In view of the recent developments of the COVID-19 epidemic, the Education Bureau (EDB) conducted the Life Planning Education Conference 2020 on Fostering Life Planning through Creativity and Innovation live online today (November 13). More than 1 100 education practitioners and partners of the Business-School Partnership Programme (BSPP) joined the conference to discuss experience with a view to enhancing their professional capacity in life planning education.
Speaking at the opening of the conference, the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, said that the Government has been actively promoting life planning education in recent years and implementing a series of measures, including providing additional resources and enhancing professional teacher training and online resources, in order to help students better understand their interests, abilities and aspirations.
He pointed out that the Government would take forward more actively the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and strengthen work with Shenzhen in developing an international innovation and technology hub. He expressed the hope that young people in Hong Kong could open their eyes to the neighbouring cities and seize the distinctive opportunities brought about by Hong Kong's integration into the country's overall development to unleash their potential.
The EDB has been collaborating with business corporations and community organisations through the BSPP to provide a wide range of career exploration activities to students. These activities helped equip students with information about different industries, as well as led them out of the classroom and enabled them to cope with the opportunities and challenges arising from the development of society. Since the 2014/15 school year, the BSPP has organised over 5 900 activities, benefiting more than 1.17 million students. Among them, about 500 career exploration activities are related to creativity and innovation, covering various industries.
The keynote speakers of the conference included the Deputy General Manager, Commercialisation Leader and Principal Consultant of the Hong Kong Productivity Council, Mr Raymond Shan; the Founder of Asia Interactive Content Holdings Limited, Mr Rono Kwong; and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Design and Environment of the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong Dr Benson Cheung. They spoke on their experiences in the application of innovative thinking and the development of creative industries. This year, a life planning forum, hosted by the Vice-Chairperson of the Hong Kong Association of Careers Masters and Guidance Masters, Mr Joseph Tsang, was added to further engage the keynote speakers in an in-depth discussion about the theme of the conference from the perspective of life planning education. A number of sharing sessions were also arranged in the afternoon for participants to talk about their practical experience and exchange views on implementing life planning education.
With professionals and scholars sharing their views and experience on the application of innovative thinking and the development of creative industries, education practitioners could better assist students in acquiring the knowledge, skills and attitudes related to life planning, enabling them to seize opportunities in the future.
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