HKMU LiPACE expands multifaceted linkage with higher vocational learning institutions in Sichuan
Of the many areas of educational collaboration between Hong Kong and mainland provinces, vocational education stands out to offer multiple new possibilities beyond the traditional models of exchange.
Against this backdrop, the Hong Kong Metropolitan University Li Ka Shing School of Professional and Continuing Education (LiPACE) acts as a pivotal superconnector due to its innovative outreach efforts with mainland institutions. As a constituent school of Hong Kong Metropolitan University, LiPACE specializes in offering two-year higher diploma programs and has a mission to promote vocational professional education and training (VPET).
LiPACE Dean Benjamin Chan Tak-yuen recognizes the importance of working with mainland peers in a mutually beneficial learning process to achieve complementarity.
He said that mainland higher vocational institutions view Hong Kong as a gateway to international best practices while encouraging the local postsecondary education system to provide students with practical experiences on the mainland. In fact, Hong Kong’s Education Bureau has in July last year updated the revised descriptors for higher diploma programs to establish this in guidelines.
Since 2016, Sichuan has been the mainland province with which LiPACE most frequently collaborates. Chan recalls past interactions that have included virtual language classes, joint early childhood education activities, and cohosting of academic forums on vocational education. He remarked that these exchanges have been facilitated to a large extent by the Friends of Sichuan Association, a Hong Kong NGO, and the close partnership between Hong Kong and Sichuan at the government level.
This collaboration contributed to the establishment of the Sichuan-Hong Kong Vocational and Applied Education Alliance in September last year. Links between LiPACE and three Sichuan institutions — Sichuan Changjiang Vocational College (SCCVC), Leshan Vocational and Technical College, and Sichuan Vocational College of Cultural Industries — have been formalized through memorandums of understanding.
In a significant stride towards strengthening ties, LiPACE has implemented exchanges with these partners based on four directions, encompassing student study visits, the introduction of international experts for exchanges, and student and staff exchange programs.
Highlights include group visits to Sichuan involving students from diverse disciplines such as creative culture and media practice, healthcare, and early childhood education.
“These tours are not only a collaboration between educational institutions from different regions but also a fusion of cultures, providing Hong Kong students with the opportunity for in-depth interaction with Sichuan culture, while also opening the door for Sichuan students to step onto the international stage,” said Cheung Tao, head of mainland development at LiPACE.
Practice insights
A case in point is the media-themed study visit by 42 students, during which they immersed themselves in rich Chinese culture and learned hands-on skills by meeting big names in the creative industry sector.
“The most impressive experience for me was visiting the Chengdu Radio and Television Station, where a teacher-practitioner shared her work with us,” said a LiPACE student studying creative culture and media practices.
ALSO VIEW: Media-themed study visit by 42 students
During the 10-day trip, LiPACE students undertook a multimedia project featuring the inauguration of the high-speed rail from Chengdu to West Kowloon in Hong Kong.
“On this train, I saw a diverse array of people, which highlighted the close connection between the mainland and Hong Kong for me,” the student said. “I’ve not only broadened my horizons but also enhanced my professional knowledge.”
Another student expressed her excitement after visiting a local company specializing in producing live broadcasts and creative short videos. “I was truly amazed by their high-tech approach and how they openly shared insights on excelling in such projects and building a strong brand,” she said, referring to the company’s large-scale stage productions and collaborations with well-known IPs.
“I found the experience extremely valuable, and it has made me consider coming to Chengdu for further opportunities,” the student added.
Joanna Lai Yin-shan, who heads the creative culture and media practice program at LiPACE, said the tour offers a valuable learning platform for these first-year students as they can meet entrepreneurs with extensive experience and knowledge in the sector.
On another educational journey, students pursuing healthcare studies at LiPACE embarked on visits to Leshan Vocational and Technical College, Leshan City Hospital’s Center for Preventive Medicine, and a local nursing home. Throughout this study tour, students explored the intricacies of traditional Chinese medicine culture and modern diagnostic approaches for addressing stomach ailments within Chinese medicine.
The rewarding learning expedition to Leshan is a testament to robust partnerships, and it showcases the extensive resources and network of the local healthcare system. These collaborations provided LiPACE students with unprecedented access to facilities typically inaccessible in Hong Kong, including the maternity ward, as highlighted by Winnie Wong Wan-chi, program director at LiPACE.
Cultural synergy
The study visits extend beyond mere academic exchanges and represent a fusion of cultural awareness, providing students from both regions with a broader stage to showcase their talents and abilities.
This summer, students studying early childhood education traveled to Sichuan for a weeklong exchange. At the Sichuan Changjiang Vocational College, they engaged with Chinese traditional culture through a percussion performance, martial arts classes, and the creation and printing of Lunar New Year paintings, an intangible cultural heritage.
Such interactions have a significant impact on students as they blend academic and cultural exchanges. Since practical experience is essential in early childhood education, the group also visited two local kindergartens to observe the integration of physical education, music, and arts into their curriculums.
Culturally, these exchange programs offer valuable opportunities for students from South Asia and Hong Kong to engage in traditional cultural activities. A two-hour bus ride to Aba, which passed scenic landscapes and a tributary of the Yangtze River, left them captivated by the beauty of Sichuan’s local landscapes.
Martial arts and percussion music were novel experiences for many, particularly for those less familiar with Chinese culture, allowing them to see firsthand how these elements are incorporated into mainland kindergartens’ educational programs.
“Observing the craft of Tibetan papermaking, experiencing Tibetan paper painting, and drawing the national treasure giant panda was extremely awe-inspiring,” said Jenny Lam, a student from LiPACE.
“It deeply immersed me in the charm of Tibetan paper culture, enhanced my understanding of traditional Chinese culture, and fostered friendships between youth from the two regions. I hope to have more opportunities in the future to visit Sichuan and Chengdu,” she added.
Concerted efforts between LiPACE and Sichuan extend beyond study visits. LiPACE’s superconnector role is reinforced by facilitating engagements with overseas experts.
LiPACE brought Visiting Fellow Dr Kristof Fenyvesi, who specializes in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics), to Sichuan to share international education concepts with local schools.
Cheung highlighted the growing focus on internationalization in the mainland’s vocational education scene and the increasing interest in forging international partnerships. Leveraging its extensive networks, LiPACE is dedicated to sharing international connections with mainland institutions.
ALSO VIEW: Students studying early childhood education traveled to Sichuan for a weeklong exchange
LiPACE also hosted two students from Sichuan studying business administration for a one-semester exchange, and welcomed the vice-dean of continuing education from SCCVC for a weeklong posting.
The staff exchange program, centered around job shadowing, allowed the SCCVC administrator to experience diverse aspects of LiPACE’s operations, including marketing and publicity, the office of the dean, and various academic divisions.
Following the successful experiences in Sichuan, more diverse academic exchanges between higher vocational institutions in Hong Kong and the mainland are expected to come. According to Chan, the school will seek broader cooperation within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
“Given Guangdong province’s proximity and strength in its vocational training system, we’ll give full play to the experience we’ve gained from the collaborations in Sichuan”, said Dean Chan.
