HKIEd also contributes to the development of the new role of Hong Kong in bridging the East and the West. The process of programme development has involved experts from the Mainland and from Western countries. In particular, our Early Childhood Education degree programme is a collaboration between Hong Kong, Nanjing and Toronto, drawing top expertise from both China and Canada. The role of HKIEd is important in our focus on early childhood education, as early childhood is a significant period of identity and personality formation. The cultivation of a new identity and a new role for Hong Kong begins in the early childhood of its young people.

At this point of departure, what would be your advice for HKIEd to focus its sights on in our further development?

So far, I have been focusing on the positive side in my reflections upon Hong Kong and HKIEd. When I think about Hong Kong's future development, I am also aware of some negative feelings in the society - economic difficulties, a loss of optimism in facing the future, some uncertainties in how higher education will be reorganised, etc. There seem to be many things beyond our control, but we have to control the controllable. What we can control is our determination to build up quality in our programmes, pedagogy, curriculum, and research. What we can do is continue to make contributions to society by improving school education. What we can achieve is the fulfilment of our vision of optimising each child's potential through the shared joy of learning and teaching. And the achievement of all this depends upon the self-strengthening of our internal life that will be reflected in our external influences.