“The 18th Cross-Strait Forum on Continuing Education” Discuss the opportunities, challenges and development trends of continuing education in the era of big data and digital media

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University is one of the member institutions of the Cross-Strait Forum on Continuing Education (CSFCE). To celebrate the 80th anniversary of PolyU, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University-affiliated School of Professional Education and Executive Development (PolyU SPEED) organised The 18th CSFCE on PolyU Hung Hom Bay Campus on 14 and 15 December 2017. About 130 representatives of the 23 member institutions and 9 invited institutions from the Cross-Strait Four Regions attended.

The Chairman and Co-Chairman of The 18th CSFCE are Dr Jack Lo, Director of PolyU SPEED, and Dr Bill Xu, Assistant Programme Director of PolyU SPEED, respectively. The theme of the Forum focused on “Continuing Education in the Era of Big Data and Digital Media: Challenges, Opportunities and Development Trends”. In-depth discussions were conducted through paper presentations, interactive exchanges and group seminars surrounding the impending sub-themes for the Continuing Education Sector, namely the Impact and Foresight for Continuing Education amidst the Background of Big Data; the Opportunities and Challenges Brought to Continuing Education by the Development and Application of Digital Media; the Impact of Big Data and Digital Media on Teaching and Learning; and the Contemporary Regionalisation, Internationalisation and Brand Building of Continuing Education. 

Prof. Peter Yuen, Dean of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University-affiliated College of Professional and Continuing Education, was invited to deliver a welcome speech and presented his views on “The Development of Continuing Education in Hong Kong”. The presentation reviewed the milestones of the local Continuing Education Sector, examined its current challenges, and forecasted its future development direction. Dr Jack Lo, PolyU SPEED Director, and Mr Lou Xijin, Director of Continuing Education Management Office of Zhejiang University cum The Secretariat of CSFCE delivered welcome speeches to the participants respectively. In the Plenary Session, Prof. Qiu Hanqin of School of Hotel and Tourism Management of PolyU was invited to deliver a speech on “Continuing Education and Micro Degrees in the Era of The Internet”.

A total of 41 papers were received, 12 of which were presented and discussed in the Forum. In the Closing Ceremony, Dr Jack Lo, Director of PolyU SPEED, presented certificates of appreciation to the 12 presenters. The representatives of the 32 participating tertiary institutions opined that the theme of the Forum was distinctive, the topics of the Forum diverse, and the rundown of the Forum well-implemented. The Forum attained its goals of exchanging teaching and learning experiences, sharing research results, facilitating members’ collaborations and discussing multi-directional development, and epitomised the future development and cooperation of the Forum. Dr Lo was satisfied with the achievements of the Forum and thanked the Secretariat and the participants for their support for the successful completion of the Forum. Dr Lo and Mr Lou then presented the Forum flag to the representative of Nankai University, the hosting institution of the 19th CSFCE, signifying that the spirit of collaboration and exchange will be carried forward.

Amidst the 80th anniversary of PolyU, the representatives of the tertiary institutions from the Cross-Strait Four Regions also visited the House of Innovation and the University Research Facility in 3D Printing (U3DP) of PolyU, the first 3D printing facility among higher education institutions in Hong Kong to support teaching,  learning and research. U3DP is also the largest research centre in 3D printing in terms of the range and quantity of facilities in Hong Kong.

About PolyU SPEED
Established in 1999, PolyU SPEED is committed to providing lifelong education opportunities for people with different educational needs to acquire higher qualifications. PolyU SPEED offers, in full-time and part-time study modes, a diversity of quality top-up Bachelor’s honours degree programmes leading to PolyU-SPEED awards. It also collaborates with renowned institutions in the U.K., namely University of London International Programmes for offering the preparatory courses leading to its law degree; and Northumbria University (UNN) for offering top-up honours degree programmes leading to the university’s awards in Hong Kong. PolyU SPEED also offers a wide array of short courses to provide learning opportunities for individuals for enhancing personal competitiveness and career advancement.