President's Message

It is my great pleasure to launch this Strategic Plan when the Hong Kong Institute of Education enters its 15th Anniversary and is embarking on exciting developments geared towards becoming a University of Education. Building on our Development Blueprint - Becoming a University of Education released in 2007, this Strategic Plan has reviewed the planning context, embraced the 'Education-plus' concept and enhanced the priority areas. It has also drawn reference to the recommendations of the Report of the University Grants Committee (UGC)'s Review Group on the future development of the Institute.

The theme of the Strategic Plan is 'Planning for the Future, Making a Difference'. It reflects our continued commitments in nurturing a new generation of professional trained teachers with the qualities to meet the constantly changing demands of the 21st century, raising the quality of education in schools and the community through our research and development activities and policy advocacy, and making an impact on education development in the Mainland and the Asia Pacific region. We seek to broaden the range of programme offerings at different levels and to enrich the campus learning environment within a multidisciplinary setting that emphasizes whole-person development.

In the process of drawing up this Strategic Plan, we have held wide consultations with the Council members, academic, teaching and administrative staff, students, and external stakeholders. I would like to thank them for their most valuable inputs to the identification of key strategies needed to meet the new challenges ahead.

With the Government's and UGC's support, the Institute has now set a clear direction in transforming itself to become an education-focused, multidisciplinary, and research-strong University of Education. The Institute has come a long way since 1994 in building up its strength to become the strongest critical mass in education in Hong Kong. We are confident that we are able to rise to new challenges and to make a difference to the educational landscape of Hong Kong and the wider region.

 

Professor Anthony B.L. Cheung, BBS, JP
President