|
2019
December 2019
The 12th Policy Dialogue Forum of the Teacher Task Force
The 12th Policy Dialogue Forum of the Teacher Task Force was co-organised by The Ministry of Education of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030 at UNESCO in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) from 8-11 December 2019.
The Policy Dialogue Forum set out to bring together around 300 key education stakeholders from around the world to reflect on current teaching policies and practices and discussed visions of teaching and learning that responded to the challenges of the 21st century. The theme of this year’s Forum was “The Futures of Teaching”, which sought to capture emerging trends and challenges, and provided evidence to support Member States and organisations as they strived to achieve the sustainable development goal on teachers and the whole Education 2030 Agenda.
(From left to right) Dean Professor Fahad S. Al-Shaya King of Saud University; Professor John Lee of EdUHK; Dr Datin Bushro Binti Ali, Selangor, Malaysia; Asso Professor Vong Deuan, OSAY Deputy Director General, Department of Teacher Education, Ministry of Education and Sports, Lao at the 12th Policy Dialogue Forum of the Teacher Task Force.
November 2019
Visit to the UNESCO Bangkok Office
The Chair paid a visit to the UNESCO Bangkok Office on 27 November 2019 to meet Mr Shigeru Aoyagi, UNESCO Bangkok Diector and Mr Libang Wang, Chief of Section for Educational Innovations and Skills Development (EISD) and Senior Programme Specialist in Higher Education.
A short presentation about the Chair’s support to the Sustainable Development Goals of UNESCO and some current projects and movements of the activities and events supported by UNESCO Chair in Regional Education Development and Lifelong Learning at EdUHK was given at the meeting. The discussion ranged over the work of the UNESCO Bangkok Office and the many ways EdUHK and UNESCO can work together possibly in collaboration with UNESCO Beijing Cluster Office and National Commission of the People's Republic of China for UNESCO under the Ministry of Education, People’s Republic of China. A particular focus was UNESCO’s Futures of Education initiative “a global initiative to reimagine how knowledge and learning can shape the future of humanity and the planet”.
More collaborative opportunities would be further explored with UNESCO Bangkok and Mr Libing Wang as well as UNESCO Beijing Cluster Office and National Commission of the People's Republic of China for UNESCO in the future to place impact not just educationally, but in the betterment of lives of people for the People’s Republic of China and throughout the region.
Meeting with Mr Libang Wang (left) and Mr Shigeru Aoyagi (second right) at the UNESCO Bangkok Office.
Academic Workshop: Confronting Inequality and Social Exclusion
The academic workshop was held from 9 to 11 November, 2019. The three-day workshop was co-hosted by the Department of Asian and Policy Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong and Justice Centre Hong Kong (“Justice Centre”). It was sponsored by The Faculty of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, the UNESCO Chair in Regional Education Development and Lifelong Learning, The Education University of Hong Kong.
The workshop, Confronting Inequality and Social Exclusion in Hong Kong sought to draw from international expertise and invigorate regional dialogue to create mutually beneficial discussions on policymaking and advocacy to manage inequality in Hong Kong.
Please visit https://www.facebook.com/events/913488878985825/ for more information.
July - August 2019
16th International Geography Olympiad (iGeo)
The International Geography Olympiad (iGeo) is an annual competition for the best 16 to 19 year old geography students from all over the world. Students chosen to represent their countries are the very best, chosen from thousands of students who participate enthusiastically in their own National Geography Olympiads. The iGeo consists of three parts: a written test, a multimedia test and substantial fieldwork requiring observation, leading to cartographic representation and geographical analysis. The programme also includes poster presentations by teams, cultural exchanges, and time for students to get to know their fellow students and explore the host city. (cited from The INTERNATIONAL GEOGRAPHY OLYMPIAD)
The 2019 iGeo was held in Hong Kong from 30 July to 5 August, 2019. The theme was “Discovering a vibrant city for our smart future”. The event was organized by The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) and was co-organised by the local organising committee and Hong Kong Geographical Association. For more information, please visit https://www.eduhk.hk/igeo2019/#organizers_the .
July 2019
Hong Kong’s First Ever International Geography Olympiad
The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) held today (31 July) the opening ceremony for the International Geography Olympiad (iGeo), an annual event intended to arouse interest in geographical and environmental studies among the young people around the world. The seven-day event, organised by the Department of Social Sciences of EdUHK, is being held in Hong Kong for the first time.
The Olympiad has brought together 166 top geography students and over 80 education practitioners from 43 countries. At the Olympiad, students will showcase their map, inquiry and graphicacy skills in the component tests to compete for top honours.
The theme of this year’s Olympiad is ‘Discovering a vibrant city for our smart future’. A Chinese couplet, “Familiarising astronomy and Understanding geography; Knowing seven continents and Learning five oceans”, was written to convey the best wishes for iGeo 2019.
