International Symposium: Promoting Community Engagement for Vocational and Professional Education and Training is an upcoming symposium organized by UNESCO-UNEVOC Centre (Hong Kong), International Education and Lifelong Learning Department of EdUHK and The PASCAL Observatory. It aims at providing TVET providers in Hong Kong as well as representatives from Glasgow University and University of Catania an opportunity to discuss the importance of community engagement for VPET by reflecting on the findings of the benchmarking research conducted in Hong Kong and several European cities. 

 

The symposium will be held on 15th March 2018 at the Council Chamber, Block A, EdUHK, Hong Kong, Tai Po. For further information, please refer to the poster below.

 

 

 

Programme agenda

 

 

 

 

The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities symposium, co-organized by UNESCO-UNEVOC Centre (Hong Kong) and UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning in Hamburg, will be held on Saturday 12 November 2016. The symposium will initiate discussions about the different facets of Hong Kong as a learning city as well as how to engage Hong Kong with the Global Network of Learning Cities.

 

The Global Network of Learning Cities is an international policy oriented network established by UNESCO. The network supports, and improves, the practice of lifelong learning in the world’s cities by promoting policy dialogue and peer learning among member cities, fostering partnerships, providing capacity development, and developing instruments to encourage and recognize progress made in building learning cities. More than 50 cities, including Shanghai, Hangzhou and Beijing in China, are the members of the network. The network will make an important contribution towards achieving a number of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (‘Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all’) and SDG 11 (‘Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable’).

 

Our UNESCO-UNEVOC Centre (Hong Kong) is committed to the philosophy that a learning city enhances individual empowerment, social inclusion, economic development, cultural prosperity and sustainable development. It helps mobilize resources to promote inclusive learning from basic to higher education; revitalize learning in families and communities; facilitate learning for and in the workplace; extend the use of modern technologies; enhance quality and excellence in learning; and foster a culture of learning throughout life. 

 

This symposium is a significant initiative as it brings together stakeholders who are involved in promoting learning in Hong Kong in different ways. This symposium will be the initial step in engaging different stakeholders in the process of incorporating Hong Kong into this global learning city network. Among the important enablers of this process are a strong political will as well as contributions from many stakeholders, communities and individuals. The coordination of different activities is also crucial to the success of the process.

 

Dr. Chan Ka Ki, Catherine, Deputy Secretary for Education, HKSAR, Mr Raúl Valdés Cotera, The Head of the Learning Cities Global Network from the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, Professor John Lee, Vice President of EdUHK, Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications, British Council, Hong Kong College of Technology, Hang Seng Management College, colleagues from EdUHK and others will be joining us on the day.