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The Secretary for Education (SED), Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim, leading an education delegation from Hong Kong, continued his duty visit to Berlin yesterday (November 4, Berlin time). He met and exchanged views on vocational education with representatives of the government as well as the commercial and education sectors in Germany.
In the morning, the delegation called on the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Berlin (IHK Berlin). In respect of vocational and further training, IHK Berlin, among other things, provides guidance on all issues in relation to vocational training, assists both companies and trainees throughout the training process, promotes contacts between businesses and schools, strengthens the career orientation of school students via business-school partnership projects, and organises recognised testing and training courses.
Mr Ng agreed with the importance of business-school co-operation to students' life planning and vocational education. He said that the Education Bureau has expanded the Business-School Partnership Programme by increasing the number of activities from 500 in the 2013/14 school year to 750 in the 2014/15 school year. The number of participating companies and non-governmental organisations will increase to 120, whereas the number of students benefitting from the Scheme will rise to over 250,000.
In the afternoon, Mr Ng met with the Parliamentary State Secretary to the German Federal Minister of Education and Research, Mr Thomas Rachel, to exchange views on a variety of education issues.
He also met with the State Secretary of the Berlin Senate Department for Labour, Integration and Women, Mr Boris Velter, on the development of vocational education.
The delegation then visited the ASEA Brown Boveri (ABB) Training Centre. The AAB Training Centre provides training for small and medium-sized enterprises. Currently, some 150 companies have commissioned the Centre to train their apprentices in various occupational groups, such as electronic and mechanic technicians. The delegates toured its facilities and spoke with its apprentices.
Afterwards, Mr Ng met at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Berlin with some Hong Kong students who are currently studying in or have graduated from German universities. They discussed their daily life and Mr Ng gave them words of encouragement.
The delegates will continue their duty visit to Berlin today (November 5, Berlin time).
Officials accompanying Mr Ng on the visit to Europe include the Principal Assistant Secretary (Further Education), Ms Pecvin Yong, and the Political Assistant to the SED, Mr Jeff Sze. Also joining the delegation are the Chairman of the Education Commission, Dr Moses Cheng; Deputy Chairman of the Vocational Training Council (VTC) Mr Conrad Wong; and VTC Deputy Executive Director Mr Leung Yam-shing.
Ends/Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Issued at HKT 12:18
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