Inaugural GBA Education Conference Successfully Held

2024 commemorates the 5h anniversary of the "Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area". To actively align with the country's development, HKU SPACE successfully organized the Inaugural GBA Education Conference on 20 June 2024 at the Philip K.H. Wong Theatre at the University of Hong Kong. About 300 educators, experts, practitioners, and members of the public from the GBA gathered.

The theme of the forum was "Innovative Education and Lifelong Learning." The three keynote speakers were Professor Yang Rui, Chair of the Faculty of Education at HKU; Professor Chen Dong Min, Emeritus Professor Peking University Executive Director, Guangdong Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory; and Professor Aliana Leong Man Wai (Associate Vice President (International Affairs); Dean, School of Liberal Arts, Macau University of Science and Technology). They shared the challenges and future developments in the fields of education and technology. Following the keynote speeches, a roundtable discussion explored innovative trends in education and the prospects for continuing education in the GBA, providing attendees with forward-looking insights.

The forum was also honored to have Dr Choi Yuk Lin, Secretary for Education, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Professor Ian Holliday, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) of The University of Hong Kong, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of HKU SPACE; and Professor Lee Keng Mun William, Director of HKU SPACE, attend the opening ceremony and deliver speeches.

On the speech, Dr Choi Yuk Lin, Secretary for Education point out that Hong Kong's higher education sector boasts robust infrastructure and excellent academic reputation, providing strong support for the development of Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. At the same time, the industry needs to equip the next generation with knowledge that meets current demands, offering interdisciplinary capabilities, lifelong learning skills, and future-oriented competencies. She hopes that this forum can explore ways to promote Hong Kong's integration into the overall national development, particularly in higher education in the Greater Bay Area and the national strategy of "revitalizing the country through science and education."

Professor Ian Holliday stated in his speech that the academy has always been innovative, and he hopes the academy will continue to host such meaningful Greater Bay Area education forums. Professor Lee Keng Mun William, also mentioned in his speech that this forum is a "platform for gathering ideas, expanding knowledge, and showcasing the future," and he hopes to promote the academy's lifelong learning philosophy through the forum. This will help Hong Kong's education sector integrate into the vibrant Greater Bay Area ecosystem, thereby consolidating Hong Kong's position as an international centre for talent and professional development.