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The Secretary for Education, Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim, today (March 27, Vancouver time) began his duty visit to Canada, calling on a local official and university presidents to exchange views on education-related issues.
Mr Ng first met with the Canadian Federal Minister of State for Seniors, Mrs Alice Wong, who was the first Chinese-Canadian woman to serve in Cabinet. Mrs Wong is very familiar with education. She graduated from a teachers' college and once served as a college lecturer in Hong Kong before migrating to Canada. They exchanged views on issues of mutual concern, including vocational education and multiple pathways for students.
Afterwards, Mr Ng visited the University of British Columbia (UBC), which is a renowned public research university in Canada, and met with its President, Professor Arvind Gupta.
Mr Ng was pleased to learn that Professor Gupta will visit China early next month to deepen international partnerships that encompass research, teaching and student learning. He also noted that the UBC is enhancing collaborations with higher education institutions in Hong Kong, including running joint programmes with four universities in Hong Kong.
Mr Ng welcomed the development. He introduced to Professor Gupta the latest developments of higher education in Hong Kong and its role as a regional education hub.
Mr Ng then called at Simon Fraser University where he was briefed by its President, Professor Andrew Petter, on its enhanced connections with institutions in other countries and regions, including Hong Kong. Noting that the university has put its emphasis on internationalisation, Mr Ng looked forward to more opportunities for international collaborations between higher education institutions in Hong Kong and Canada, including student exchange programmes.
During his visit to the two universities, Mr Ng took the opportunity to meet and chat with dozens of students from Hong Kong. He encouraged them to come back to Hong Kong for career development upon their graduation, especially when Hong Kong is facing serious demographic challenges arising from an ageing population in the coming years.
Mr Ng also met some local businessmen, community leaders and academics with strong links to Hong Hong, updating them on the latest developments in the Special Administrative Region.
Tomorrow Mr Ng will leave for Banff, leading a Hong Kong delegation to participate in the International Summit on the Teaching Profession 2015 and exchange with education ministers from around the world.
Ends/Saturday, March 28, 2015
Issued at HKT 09:46
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