VTC hosts Groundbreaking Ceremony of Aviation and Maritime Education Centre
A new milestone in talent cultivation for the aviation and maritime industries

The Vocational Training Council (VTC) is establishing an Aviation and Maritime Education Centre (AMEC) as a strategic move to support the manpower development of the aviation and maritime industries in tandem with the Government’s policy of strengthening Hong Kong’s status as a global aviation hub and maritime centre. The Groundbreaking Ceremony for AMEC was held today (14 March) with Secretary for Education of the HKSAR Government, Dr CHOI Yuk-lin as the Guest of Honour. Housed on the Tsing Yi Campus of the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE), a VTC member institution, AMEC is expected to be completed by 2025.

Dr Choi told the guests that Vocational and Professional Education and Training (VPET) has always been an important part of Hong Kong’s education system. The Government adopts the strategy of fostering industry-institution collaboration and diversified development, so as to promote VPET as a pathway parallel to conventional academic education, thereby providing diversified learning and employment opportunities for young people. The Education Bureau has always been supporting the development of the VTC and optimising teaching facilities to cope with the rapid development of various industries and provide students with training that meets the industries’ needs.

“After the AMEC comes into operation, it will become the first practical skills training centre for the aviation and maritime industries in Hong Kong operated by a post-secondary education institution. By providing advanced and up-to-date education and training facilities, the Centre will help students obtain high-quality training experiences that simulate a real working environment, which is instrumental in meeting the manpower needs of the two industries and strengthening Hong Kong’s position as an international shipping centre and a world-class hub port in the region,” she said.

VTC Chairman Mr Tony TAI said the Government was determined to enhance Hong Kong’s leading position as a major aviation hub and global maritime centre, hence the VTC had embarked on a visionary plan to establish the AMEC and provide state-of-the-art facilities to support manpower development in these two sectors. “The National 14th Five-Year Plan has set out a clear positioning for Hong Kong’s development as an international metropolis,” he added. “Leveraging support from the Motherland while connecting with the world, Hong Kong is set to soar through increased exchanges and collaboration with other Mainland cities, particularly those in the Greater Bay Area, to create synergy and build a world-class aviation and maritime cluster in the region.”

“These new developments, coupled with various aviation and maritime infrastructure projects coming on stream such as the Three-Runway System, the SkyPier Terminal and the HKIA Logistics Park in Dongguan, will definitely create even more opportunities for our young people and practitioners to pursue careers in the aviation and maritime industries.”

The design of AMEC is inspired by the streamline profile of the aircraft structure. It will be a seven-storey building with a net operational floor area of about 9,400m2. It will connect with the existing IVE (Tsing Yi) campus on different floors and be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to offer authentic, high-quality training experiences for students. Its simulated aviation and maritime operation facilities will include an aircraft structure and sheet metal maintenance practice workshop, an aero engine and aircraft system repair training workshop, and maritime engineering laboratories that incorporate smart technologies.

The Centre will offer diversified aviation and maritime training programmes leading to awards and professional qualifications including Certificate, Diploma, Higher Diploma and Professional Diploma. Its curriculum will cover three major subject areas, namely aircraft maintenance engineering, maritime engineering, and aviation and maritime operations training. The industry-standard facilities will enable students to undertake internships and practical training that will help them embrace real-life workplace environments and fulfil the statutory requirements for professional licences. The Centre will also serve as a training venue for industry-related skills exchange and competitions, helping students gain a competitive edge as they embark on their chosen careers.

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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