The International Symposium on Advances in Technology Education (ISATE) provides a platform for educators from higher education institutions to share their knowledge and experience in practice-based engineering and technology education.

The ISATE started in 2007 as an academic exchange programme between ten colleges under National Institute of Technology, Japan and three polytechnics in Singapore. By 2011, all the other institutions of NIT Japan and five polytechnics from Singapore had joined this international exchange effort as organisers. IVE Engineering Discipline of VTC officially joined to become one of the ISATE Organisers in 2017, helping to expand the scope of ISATE to its present state.

The Discipline had the honour of hosting this important event for the first time in Hong Kong from 18 – 21 September 2018. The official opening ceremony was held on 19 September at the Hong Kong Science Park. Officiating at the ceremony were Dr Sunny Chai, Chairperson of the Directors of Board of the Hong Kong Science Parks Corporation Limited; Dr Isao Taniguchi, President of the National Institute of Technology, Japan; Mr Peter Lam, Principal and CEO of the Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore; Dr Roy Chung, Chairman of VTC; Mrs Carrie Yau, Executive Director of VTC and Ir Dr Eric Liu, Deputy Executive Director of VTC.

Underlining this year’s theme of ‘Nurturing Professionals for Smart Cities: Way Forward for Technology Education’, the four-day programme included four keynotes presentations, eight institutional presentations, around 140 parallel presentations and eight workshops by experts and educators from Australia, China, France, Finland, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, Thailand and the UK. Technical visits to a local sewage treatment works and a factory in Shenzhen, China were arranged for the participants. ISATE 2018 brought together 250 delegates from around the world to share knowledge and experience in hands-on engineering as well as innovative and technology-based teaching methodologies for the advancement of Vocational and Professional Education and Training (VPET).

Aside from facilitating academic exchanges, event participants were also deeply impressed with numerous cultural exchanges. Overall, the symposium fostered innovative idea sharing, cross-cultural exchange and collaborative opportunities. While the ISATE 2018 came to a perfect close, participants are excited for ISATE 2019 which will be held in Tokuyama Japan.

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