Cyberport Institute to groom IT talent
The University of Hong Kong today (June 25) celebrated the inauguration of its Cyberport Institute that will provide market driven programmes to groom IT talent.
The Cyberport Institute of Hong Kong will be housed in the second Cyberport building which will be ready for occupation around the middle of next year.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting, Mrs Carrie Yau, said: "The Cyberport Institute is a key soft infrastructure we have established for the benefit of our future generations. It is also a centrepiece that will make the Cyberport stand out as a breeding ground for IT talent."
In March last year, Mrs Yau's bureau, which has been spearheading the Cyberport project, invited proposals for designing and implementing market driven programmes at the Cyberport.
"Cisco, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Microsoft and Oracle are the first five Founding Industrial Partners. These leading IT companies will contribute to the curriculum development, coursework and job placement of students at the Institute," she said.
"The inauguration of the Cyberport Institute today heralds the start of new university-industry collaboration in developing and delivering postgraduate IT courses to match the manpower needs of industry.
"Students will benefit from upgrading their skills on cutting-edge
IT knowledge as well as gaining professional and academic recognition.
And, our IT companies will enjoy the availability of much-needed talent."
Mrs Yau said the Cyberport was well placed to address market requirements
for IT skills - not only to increase the number of IT people, but to produce
talent to meet the actual requirements of different IT companies.
The Cyberport project is a comprehensive development that will provide a mix of 'intelligent' offices, a range of interesting entertainment and retail services and a 5-star international hotel, all set in a landscaped, low-rise, campus-like environment. Supporting these facilities are state-of-the-art telecommunications and a range of other IT services. The Cyberport will make available a world-class infrastructure for clustering of companies specialising in IT applications, information services, multi-media content creation and related sectors.
The complex, at Telegraph Bay near the University of Hong Kong, is being developed in stages from 2002 to 2004. The first phase building was completed at the end of March and seven companies have signed leases to take up about 80% of the available office space.
The full text of Mrs Yau's speech at the inauguration ceremony follows:
Professor Li, Professor Young, friends from the media, ladies and gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to attend the Inauguration Ceremony of the Cyberport Institute today. This is a very special moment for me as I personally initiated an exercise last year, which has now culminated in the establishment of the Cyberport Institute, right at the Cyberport, by the University of Hong Kong in partnership with some leading IT companies. This is a key soft infrastructure that we have instituted for the benefit of our future generations. It is also a centrepiece which will make the Cyberport stand out as a breeding ground for IT talent.
As we all know, the Cyberport is Hong Kong's IT flagship project. This is a comprehensive development which will provide, in phases between 2002 and 2004, a mix of intelligent offices, a range of interesting entertainment and retail services and a 5-star international hotel, all set in a pleasantly landscaped, low-rise, campus-like environment. Supported by state-of-the-art telecommunications facilities and many useful IT services, the Cyberport will make available a world-class infrastructure for clustering of companies specialising in IT applications, information services, multimedia content creation and related sectors. These like-minded companies will bring with them professionals from all parts of the world. Apart from attracting and retaining professionals, the Cyberport will also be an ideal place to nurture talent.
I firmly believe that the Cyberport is well placed to address market requirements for IT skills - not only to increase the number of IT people, but to produce more talent to meet the actual requirements of different IT companies. In March 2001, I openly invited proposals for designing and implementing some market driven programmes that would help groom talent to support the many IT developments and businesses in Hong Kong. This attracted, among others, a comprehensive proposal from the University of Hong Kong to set up a Cyberport Institute in partnership with some major IT companies. Today we are here to take part in the Inauguration Ceremony of this Cyberport Institute. This is a new institute set up by the University under the able leadership of Professor C F Lee and supported by a range of departments and units of the university, including HKU SPACE led by Professor Young.
I am encouraged by the staunch support given to the Cyberport Institute by Cisco, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Microsoft and Oracle. These five companies are the first Founding Industrial Partners that will contribute to the curriculum development, coursework and job placement of students of the Cyberport Institute. Students will gain the benefits of upgrading on cutting-edge IT knowledge and skills as well as gaining professional and academic recognition. On the other hand our IT companies will enjoy the higher availability of wanted talent. The Inauguration Ceremony of the Cyberport Institute today also ushers in a new university-industry collaboration in developing and delivering postgraduate IT courses to match the manpower needs of the industry.
The Cyberport Institute will be set up at the second Cyberport building, next to this first phase building, around the middle of next year. This will play a useful role in grooming IT talent for Hong Kong. Just as I start falling in love with the Cyberport, I am afraid I have to say good-bye but only in my official capacity as Secretary for Information Technology & Broadcasting. As a Hong Kong citizen, my heart will always be with this project, since as I said in my opening remarks, this is something which the HKSAR Government has built for the future of Hong Kong. I trust with the creativity, vision and commitment of all those involved in grooming IT talents, the Cyberport Institute will reap every success.
Thank you.
Ends/Tuesday June 25, 2002
