Chairman’s Foreword

This is my sixth review as Chairman of the Council and I am very pleased that many of the Institute’s targets have been achieved during the past year.

2013-14 was the fourth year since the Institute embarked on its ambitious transformation process of becoming an Education-focused, multidisciplinary institution with strong research capacity. Guided by two visionary documents, the Strategic Plan 2009-12 and Beyond and Strategic Plan 2013-16, the Institute community can look back with much pride as we have achieved almost all of the milestones outlined therein. From expanding our undergraduate programmes into the multidisciplinary areas of the Humanities, Social Sciences and Creative Arts and Culture, the setting up of a Graduate School and the launch of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Philosophy research postgraduate programmes, faculty restructuring, to graduating our first batch of Bachelor degree students majoring in multidisciplinary programmes complementary to education, as well as our first cohort of PhD students, the list goes on.

This transformation was not only carried out with the interest of the Institute in mind, but also under the much broader context of addressing the educational needs of Hong Kong and the region in the globalised world. The fast-paced changes of the 21st century have brought, in equal measure, new challenges to education, teachers and educators. Students are no longer passive learners waiting to be imparted knowledge. They have to learn how to be problem solvers with the ability to think creatively and critically, and be able to communicate effectively in multicultural settings. As the attributes expected of students have changed, so has the pedagogy required of professional teachers and educators. With our distinctive strength and expertise in teacher education, the Institute justifiably stands out as the leader to initiate changes, along with our sister institutions.

With the confidence that we are on a par with the other local universities and that we are now more than ready, the Institute set out on the path leading to the application for university title.

At the Institute, our future goes beyond the pursuit of a title, but rather how this future university can best contribute to the community through its programmes in teacher education and multidisciplinary areas complementary to education, and through its research and knowledge transfer. The Council Retreat held on 17 June 2014 provided Members of the Council, senior management and academic colleagues with the opportunity to take stock, discuss the role and goals of the Institute, and put forward candid and constructive ideas to enable the Institute to better serve the education sector and the wider community. All Retreat participants engaged in in-depth discussions and made key recommendations to map further development of the Institute in line with the vision and mission of this future university. On this note, I am pleased that the Institute has submitted the formal application in July 2014, and am hopeful of a positive outcome in the not too distant future.

We have another cause for celebration in 2014, as the Institute turned 20 during the year. During the 19th Congregation held late last year, I, together with the senior management inaugurated the 20th anniversary launch ceremony, after which came a whole series of celebratory activities which are being held throughout the year and will continue until early 2015. At the events I attended, I had the opportunity to meet some of my former colleagues on the Council, who were extremely impressed with the significant progress made by the Institute in the last few years. In the upcoming activities, I look forward to having the good fortune of meeting them again, along with members of the HKIEd family, our alumni, friends and supporters, and being able to share with them more encouraging updates about the Institute.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to outgoing Council Members Mrs Betty Ip, Professor Cheng Yin-cheong, Mr Chris Mong, Mr Li Chin-wa, Mr Chan Chung-dick, Professor Frederick Leung and Mr Henry Tong, and extend a warm welcome to new Council Members Professor Stephen Cheung, Ms Loretta Leung, Miss Kathy Wong, Mr Haywood Cheung, Professor Horace Ip, Mrs Michelle Wong, Professor Joshua Mok and Ms Sarah Wong.

As a final note, I wish to sincerely thank all Council Members who have given me their generous support during my tenure as the Chairman over the past six years. With their continued support and the capable leadership of the senior management, I am confident that the Institute will scale new heights in the years to come.

Mr Pang Yiu-kai, SBS, JP
Chairman of the Council