STEAM Education Fair 2022 equips students with abilities to meet innovation challenges (with photos)
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     The Education Bureau (EDB) launches from today (November 26) until January 31 next year the virtual STEAM Education Fair 2022 with the theme "Inspiring Creativity • Promoting Innovation". The event was held in line with the promotion of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) education as outlined in "The Chief Executive's 2022 Policy Address".

     Officiating at the opening ceremony, the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, said that the country attaches great importance to the development of innovation and technology (I&T) in Hong Kong. In line with the development of Hong Kong into an international I&T hub, emphasis should be put on nurturing versatile talent and equipping students with the capability to meet the changes and challenges brought about by rapid scientific and technological development.

     Dr Choi said that the school exhibits at the fair could showcase students' application of scientific and technological knowledge through creative thinking to construct innovative solutions to problems. These solutions not only help achieve goals such as a caring society and sustainable social development, but also demonstrate how students empathise with and help people who are in need. This fully manifests EDB's policy on promoting STEAM education with a view to fostering positive values and attitudes as well as entrepreneurial spirit in students.

     The EDB urges schools to press ahead with the implementation of STEAM education within and beyond the classroom. By creating a STEAM learning atmosphere through diversified learning activities and scouting and developing talent with potential in I&T, it is hoped that opportunities can be created for students with I&T-related talent to realise their potential.

     Organised by the EDB, the fair is supported by 30 organisations including State Key Laboratories, post-secondary institutions, school councils, professional bodies, non-governmental organisations and other government departments. The "Online Activity" of the fair includes exhibitions from more than 70 local primary and secondary schools, as well as two schools from Shenzhen Municipality, with themes such as "Automation design", "Artificial intelligence", "Big data", "Sustainable development", "Smart living". Eleven seminars and five workshops, covering I&T-related areas including agricultural technology, applications of information systems, as well as art technology, are also offered to enrich students' understanding of I&T.

     Officiating guests at the ceremony today also included Sir Sze-yuen Chung Professor in Precision Engineering of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Professor Yung Kai-leung; Choh-Ming Li Professor of Life Sciences of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Lam Hon-ming; the Chairperson of the Curriculum Development Council Standing Committee on STEAM Education, Professor Ng Tai-kai; and the Museum Director of Hong Kong Science Museum, Mr Lee Wai-kwan.

     Both Professor Yung and Professor Lam delivered keynote speeches on their respective areas of expertise at the ceremony while Mr Huang Ai-hua from the Shenzhen Institute of Education Sciences shared via a recorded video on the development of STEAM education in the municipality.

     The EDB will continue to step up the promotion of STEAM education "for all", "for fun" and "for diversity" in primary and secondary schools as stipulated in the Policy Address. The bureau is strengthening the learning of I&T for all and optimising school curricula at both primary and secondary levels, with a view to enabling students to learn I&T in a more systematic manner, cultivating their interest and ability in science and I&T learning and building in them a solid knowledge foundation in science, mathematics and technology from an early age.

     The EDB has issued a circular memorandum informing all schools to encourage teachers, students and parents to visit STEAM Education Fair 2022 (www.steamedufair22.hk). Please refer to EDB Circular Memorandum No. 188/2022 (applications.edb.gov.hk/circular/upload/EDBCM/EDBCM22188E.pdf) for details.
     

Ends/Saturday, November 26, 2022
Issued at HKT 11:00

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