The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) announced today (March 19) that training courses under a new round of the Enriched Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Training Programme for the Elderly (the Programme) is open for enrolment progressively from this month onwards. The Programme encourages elderly persons to learn digital technologies remotely during the epidemic to help them adapt to the “new normal” which has been increasingly digitalised.
 
     The OGCIO has earlier engaged 11 Elder Academies (EAs) through open invitation to implement the Programme in the coming two years. Training courses are free-of-charge and targeted for elderly persons having basic ICT knowledge aged 60 or above. The courses cover various topics on day-to-day ICT applications including smart healthcare, online shopping, mobile payment, e-wallet and cyber security, as well as usage of digital government services such as the "iAM Smart" mobile app, the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile app, the "Hong Kong Health Code" system and the use of "Vaccine Pass". The EAs will also invite youth volunteers to serve as teaching assistants and exchange their experience with the elderly on digital living, thereby promoting intergenerational harmony.
 
     "The first round of the Programme launched by the OGCIO in 2019 received enthusiastic responses, with around 3 300 elderly persons participated in over 100 free advanced training courses provided by 11 EAs. Adoption of digital technologies can help the elderly stay connected with the society during the epidemic and promote digital inclusion. We hope that the new round of the Programme can help more elderly persons enhance their skills and interests on digital technologies, and encourage them to live out the spirit of lifelong learning," a spokesman for the OGCIO said.
      
     The 11 EAs joining the new round of the Programme are located across the territory. They are:
 

Region	Elder Academy joining the Enriched ICT Training Programme
Hong Kong Island	Aldrich Bay Government Primary School Hong Kong Women Foundation Neighborhood Elderly Centre Elder Academy Caritas Wu Cheng-chung Secondary School Elder Academy Hong Kong Island Elder Academies Cluster
Kowloon	Institute of Active Ageing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University LST YKH & Buddhist HWCP Innovation Elder Academy
New Territories	Ching Wah Elder Academy Elder Academy at Hong Kong Metropolitan University LingnanU Elder Academy New Territories West Elder Academies Cluster Pui Shing Elder Academy TMhope Elder Academy (Also providing courses in Kowloon region)

 
     Details about the Programme and enrolment are available at www.e100.hk.

Ends/Saturday, March 19, 2022
Issued at HKT 11:00

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