HKPC Launches STEM Survey for Academia and Parents to Explore the Current Situation and Challenges of TechEd in Hong Kong

(Hong Kong, 15 September 2022) The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) earlier signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers TechEd Centre (HKFEW TechEd Centre) and the College of Professional and Continuing Education Limited of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU CPCE) to jointly conduct an “Online Survey - Nurturing Our Home-grown STEM Talent 2022”. The survey will invite principals, teachers and parents from local primary and secondary schools to explore the current situation and challenges of technology education (TechEd) in Hong Kong. It will review its effectiveness and development potential, paving the way for the promotion of a comprehensive and strategic TechEd plan in the future.

With the National 14th Five-Year Plan supporting Hong Kong to become an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub, the importance of TechEd and I&T talents cannot be overlooked. However, the academia is still adopting various ways to promote TechEd. The lack of objective criteria to evaluate its effectiveness makes it hard for efficient allocation of educational resources and customised talent development. Moreover, according to the University Grants Committee, there were around 7,300 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) degree graduates in 2019/20; yet only around 2,700 graduates engaged in related occupations. This reflects a serious shortage of I&T talents in Hong Kong, making nurturing a new generation of I&T talent even more pressing.

To be conducted in September and October this year, the survey cordially invites principals, teachers and parents from local primary and secondary schools to explore the current situation and challenges of promoting, implementing and developing TechEd in Hong Kong, as well as the resources and policy support in grooming future talents. In order to raise the credibility of the survey, education leaders and associations will also be invited to join a focus group to provide feasible suggestions and solutions for bolstering TechEd in Hong Kong, facilitating its wider application and all-round development in the long run.

Ms Karen Fung, General Manager, InnoPreneur and FutureSkills of HKPC, said, “This collaboration fully leverages the strengths of HKPC, HKFEW TechEd Centre and PolyU CPCE in academic network and high-quality technology education. Through this survey, we hope to understand more about the awareness and expectations of the industry and parents on TechEd, so as to provide better support services for the industry in the future. For an effective promotion of TechEd, apart from relying on textbooks, it is also important to enhance students’ first-hand experience through various I&T activities. Hence, HKPC has been actively cooperating with academia and STEM partners to serve over 80 schools in the TechEd STEM Network. This December, we will set up a TechEd Hall and organise a TechEd Carnival at HKPC Building to provide different kinds of exhibitions, activities and seminars for schools to keep abreast of the latest technology and the application solutions of ‘Smarter Campus’ in order to prepare them for the Digital Era.”

Educators and parents are cordially invited to participate in the “Online Survey - Nurturing Our Home-grown STEM Talent 2022”. The survey findings will be announced in mid-December this year. For details, please visit the following link:

Questionnaire for Educators: https://hkpcsurvey.quokkahr.com/#/survey/teacher
Questionnaire for Parents: https://hkpcsurvey.quokkahr.com/#/survey/parent

Special thanks to our supporting organisations: Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers TechEd Centre, College of Professional and Continuing Education Limited of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, The Association of Hong Kong Chinese Middle Schools, Association of Information Technology Leaders in Education, The Hong Kong Association for Computer Education, EideaLink Public Relations Limited and QuokkaHR (listed in no particular order).

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HKPC conducts an “Online Survey - Nurturing Our Home-grown STEM Talent 2022”.

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