With a mission to promote vocational education, IVE Engineering took part in Worlddidac Asia 2015 as an exhibitor, showcasing an array of engineering technology and diploma available. The international event, which aimed to introduce the latest technology for teaching and learning, attracted more than 100 institutes and enterprises from over 10 countries. Education officials, school administrators and teaching professionals visited the booths of participating institutes, attended seminars and workshops and perhaps more importantly, engaged in inspiring conversations and exchanges with their international counterparts.

Worlddidac Asia took place in Hong Kong for the very first time. The reason why Hong Kong was picked as the hosting city among so many Asian cities was that Hong Kong has tremendous potentials to become a regional education hub, according to Preecha S. Chen, Worlddidac Asia Advisory Board Secretariat.

“The Education Bureau would like to make Hong Kong a centre of excellence in terms of education. We also believe Hong Kong has a role as a bridge to mainland China… and China can use Hong Kong to reach out to the world as well. The ten countries in Southeast Asia have a population so big that Hong Kong has a role to play,” Mr. Chen explained.

Worlddidac Asia does not position itself as a career or education exhibition; it is more about the latest technology and trends in education. “The philosophy of Worlddidac is to promote the use of quality resources and technology to improve the quality of learning and teaching,” Mr. Chen said. “As the world develops, the use of technology, equipment and resources is very helpful to ensure the quality of learning.” The newest laboratories, classrooms and workshops were showcased in Worlddidac 2015, while the use of e-learning software, data tools, educational toys and the likes was also demonstrated – All of them are indispensable facilities and tools to inspire creativity and nurture thinking.

Using SOPHIE IV, the solar vehicle designed and manufactured by IVE Engineering, Mr. Chen illustrated the importance of technology to education: “You can’t build something like this just by table and blackboard.” IVE Engineering’s other exhibits, including a robot that plays badminton, cannot be created without technology.

Preference for academic studies over vocational education is not unique to Hong Kong; it is also prevalent in Asia. But Mr. Chen emphasises the importance of vocational education. “Vocational education is about what you are really good at,” Mr. Chen said. “You can be a Michelin star chef and earn a lot money. You can be a very good fashion designer. It’s about who you are and your talents.”

One of the key events of Worlddidac Asia 2015 was Asia Education Leaders forum, of which speakers including Eddie Ng Hak-Kim, Secretary for Education of Hong Kong SAR Government, Dr Clement Chen Cheng-Jen, Chairman of VTC, Dr Carrie Yau, Executive Director of VTC, Ms. Julia Gillard, Former Prime Minister of Australia, and Michael Wiechert, head of the German Office for International Cooperation in Vocational Education and Training. Mr. Wiechert introduced Germany’s education system, which provides students with an array of choices, including traditional classroom-based learning, vocational and apprentice training. German students are free to pursue their genuine interests, so it is not surprising that academic studies and more career-oriented education are equally popular. The success of the German system is illuminating for education professionals in Hong Kong.

Worlddidac Asia 2015 came to a perfect close this year. It connected IVE Engineering with partners across the globe and provided a platform to promote vocational education. Even though it is a great challenge to trigger a paradigm shift, IVE Engineering will continue its efforts to nurture new generations of young, highly skilled workers for Hong Kong and Asia.