The Alistair Harvey Foundation has donated HK$100 million to groom talent of the Vocational Training Council since 2004

Over 200 Vocational Training Council (VTC) students have benefitted from the generous donation of HK$100 million by the Alistair Harvey Foundation since 2004. This substantial contribution has provided VTC students with life-changing opportunities to study local programmes, engage in exchanges, and pursue overseas studies. In appreciation of the Alistair Harvey Foundation's unwavering support of the VTC, a ceremony was held to officially name the IoT Innovation and Technology Centre after the Foundation at the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE) Sha Tin Campus, a member institution of VTC, on 28 April, last Friday.

During the ceremony, Mr John RUDDY, Trust Protector of the Alistair Harvey Foundation and Honorary Fellow of the VTC delivered a speech. He remarked, “I have been most privileged to witness first-hand the personal and professional growth of the Alistair Harvey Foundation Scholarship (AHFS) scholars in the last 18 years. It has been truly gratifying to see how vocational and professional education and training (VPET) can release the potential of young people and transform them into valuable members of industry and the community.”

Mr Tony TAI, Chairman of the VTC thanked the invaluable contribution by Alistair Harvey Foundation. He said that the VTC was most grateful to the Alistair Harvey Foundation for its staunch support of VTC students and dedication to nurturing VPET talent. The Foundation's generous donation and Mr Ruddy’s tender loving care of VTC students have and would continue to further strengthen VTC's efforts in cultivating work-ready and future-ready talent for the industry.

The late Mr Alistair Harvey spent his early life in China, and after World War II, he moved to Hong Kong and established Harvey Main Co. In accordance with his wish to bequeath his fortune towards nurturing young people, furthering VPET in Hong Kong, and promoting the value of "Giving Back for a Better World," the AHFS was established in 2004. The foundation supports VTC's Higher Diploma students in pursuing science and technology-related degree programs in the UK. Over 200 students have enjoyed the benefit from this life-changing opportunity since its inception. In addition to the Degree Scholarship, the Foundation supports students of another member institution of VTC, the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) with an Academic Exchange Scholarship to acquire diverse learning experience beyond Hong Kong. The Foundation also sponsored a part-time Degree Programme related to marine operation offered by a VTC member institution, the School for Higher and Professional Education (SHAPE) up until 2019. In 2022, the Foundation added a Master's Research Scholarship to enable outstanding VTC graduates to pursue postgraduate degrees in the UK.

In recognition of AHFS’s consistent supports to VTC students, the IoT Innovation and Technology Centre at IVE (Sha Tin) has been named the Alistair Harvey Foundation IoT Innovation and Technology Centre. The Centre aims to provide innovative and impactful solutions for the development of smart cities and will undertake academic and industry collaboration projects, multidisciplinary initiatives and IoT application research. It will also serve as a higher education and learning hub for tertiary and secondary school students, professionals, manufacturers and designers interested in IoT-related training and development programmes. By providing multi-facet technical laboratory equipment to inspire creative thinking in applied research and development, the Centre is designed to stimulate the development of innovative applications and project collaborations to adapt to industry needs. It also serves as a platform to share project outcomes with professionals and the public.

Dennis KWAN, Co-founder & Engineering Director of QBS System Limited, is one of the VTC alumni benefitting from AHFS. He received an AHSF in 2009 upon graduating from the IVE Higher Diploma in Information Technology and was offered the chance to continue his education at the University of Liverpool in the UK. After completion of Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Computer Infomation System with First Class Honors, he returned to Hong Kong to pursue his entrepreneurial dream. Dennis said, “I was awarded AHFS at IVE and went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree in the UK. Upon graduation, I partnered with my former supervisor to found a company specialising in new technology and smartphone software. Over the years, I started from founding the first company and become a CEO/ CTO in different technology startups afterwards, accumulating experience and connections. I am grateful for the scholarship's support.”

Dennis Company's business spans across the Asia-Pacific region, having grown from a few individuals to currently employing dozens of staff, making an annual revenue exceeding ten million. His company has developed intelligent solutions and digitalised systems not only for Hong Kong but also the Greater Bay Areas, like a cloud-based food and beverage management solution called "Eats365 POS" making use of information technology and Internet of Things (IoT) technology to help restaurants with order-taking, managing menus, seating lines, managing the kitchen and food preparation, ordering, and electronic payments. More than a thousand restaurant chains have used this Eats365 POS platform since then. Furthermore, Dennis encourages environmental protection by developing "Carbon Coins," an innovative plastic bottle recycling system that has been deployed in shopping centres, residential areas and other public spaces. He accumulated local and overseas learning and internship experience which have contributed to the development of technology for Hong Kong and the country.

Established in 1982, the Vocational Training Council (VTC) is the largest vocational and professional education and training provider in Hong Kong. The mission of VTC is to provide a valued choice to school leavers and working people to acquire the values, knowledge and skills for lifelong learning and enhanced employability, and also to provide support to industries for their manpower development. VTC has 13 member institutions, namely the 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), the Hotel and Tourism Institute (HTI),  the Chinese Culinary Institute (CCI), the International Culinary Institute (ICI), the Maritime Services Training Institute (MSTI), Youth College, Pro-Act by VTC, the Integrated Vocational Development Centre (IVDC) and the Shine Skills Centre.

Website: www.vtc.edu.hk

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