To enhance primary and secondary students' understanding of smart city and their interest in studying further about the subject, the Education Bureau has organised the Smart City Project Programme 2017/18 with 21 organisations, including government departments, universities, professional associations and non-government organisations, serving as supporting groups.
      
     At the launching ceremony and briefing session today (November 20), the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, said that it is now a global trend for modern cities to move towards becoming smart cities, and it is necessary to grasp the opportunities to develop Hong Kong into a world-class smart city. Through the application of innovative technology, the management efficiency of Hong Kong can be enhanced to face future challenges, to facilitate sustainable development and to improve the living quality of citizens, turning Hong Kong into a more liveable city.
      
     He added that the Programme helps students integrate and apply the knowledge and skills acquired from the school curriculum, in particular from STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education and suggest innovative ways to realise the ideas of smart city in the development of their home, school, community and city environment.
      
     Mr Yeung said he expected that the Programme could enhance the understanding of primary and secondary students of smart city, and promote their interest in studying further about the subject. It is also hoped that the Programme can cultivate students' STEM talents to suit the future needs and development of Hong Kong. This can definitely help maintain the competitive advantages of Hong Kong and contribute to the future development of Hong Kong into an international world-class smart city, he added.
      
     The Programme consists of three categories: primary (Primary Four to Primary Six), junior secondary (Secondary One to Secondary Three) and senior secondary (Secondary Four to Secondary Six). To join the Programme, students are invited to conduct project studies on smart city. The Programme mainly includes a project exhibition, supplemented by a series of events including study trips to smart cities, day camps and summer camps on STEM education for students, as well as seminars, workshops and visits for both teachers and students. Teams with projects awarded as "commendable" and "outstanding" will be invited to join the project exhibition scheduled for early July 2018.
      
     The Programme has solicited support from various organisations, namely the Innovation and Technology Bureau; the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department; the Planning Department; the Energizing Kowloon East Office of the Development Bureau; the University of Hong Kong; the City University of Hong Kong; the Chinese University of Hong Kong; the Education University of Hong Kong; the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; the Hong Kong Polytechnic University; the Hong Kong Green Building Council; the Smart City Consortium; the Hong Kong Housing Society; WWF-Hong Kong; the Association of IT Leaders in Education; the Hong Kong Association for Computer Education; the Hong Kong Association for Science and Mathematics Education; the Hong Kong Geographical Association; ESRI (China) HK Ltd; the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation; and Microsoft Hong Kong.
      
     Details of the Programme can be found at the following website:
www.edb.gov.hk/tc/curriculum-development/kla/pshe/smart_city_project/index.html.

Ends/Monday, November 20, 2017
Issued at HKT 16:02

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