VTC to participate in Education & Careers Expo 2024, Secretary for the Civil Service visits VTC Booth to view I&T projects

The Vocational Training Council (VTC) is taking part in the four-day Education & Careers Expo 2024 which runs from today until 28 January at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Themed "Skilling for the Future", the VTC Booth provides information on Vocational and Professional Education and Training (VPET) and showcases applied technological projects designed and developed by students and teachers. Officiating at the Expo’s opening ceremony today, HKSAR Secretary for the Civil Service Mrs Ingrid YEUNG toured the VTC Booth and chatted with teachers and students to learn more about skills excellence and the fruitful learning outcomes of VPET.

The VTC Booth is located near the entrance of Hall 1E, members of the public can attend the Expo free of charge and learn more about the Innovation and Technology (I&T) projects co-developed by teachers and students of VTC, including "MTR Goal 2", a driving simulator game co-created by Higher Diploma students in Games and Animation from the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE) and the MTR Corporation. The game simulates the driving conditions of an open section of the East Rail Line between Sha Tin and University Stations, and provides a realistic virtual driving experience. Participants need to accelerate or decelerate according to speed requirements, accurately stop at stations, and follow instructions for boarding and alighting. They can also choose from day or night mode and enjoy the simulated landscape along the track.

Another exhibit "MetaHKDI" is a virtual experience designed by students from the Department of Communication Design at the Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI). It is a collaborative effort of HKDI students with different areas of expertise to create a metaverse with gaming and learning elements. Visitors can explore the virtual HKDI campus with a 3D pixel-style avatar, and join virtual exhibitions to get to know the design works of HKDI students. Visitors can participate in various mini-games in the "MetaHKDI". In the course of developing the project, HKDI students also learnt about digital art marketing concepts, as their multimedia works can be accessed through non-fungible tokens (NFTs) for visitors to "purchase" the virtual art piece with points earned in the mini-games.

VTC students develop innovative projects addressing the needs of society, leveraging the latest technologies to offer solutions to everyday problems. The IVE Healthtech Centre has joined hands with Higher Diploma students of the Pharmaceutical Science programme to develop a “Smart Chinese Medicine Cabinet”. Using Internet of Things (IoT) technology and digital screens attached to a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) cabinet, this system speeds up the dispensing of TCM and prevents errors. If the prescription contains ingredients that conflict with each other, the system can also sound an alert, further enhancing the safety of the TCM dispensing process.

Other showcased works include a "Smart Logistics Network" jointly developed by the Smart City Innovation Centre of VTC and Hongkong International Terminals (HIT), which demonstrates how I&T contributes to the development of a “smart port”. Expo visitors can also see research applications and products related to hydroponic technology for TCM ingredients, conducted by the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) and its industry partners using 5G and IoT technologies.

During the Expo, VTC also hosts talks on new technology, covering topics such as “Exploring New Opportunities for Smart City with AI and Big Data Technologies”, and “Enhancing Employability: Mastering Applied Science and Business Innovation Technology”. Introductions of new VTC programmes will also be given including the Higher Diploma in Pet Care and Wellness, and Higher Diploma in Play-based Learning. VTC graduates are also invited to share their learning experiences and career stories. A graduate of the Higher Diploma in Hotel and Catering Management will share about his overseas internship experience in Abu Dhabi under a collaborative programme between VTC and an internationally-renowned hotel group; a graduate of Higher Diploma in Child Care and Education will share how he put learning in good use to provide professional service to children with special education needs, and also his story of running an education business; a graduate of Higher Diploma in Electrical Engineering will talk about his entrepreneurial journey of running a start-up that promotes solar energy applications. He will also share about his experience in the World Solar Challenge in Australia last year.

There will also be various skills demonstrations to help visitors learn more about VTC programmes. Lecturers and students from different VTC member institutions will showcase their skills in taster activities or workshops such as DIY Perfume Making, Empowering Students in Live Commerce, Food Prop Making Workshop and more.

About the Vocational Training Council (VTC)
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 14 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 Hong Kong Institute of Information Technology (HKIIT),  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

Media Enquiries: 2836 1255 / 2836 1790