On the afternoon of January 23, the Teacher Development Centre between the Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) and Shunde Polytechnic and Technological was officially unveiled at THEi's Chai Wan campus. Simultaneously, the signing ceremony of the “3+2” Special-educational talent cultivation cooperation memorandum took place. Distinguished guests, includingMr Liang Weipei, Member of the Standing Committee of Foshan Shunde District Committee and Minister of the United Front Work Department (佛山市順德區委常委、統戰部部長梁偉沛先生), Mr Ou Zhipeng, Executive Deputy Director of the United Front Work Department of the Shunde District Committee (區委統戰部常務副部長區植朋), Ms Lang Zhongwei, Executive Deputy Director of the Foshan Shunde Greater Bay Area Office (佛山市大灣區辦常務副主任稂忠偉女士), Mr Li Xianxiang, Secretary of the Party Committee of Shunde Polytechnic (順德職業技術學院黨委書記李先祥先生), and Prof Alan Kin-Tak Lau, President of the THEi, graced the event.

Under the strong support of the Shunde District Government, THEi & Shunde Polytechnic have successfully leveraged their respective advantages, focusing on talent training and industrial cooperation. The joint establishment of the Teacher Development Centre by THEi and Shunde Polytechnic holds immense importance in cultivating a talented pool of vocational education teachers, fostering in-depth knowledge exchanges and cooperation, and collaboratively building an exemplary education and talent hub in the Greater Bay Area.

Cutting the Ribbon: Celebrating the Grand Opening of the Teacher Development Centre

Furthermore, THEi and Shunde Polytechnic have successfully signed a "3+2" memorandum of cooperation on talent cultivation for specialization (3+2專本銜接人材培育合作備忘錄). This collaboration brings forth the dividends of higher education cooperation in the Bay Area, providing students from Shunde and Hong Kong with an opportunity to broaden their knowledge in a wider field, enhance their professional skills, improve their overall quality on a development platform, and jointly build a talented workforce to serve the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The MoU was signed by Prof Alan Kin-Tak Lau (Left Front), President of THEi, and Mr. Li Xianxiang (Right Front), Secretary of the Party Committee of Shunde Polytechnic.

During his speech, Mr Liang Weipei emphasized that this event signifies a momentous milestone in the educational cooperation between Hong Kong and Shunde. It represents a significant measure aimed at actively responding to the national strategy and comprehensively implementing the “Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area”.  Mr. Liang expressed his sincere hope that the Teacher Development Centre will serve as an esteemed platform for promoting teacher collaboration and facilitating exchanges between the two regions. He further emphasized the paramount importance of utilizing the "3+2" joint education program as a breakthrough initiative, creating new avenues for excellence and contributing significantly to the high-quality coordinated development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The "3+2" cooperation memorandum on talent cultivation for joint specialities signed by the two institutions outlines their collaboration in seven areas: Hotel Management, Culinary Arts, Rehabilitation, Nursing, Design, Horticulture, and Intelligent Manufacturing (酒店管理、烹飪、康復、護理、設計、園林、智能製造). Each major will implement "3+2" talent training cooperation for specialization. The cooperation between the two institutes will be implemented as scheduled. The first phase, spanning from 2024 to 2026, will recruit 100 students from Shunde. Graduates with a diploma from Shunde Polytechnic who meet the admission requirements of THEi and pass the admission interview will have the opportunity to pursue a bachelor's degree at THEi as juniors. The relevant bachelor's degree can be completed in two years. Both institutions are committed to ensuring the continuity of students' majors, fully integrating teaching resources and curriculum arrangements, and ensuring the successful completion of their studies.

The collaboration between THEi and Shunde Polytechnic marks a significant step forward in educational cooperation and talent cultivation. It fosters greater opportunities for students and contributes to the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.