SED attends Education World Forum in UK (with photos)
10.5.2023

The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, attended the Education World Forum in London, the United Kingdom (UK), to deliberate on future education policies together with education officials from different places. On May 10 morning (London time), Dr Choi delivered a speech entitled "Use of Technology in Education" at a keynote session of the Forum, introducing the holistic approach of the Education Bureau (EDB) to support schools and teachers in the application of technologies in teaching. She said that Hong Kong is a small city with high information technology (IT) infrastructure penetration, which helps place it among the world's best in terms of digital competitiveness. She said that the EDB is committed to enhancing the IT infrastructure and teaching resources for schools. Under the technology education curriculum, the EDB is working to promote coding and computational thinking to enhance students' creativity and problem-solving skills, and their ability to apply technology in different aspects of life. She pointed out that the EDB offers professional development programmes for school leaders and teachers, covering the application of technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data. Also, the Bureau has developed the Information Literacy for Hong Kong Students learning framework to foster students' ability and attitude to use information and communication technology ethically and effectively. Subsequently, Dr Choi paid a courtesy call to the Chinese Ambassador to the UK, Mr Zheng Zeguang, and updated him on the latest education developments of Hong Kong. In the afternoon, she visited Queen Mary University of London to learn about its programmes on applied sciences and digital technologies, and explore co-operation opportunities between the University and higher education institutions in Hong Kong. She said that Hong Kong is blessed with world-class tertiary institutions and offers a host of facilitation measures to support non-local students. They are welcome to undertake study and exchange programmes in Hong Kong. Apart from participating in a series of thematic activities of the Forum, Dr Choi met the Minister of Education of Israel, Mr Yoav Kisch; the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr Nurbek Sayasat; and the Minister of Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training of the Government of Pakistan, Mr Rana Tanveer Hussain, in the margins of the Forum to discuss the strengthening of education co-operation and knowledge exchange between Hong Kong and their countries. On May 9 (London time), Dr Choi met the Minister of State in the Department for Education of the UK, Mr Nick Gibb, and the Director for Education and Skills of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Mr Andreas Schleicher, to exchange views on various education issues. She also met representatives of the Cambridge Partnership for Education to understand the institution's experience in supporting enhancement of the quality of education systems. On May 8 (London time), Dr Choi met the Global Technical and Vocational Education & Training Specialist of the Department for Business and Trade of the UK, Mr Jonathan Ledger, and the Chairperson of a vocational education organisation, the UK Skills Partnership, Ms Jane Rexworthy, to learn about the UK's technical and vocational education and training policy, system and curricula and students' development pathways, and to explore potential collaboration on vocational and professional education and training between Hong Kong and the UK in future. Dr Choi will continue her visit in the UK on May 11 and 12 (London time).