Speech - Remarks by Mr Donald Tong, Executive Director of VTC, at the Closing Ceremony of the 8th ITE-VTC International Student Seminar on 21 June 2022

Closing Speech of the

ITE-VTC International Student Seminar 2022 21 June 2022 (Tuesday)

Mr Donald TONG Chi-keung Executive Director of VTC

Chairman Tai (Chairman of VTC),
Ms Low (CEO of ITE),
ITE Friends,
VTC Colleagues,
Students,
Ladies and Gentlemen:

Good afternoon! On behalf of the VTC, I would like to thank all of you for your participation in the International Student Seminar this year. Together, we have achieved another milestone!

Over the past two days, we witnessed how ITE and VTC students and staff had worked hand in hand to make this hybrid Seminar a successful and memorable event. We are honoured to have the Guest of Honour Dr Maliki Osman and our guest speakers from Singapore and Hong Kong to share their insights on how COVID has catalysed the rebuilding of a more inclusive and sustainable society with innovative technology.

Joining this Seminar for the first time, it gives me great pleasure to see the remarkable ideas and achievements of our young talents. I am deeply impressed by all the presenters, performers, emcees and student ambassadors for your efforts and dedication. You all serve as excellent examples on how TVET or VPET has been grooming the young generations to be intellectually competent and professionally trained to respond to the challenging times arising from COVID-19 in their respective fields.

Indeed, the collaborative body painting project which kick-started this Seminar and the other student projects echoed well to the Seminar theme “Post COVID-19: Towards an Inclusive and Sustainable Future”. For instance, the proposed adoption of new technologies like AI and Mixed Reality helps foster a more inclusive society for the visually impaired, the elderly and those who are susceptible to cyber bullying. We could also re-imagine how learning and teaching could be different in the new normal by undertaking 3D practical learning and adopting cloud-based online teaching solutions. Meanwhile, sustainability could also be enhanced by developing sustainable food products and innovative activities for cultural heritage. I hope all these ideas have also given you insights into some of the possible ways to contribute for social good as an industry practitioner and a responsible citizen.

Today is the time for celebration, not only for the successful hosting of this International Student Seminar, but also for the fruitful observations, analyses and proposals our students have put forward at the Seminar and the friendships developed. I would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to Mr Andrew Chong, the ITE Chairman, and Ms Low Khah Gek, ITE’s Chief Executive Officer, and the ITE and VTC teams for the excellent arrangements of this Seminar.

Thank you once again for all your efforts and active participation. We very much look forward to meeting ITE friends in person in the near future.

Thank you.