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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The delegation of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Education concluded its duty visit in Germany and Switzerland yesterday (September 25) and returned to Hong Kong today (September 26).
Members of the delegation started the last day of its duty visit by meeting with Mr Andres Meerstetter, Head of the Vocational Education and Training Administration of the Canton Zurich. Members of the delegation learnt about the implementation of vocational education and training (VET) and professional education and training in the Canton Zurich.
The delegation then visited a leading telecommunications enterprise in Switzerland, Swisscom, to meet with representatives of its apprentices, coaches and trainers to get a better understanding of vocational training at Swisscom.
In the afternoon, delegation members visited the School for Crafts and Construction in Zurich (BBZ) and met with the Director of BBZ, Mr Rainer Hofer. BBZ is one of the largest VET schools in Switzerland with more than 4 500 apprentices and students. While touring around BBZ, delegation members had the opportunity to exchange views with apprentices on their learning experience at BBZ.
The delegation also called on the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), one of the leading universities of applied sciences in Switzerland. Delegation members were briefed by the Head of International Relations of the School of Engineering at ZHAW, Professor Armin Züger, that the teaching, research and continuing education offered by ZHAW are both scientifically based and practice-oriented. During a tour of the campus, delegation members took the chance to exchange views with students on their learning experience at ZHAW.
Before departing for Hong Kong, Mr Ip Kin-yuen, leader of the delegation, described the duty visit to Germany and Switzerland as fruitful as Members obtained a deeper understanding of VET policy in the two countries. "Through discussions with government officials and representatives of education institutions and trade associations, we gained an insight into the roles of and collaboration between the Government, education sector and business sector in the provision of VET," said Mr Ip.
"We also had a few exchanges with VET students. We are pleased to find that the young people consider VET an effective articulation pathway for them to further their study and career," continued Mr Ip.
The delegation, conducted a duty visit in Germany and Switzerland from September 21 to September 25, is led by the Deputy Chairman of LegCo Panel on Education, Mr Ip Kin-yuen. Other members include Mr Leung Yiu-chung, Mr Tam Yiu-chung, Mr Cheung Kwok-che, Dr Fernando Cheung and Dr Chiang Lai-wan who are Panel members, as well as Dr Elizabeth Quat who is a non-Panel member.
Ends/Saturday, September 26, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:16
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