The Opening Ceremony of THEi Chai Wan Campus held today (18 April) was officiated by HKSAR Chief Executive Mrs Carrie LAM, witnessing the milestone development in vocational and professional education and training (VPET).

Mrs Lam toured a number of specialised teaching facilities of THEi, including Fashion Design Studio and the Learning Commons. Mrs Lam met and talked with THEi students and graduates and viewed the outstanding entries of students in open competitions to understand how VPET unleashed the potential of young people in the pursuit of a professional career. Mrs Lam also learned more about the development of VPET degree programmes during the tour.

At the Opening Ceremony, Mrs Lam said, “The opening of this Chai Wan Campus showcases our Government's ardent support of vocational and professional education and training (VPET) institutions. Beyond the subvented programmes provided by the Vocational Training Council, we have, in recent years, promoted self-financing institutions, including THEi, through a variety of initiatives that enable their development and provision of quality programmes. “

Mrs Lam also said that the Government is no less committed to VPET in higher education  to ensuring that our young people can choose from multiple pathways in gaining the education they need for the future they want. VPET is central to those options, not only because of its focus on technical education and practical training.Equally essential is VPET's whole-person development, the IT expertise and innovation it delivers and the soft skills and international exposure it imparts.

On the same occasion, VTC Chairman Dr Roy CHUNG said, “This newly completed Chai Wan Campus offers an innovative and sustainable learning environment for 21st Century professional training in the areas of design and environment, as well as management and hospitality. Together with the Tsing Yi Campus which focuses on engineering and science programmes, the dual-campus setting of THEi provides most up-to-date teaching and learning facilities to produce work-ready graduates. ” Dr Chung also said THEi started off with some 200 students and in a few years’ time, the student population has grown to over 3,000 and the work-readiness of THEi’s graduates is testified by an impressive employment rate of 95%.

The brand new THEi Chai Wan Campus commenced operations by phases last year. The twin-tower environmentally-friendly architecture has received a string of accolades, which include the internationally-recognised 2018 Cityscape Awards for Emerging Markets (Sustainability Project Award) and the Green Building Award 2014 (New Buildings Category - Building Projects under Design). The architecture was also granted the Provisional Platinum rating by the Hong Kong Green Building Council.

Furnished with state-of-the-art and modernised facilities, the campus provides an interactive learning environment. The facilities and laboratories include those tailored for the horticulture and landscape architecture programmes, the Green House, the Sports Biomechanics Laboratory, Fashion Design Studio, Training Restaurant “Spring”, Chinese and Western Kitchens, the interactive Learning Commons, and an exhibition hall equipped with a 20m long Multi-touch Video Wall. All these fixtures are established to cater for the learning needs of students studying different programmes in varied specialisms.