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The construction industry is one of the important pillars driving developments of Hong Kong. Demands for construction manpower will be even greater with the ten infrastructural projects being pushed ahead. The Engineering Discipline of the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE) partnered with the Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Construction Association to organise the 8th Bridge Building Competition for Secondary Schools with students from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau competing neck and neck for the first time. The final round of the Competition successfully concluded last Saturday (26 March).
The Competition was keen that day. The first-time participant from the Affiliated High School of South China Normal University of Guangzhou achieved excellent results. Their bridge, made of wood sticks and weighing only 0.26 kilogram, was able to withstand a small running car weighing over 40 kilograms, representing a load capacity of 176 times. Their work won the Best Load Capacity Award, the Best Structural Efficiency Award and the Grand Prize finally by virtue of their total scores whereas the team from N.T. Heung Yee Kuk Yuen Long District Secondary School of Hong Kong walked away with the Best Design Award.
The Bridge Building Competition for Secondary Schools is a notable annual event in the academe. This year, a record-breaking of some 1500 students of 287 teams from 114 secondary schools participated in the Competition. For the first time, 6 teams from Guangdong and 2 teams from Macau competed neck and neck with Hong Kong students. Competitors were required to use wood sticks and adhesives to create the bridge model. The works had to pass the heat round successfully, where their bridges had to be able to withstand a 13-kilogram load.
The judging panel of the Competition was star-studded with dignitaries of different sectors including WAI Chi-sing, Permanent Secretary for Development (Works). Addressing the audience, Mr Wai hoped the Competition could encourage young people to join the construction industry. He added that the Competition was very meaningful as students could make use of the laws of mechanics, physics and limited materials to experience themselves the art, enterprise and creativity needed to create a bridge. On the other hand, Dr LO Kin-ki, VTC Senior Deputy Executive Director, said the Competition was conducive to enhancing understanding of the construction engineering among young people. He further said there was a shortage of engineering manpower globally, and the Competition enabled young people to apply what they learnt, give full play to their potentials and enhance their interest in construction engineering.
The Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE) is a member of VTC Group. The 9 IVE campuses are located across the territory. Together they provide vocational education for post-secondary 7 and 5 students as well as people in employment. IVE courses leading to the award of higher diploma, diploma or foundation diploma cover various academic disciplines including Applied Science; Business Administration; Child Education and Community Services; Information Technology; Engineering; and Hotel, Service and Tourism Studies.
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The Affiliated High School of South China Normal University won the Best Load Capacity Award, the Best Structural Efficiency Award and the Grand Prize in the 8th Bridge Building Competition for Secondary Schools. |
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The bridge of theAffiliated High School of South China Normal University successfully withstood a running car weighing 40 kilograms, representing a load capacity of 176 times. |
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