Vice Head of the School Education Department of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong, explored the effectiveness of the long-established Incorporated Management Committee system, explaining that SSBs, as a close partner of the Education Bureau, played a highly important role in Hong Kong’s basic education system. Other SSB representatives discussed how the role of SSBs had changed from supervising school operations to advising, and from monitoring school development to providing professional support. It is hoped that under the current school-based management system, these incorporated management committees will optimise the effectiveness of school management by seeking professional support from specialists in different areas.

Another speaker, Mr Henry Tong Sau-chai, Head of Education Service Department of the Hong Kong Taoist Association, pointed out that School Supervisors and Principals should have distinctive division of roles. School Supervisors will develop school policies based on the mission and vision of the School Sponsoring Body, whilst Principals are responsible for the execution and administration of the policies on a daily operation level. In order to build an effective team of School Managers, he said School Supervisors should share a common vision and nurture a sense of belonging among the team. School Supervisors and Managers should be knowledgeable about the education profession and keep themselves up to date, in order to fully function and support school development.

HKIEd and Eight School Sponsoring Bodies Groom Youngsters and Professional Teachers 2014-05-16

The Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd) has joined forces with eight major school sponsoring bodies to further school-based support for schools and teachers, determined to groom youngsters and professional teachers with new collaborative agreements.

The agreements between HKIEd and the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui, The Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, Po Leung Kuk, The Methodist Church, Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Buddhist Association and Yan Oi Tong will be wide-ranging, including the provision of professional development programmes for in-service teachers, collaboration in co-organising major events and conferences, as well as setting up special scholarships with some school sponosoring bodies for students nominated by school principals, who wish to pursue careers in education.

Professor Stephen Cheung Yan-leung, HKIEd President, said that forging close partnerships with local schools has long been HKIEd’s major thrust. “The scope of cooperation under the new agreements is much more comprehensive than previous collaborations. By bringing together the professionalism and joint aspiration for better education, we are determined to further promote education advancement in Hong Kong,” he added.

Mr Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, Under Secretary for Education, Education Bureau, officiated at the signing ceremony today (16 May). Representatives from HKIEd and the school sponsoring bodies included Professor Stephen Cheung Yan-leung, HKIEd President; Sister Cecilia Wong, Episcopal Delegate for Education, Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong; the Revd Peter Douglas Koon, Provincial Secretary General, Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui; Dr Yu Huen, Director of Education Services, Education Services Department, The Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China; Mr Ivan Sze Wing-hang, Chairman, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals; Ms Angela Leong On-kei, Chairman, Po Leung Kuk; Rev Paul Kan Kei-piu, Head of School Education Division, The Methodist Church, Hong Kong; Mr Lai Sze-nuen, Vice-President, The Hong Kong Buddhist Association; and Ms Jenny Ng Ming-chun, Chairman, Yan Oi Tong. The eight organisations together sponsor a third of Hong Kong’s schools.

As HKIEd transforms into a multidisciplinary and research strong University of Education, it is actively promoting innovation and research in teaching and learning. It is also striving to contribute to improving teaching methods, enhancing teacher quality and advancing teaching and learning through deep collaboration with sponsoring bodies, to realise its potential to better meet educational needs in both Hong Kong and beyond.

Under the new collaborative framework, HKIEd will, according to the specific needs of its partner organisations and schools and on the basis of mutual agreement, tailor viable strategies and provide support in the fields of curriculum development, training workshops and consultation services to enhance the quality of teaching.

The Institute will strengthen collaboration with partner schools in the areas of field experience and the co-organisation of conferences and academic seminars on the sharing of teaching and learning experiences. The fruitful results of these projects will be shared with other schools and organisations to further promote collaboration.

Also of significance will be scholarships established by HKIEd open to outstanding students who want to join the teaching profession and have been nominated by school principals from the partner school sponsoring bodies.

HKIEd has joined forces with eight major school sponsoring bodies to further school-based support for schools and teachers, determined to groom youngsters and professional teachers with new collaborative agreements.
(from the left):
Professor Cheng Yin-cheong, Vice President (Research and Development), HKIEd
Professor John Lee Chi-kin, Vice President (Academic), HKIEd
Mr Ivan Sze Wing-hang, Chairman, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals
the Revd Peter Douglas Koon, Provincial Secretary General, Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui
Ms Jenny Ng Ming-chun, Chairman, Yan Oi Tong
Mr Lai Sze-nuen, Vice-President, The Hong Kong Buddhist Association
Professor Stephen Cheung Yan-leung, HKIEd President
Mr Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, Under Secretary for Education, Education Bureau
Sister Cecilia Wong, Episcopal Delegate for Education, Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong
Dr Yu Huen, Director of Education Services, Education Services Department, The Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China; Ms Angela Leong On-kei, Chairman, Po Leung Kuk
Rev Paul Kan Kei-piu, Head of School Education Division, The Methodist Church, Hong Kong
Mr Chris Mong, Vice President (Administration)
Dr Christina Yu Wai-mui, Director of School Partnership and Field Experience Office, HKIEd

Professor Stephen Cheung Yan-leung, HKIEd President, says that forging close partnerships with local schools has long been HKIEd’s major thrust. The scope of cooperation under the new agreements is much more comprehensive than previous collaborations.

Mr Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, Under Secretary for Education, Education Bureau, officiates at the signing ceremony between HKIEd and eight school sponsoring bodies.