The 16th International Geography Olympiad is co-organised by the local organising committee and Hong Kong Geographical Association. Key members of the local organizing committee include Professor John Lee Chi-kin, Dr Alice Chow Sin-yin, Dr Irene Cheng Nga-yee, Dr Lewis Cheung Ting-on and Dr Lincoln Fok. For event details, please visit https://www.eduhk.hk/igeo2019/
(Source: EdUHK Press Release)
June 2019
Press Conference of Life Education and Citizen Science through Tree Protection and Conservation project
At a press conference today (24 June), The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) announced the commencement of a two-year project, titled Life Education and Citizen Science through Tree Protection and Conservation. The project aims to develop a platform for the community to contribute to the greening and re-greening in Hong Kong to raise public awareness of tree conservation and to promote the importance of Life Education.
Speaking at the press conference, Professor Lee said, “Under the extreme weather in recent years, the formation of super typhoons has caused severe damage to our green landscape. With the aim of addressing the UNESCO Sustainable Development Goals, our project places paramount importance on preserving urban forests and trees, and engages citizens to join hands and learn about urban trees and people–nature interactions through the environmental perspective of life education.”
The project will be implemented in two phases: (i) the development of a mobile app, and (ii) development of teaching and learning materials. The mobile app will be developed to facilitate citizens’ and students’ learning of visual tree assessment and will include a platform for users to upload tree assessment results and photographs. Following the first phase, teaching materials will be developed to engage EdUHK students and students from six local primary and secondary seed schools in tree assessment through fieldwork and learn about the importance of tree conservation through their related school subjects.
The two-year Life Education and Citizen Science through Tree Protection and Conservation project was announced on 24 June 2019.
(Source: EdUHK Press Release)
May 2019
Announcement of UNESCO Chair’s appointment
The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) held a ceremony on 2 May 2019 to celebrate the third appointment of the UNESCO Chair. The appointment, first awarded to EdUHK in 2011, has been renewed for another four-year term, and has been renamed the UNESCO Chair in Regional Education Development and Lifelong Learning.
Addressing the ceremony, Vice President (Research and Development) Professor Lui Tai-lok said, “EdUHK has long championed the nurturing of professional educators through innovative learning and teaching, in addition to advocating education for all across the region. With this re-appointment, I have every confidence that the new UNESCO Chair will develop a broader network with other UNESCO Chairs and institutions to maximise synergy for the benefit of Hong Kong society and beyond in the long run.”
On the occasion, Professor Lee outlined the major focal points over the coming four years of appointment, including support for UNESCO’s Sustainable Development Goals, the development of 21st century skills and positive values, capacity building across education sectors, and technical and vocational education and training (TVET). Other UNESCO priorities and strategies, including life and values education, environmental education and intercultural education, will be involved as well.
(Source: EdUHK Press Release)
Links to media:
Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre (京港學術交流中心)
EdUHK Press Release
Hong Kong Tertiary Student Group (香港專上學生協進會)
Hong Kong Tutors’ Association (香港導師會)
Sina (新浪)
SingTaoDaily (星島日報)
WenWeiPo (文匯報)
April 2019
Visit to the UNESCO Beijing Cluster Office and the National Commission of China for UNESCO
With the aim of expanding the impact on Hong Kong and other regions, the Chair presented his four-year work plan in meetings on 29 April 2019 in Beijing with the Director, Dr Marielza Oliveira, and Programme Specialist for Education, Mr Robert Parua, of UNESCO Beijing Cluster Office and the Secretary General of National Commission of the People’s Republic of China for UNESCO, Mr Qin Changwei, respectively. The Chair will continue to strengthen connections with other UNESCO Chairs, as well as local and international institutions, to facilitate collaboration in research, projects, publications and other activities, such as seminars and student internship scheme.
March 2019
Open Lecture: Interreligious Dialogue and Peacebuilding in Multicultural City with Professor Gordon Mitchell, University of Hamburg
Prof. Gordon Mitchell is the incumbent Professor for Religion and Intercultural Education in the University of Hamburg and is an expert in religious education, and an influential researcher in the field of religion in public education and creative arts in peace education, as well as cross-cultural and interreligious dialogue. Invited by Centre for Religious and Spirituality Education, Professor Gordon Mitchell visited EdUHK from 26 to 28 March 2019. During his visit, Professor Mitchell delivered an Open Lecture on 27 March 2019 and provided one-on-one consultations on 28 March 2019 to our colleagues and postgraduate students. The Open Lecture was well received by the attending students.
February 2019
Prof Bob Adamson retires as UNESCO Chair
With the second UNESCO Chair term of office coming to a close in early 2019, Prof Bob Adamson has announced his retirement from the position. A new announcement about future arrangements will be made shortly. | 
