*********************************
The Secretary for Education, Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim, arrived in Shanghai this afternoon (September 25) for a two-day official visit to the city.
Mr Ng first went to Fudan University, where he met and exchanged views with the management of the university on the development of higher education, including the enhanced academic exchanges and co-operation among tertiary institutions in Hong Kong and on the Mainland.
Mr Ng noted that this year there are some 50 Hong Kong students studying in Fudan University and a similar number of exchange students from Hong Kong. The number of research projects conducted in collaboration with Hong Kong's major universities has exceeded 20.
"The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to implement various measures, including providing subsidies for students to take part in Mainland experience schemes and national competitions, to strengthen the ties of local tertiary institutions and students with their counterparts on the Mainland," he said.
"In addition, the implementation of a new academic structure in Hong Kong, including extending the duration of undergraduate programmes from three years to four years, has facilitated the academic articulation as well as the flow and exchanges of students between Hong Kong and the Mainland."
He said he hoped that the tertiary institutions in Hong Kong and on the Mainland could have closer ties in the future, especially in the areas of personnel exchanges, talent grooming and research co-operation.
During his visit to Fudan University, Mr Ng took the opportunity to meet some Hong Kong students studying in the university. He listened to the students discussing their daily life and aspirations, and gave them words of encouragement.
Mr Ng then went on to meet with the Deputy Director-General of the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, Mr Li Ruiyang, to exchange views on a variety of education issues.
Ends/Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:54
NNNN
