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The Under Secretary for Education, Mr Kenneth Chen, today (March 13) arrived in London for a four-day visit in the United Kingdom to promote Hong Kong as a regional education hub.
Mr Chen is leading a higher education delegation to strengthen ties with the UK education sector and to publicise Hong Kong's initiatives to further internationalise and diversify the higher education sector. He will be joined by the Secretary-General of the University Grants Committee, Dr Richard Armour, and the heads of eight higher education institutions in Hong Kong or their representatives, namely President and Vice-Chancellor of Hong Kong Baptist University, Professor Albert Chan; President of Lingnan University, Professor Yuk-shee Chan; Vice-Chancellor and President of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Joseph Sung; President of the Hong Kong Institute of Education, Professor Anthony Cheung; President of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Professor Timothy Tong; Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Hong Kong, Professor Lap-chee Tsui; Provost of City University of Hong Kong, Professor Arthur Ellis; and Provost of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Professor Wei Shyy.
In London, Mr Chen will participate in the Going Global Conference 2012, an international higher education conference, and meet the UK's Minister of State for Universities and Science, Mr David Willetts. He will also have round-table meetings with representatives from Scottish and UK universities to exchange views on trends and challenges in the higher education sector and to explore collaboration opportunities. He will take the opportunity to visit some higher education institutions in London, including the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, University of the Arts London and the Sothebyˇ¦s Institute of Art.
As a follow up to the Chief Executive's visit to Scotland in September 2011, Mr Chen will also visit Scotland, where he will witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on the Development of Qualifications Framework with the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership. This is the first memorandum of understanding to be signed by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government with overseas jurisdictions on the development of the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework. It signifies a key milestone in the development of both the qualifications framework and lifelong learning in Hong Kong.
He will also meet the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Mr Michael Russell, to give an update on Hong Kong's latest developments in the education sector and to strengthen ties on education exchange and collaboration. He will also meet community leaders and students from Hong Kong.
Ends/Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:12
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