The Vocational Training Council (VTC) organised the STEM Education Day 2018 along with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Signing Ceremony on the Industry Partner Collaboration Scheme for the VTC STEM Education Centre on 18 April. Over a dozen major enterprises and institutions will enter into collaboration with VTC to nurture interest in learning STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) among the younger generation. The VTC STEM Education Centre will co-work with the industry on STEM projects and recruit industry professionals to join “Train the Trainer” coaching scheme for promoting STEM learning.

Under Secretary for Education Dr CHOI Yuk-lin officiated at the ceremony and witnessed the signing of the MoU. VTC Chairman Dr Roy CHUNG said, “VTC established STEM Education Centres in its member institutions, the Tsing Yi and Chai Wan campuses of the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE) and Youth College (Kowloon Bay) in May last year to echo with the strategic development plan of the HKSAR government. Through interdisciplinary collaborations integrating knowledges of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, the centre reinforces the knowledge base of STEM subjects for VTC and secondary school students. It nurtures more professional talent with innovative and technological thinking for the industry.”

During the event, VTC Deputy Executive Director and the Chairman of Organising Committee of VTC STEM Education Centre Dr Eric LIU Sai-lok signed the MoU on the Industry Partner Collaboration Scheme for VTC STEM Education Centre with 18 institutions and establishments. In the future, VTC will actively collaborate with industry to undertake interdisciplinary projects which nurture interest in learning STEM subjects among the younger generation and train more STEM talent for the future. Further, the Centre will invite industry veterans to be STEM Ambassadors who will join “Train the Trainer” coaching scheme this year to subsequently lead secondary school students in STEM-related activities and workshops.

VTC STEM Education Centres are equipped with advanced facilities to provide VTC students with simulated workplace training. They also showcase scientific and technological projects undertaken by VTC students in collaboration with industry. To further promote STEM in the school sector and the community, and encourage students to exercise their creativity and ability to explore, STEM-related activities are organised from time to time. The VTC STEM Education Centre will roll out a series of activities including workshops on Food Science and Innovative Food, Internet of Things (IoT) Technology Exploration and Augmented Reality (AR) Exploration, summer camps tailored for secondary school students, the Hong Kong Secondary Innovation and Technology Competition 2018, and the 20th Hong Kong Robotic Olympiad 2018. These activities promote to all innovative technologies pertaining to the IoT, robotics and the smart city to the young people. The Centre will also provide training for teachers to strengthen their STEM-related teaching skills.

VTC and secondary school students and industry representatives, having taken part in the activities, told of their experiences at the STEM Education Day held today. Students of Queen Elizabeth School said that, through the workshop, they learnt about the assembly of mini cars and the writing of software programmes, which they then shared with their fellow students in a workshop, so letting more people enjoy the fun of STEM.

List of Industry Partners on the Scheme
1.   Hong Kong International Aviation Academy, Airport Authority Hong Kong
2.   CLP Power Hong Kong Limited
3.   Gammon Construction Limited
4.   Hong Kong International Terminals Limited
5.   HP Inc Hong Kong Limited
6.   Inchcape Hong Kong Limited
7.   Maxim's Caterers Limited
8.   Microsoft Hong Kong Limited
9.   MTR Corporation Limited
10. Siemens Limited
11. The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited
12. Hong Kong Electronics & Technologies Association
13. Hong Kong Electronics Industry Council, Federation of Hong Kong Industries
14. The Hong Kong Food Council
15. Hong Kong Computer Society
16. The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers
17. The Institution of Engineering and Technology Hong Kong
18. Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Hong Kong Branch

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