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27 Jun 2011
Hong Kong and Singapore students join hands for green world

A total of 600 students from the Vocational Training Council (VTC) and the Institute of Technical Education of Singapore (ITE) participated in a 3-day student exchange seminar on the theme: “Green Vision, Green Action” starting today (27 June).
 
The opening ceremony of the seminar was officiated by Edward YAU, Secretary for the Environment, Hong Kong SAR and ANG Seow-wei, Deputy Consul-General of Singapore in Hong Kong and Macao. In the welcoming address, Dr Carrie WILLIS, Executive Director of the VTC, said the seminar would explore the issue of environmental sustainability, one of the most pressing global concerns. She continued, “On a regional and global front, different sectors, including businesses and social organisations alike, have responded positively to this rallying call. The VTC is no exception. As a leading provider of vocational education and training in Hong Kong, the VTC has strengthened the elements of environmental training in our array of courses, such as Environmental Science and Technology, to nurture a larger pool of professional talents, capable of tackling the environmental challenges we are confronted with.”
 
Bruce POH Geok-huat, Director and CEO of the ITE, appealed to students to promote environmental protection. He said, “I urge student delegates to take a deeper look at the issues and to take into account the bigger picture. When you have done that, to come up with what is do-able, what is sustainable, and to share these ideas with your friends and family and later, even your employers. In so doing, we can get more people involved in paying more attention to the health of our planet; in changing their lifestyles, as well as their consumption patterns.”
 
The 3-day seminar was rich in contents. The 600 students of Hong Kong and Singapore would take guided tours in groups to famous environmental destinations of Hong Kong including the Wetland Park, EcoPark and Ocean Park to understand the developments in eco conservation and waste recycling of Hong Kong. The students would then attend group discussions and expert talks for study and exchanges on 3 hot issues: global warming, waste treatment and sustainable development. On a lighter side, the organiser would arrange tours at Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay for the students to better understand the local culture of Hong Kong and for promotingfriendship.
Led by Bob TAN Beng-hai, Chairman of the ITE, the Singapore delegation comprised some 370 teachers and students. The biennial exchange event was initiated in 2007 and has since been held in Hong Kong and Singapore respectively. 
 
Established in 1982, the Vocational Training Council（VTC）is the largest vocational education, training and professional development group in Hong Kong with over 230,000 students and trainees each year. The mission of VTC is to provide a valued choice to school leavers and working adults to acquire the values, knowledge and skills for lifelong learning and enhanced employability, and also to provide valued supports to industries for their manpower development.   VTC has 13 member institutions including Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEI), the Institute of Professional Education And Knowledge (PEAK), the School for Higher and Professional Education (SHAPE), the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE), the Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI), Pro-Act by VTC, Hospitality Industry Training and Development Centre (HITDC), Chinese Cuisine Training Institute (CCTI), Maritime Services Training Institute (MSTI), Youth College, Integrated Vocational Development Centre (IVDC), Yeo Chei Man Senior Secondary School and Shine Skills Centre.
 

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