The Inauguration of Bright Future Engineering Talent Hub (the Hub) was held on 15 October to mark its official launch at City University of Hong Kong (CityU).
The Hub, established in the College of Engineering, aims to foster STEM education and nurture young talent in the engineering industry. It was named after the Bright Future Charitable Foundation (the Foundation) in acknowledgment of its generous donation of HK$4 million in support of the establishment and initiatives of the Hub.
Officiating at the Inauguration were Dr Roy Chung Chi-ping, GBS, BBS, JP, Co-founder and Non-Executive Director of Techtronic Industries Company Limited, Founder and Chairman of the Bright Future Charitable Foundation, and Honorary Advisor and Patron of the Hub; Professor Way Kuo, President and University Distinguished Professor of CityU; Professor Matthew Lee Kwok-on, Vice President (Development and External Relations) of CityU; and Professor Shek Chan-hung, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering of CityU and Principal of the Bright Future Engineering Talent Hub.
The establishment of the Hub also echoes CityU’s large-scale flagship innovation and entrepreneurship programme, HK Tech 300, in identifying a new generation of talent to enhance the local innovation and technology ecosystem. In his welcoming address, President Kuo thanked Dr Chung and the Foundation for their staunch support for the University over the years, adding that the Hub would also promote the University’s spirit of venturing beyond boundaries.
He introduced two of the latest strategic initiatives of CityU including the HK Tech 300 programme and the One Health concept. President Kuo said, “HK Tech 300 promotes innovation and cultivates our young generation. In addition to the allocation of HK$500 million, HK Tech 300 has been well received and has attracted additional funds from local industry. Taking advantage of the University and the synergy with HK Tech 300, the Hub also serves as a platform for youngsters to pursue technological innovation.”
In the summer of 2022, an array of interesting STEM activities was introduced to drive STEM learning and received an overwhelmingly positive response. The four major STEM education activities – the Summer Research Internship, the STEM Carnival, the STEM Challenge, and the Student Project Exhibition – attracted over 700 students from about 60 secondary schools.
At the Inauguration, the winners of the STEM Challenge were announced. The STEM Challenge is a project-based competition in which secondary school students are invited to team up to study a specific topic in engineering via experiments. With the guidance of CityU academic staff and the facilitation of student mentors in each team, the young engineers challenged themselves to create innovative breakthroughs that will contribute to a better world.
The three winning teams, from St Rose of Lima’s College, Tuen Mun Government Secondary School, and Nord Anglia International School Hong Kong, were awarded in recognition for their innovative work and achievements, and were given the opportunity to join a sharing session with Dr Chung.
Dr Chung said he strongly supported HK Tech 300 and endorsed CityU’s endeavours to be an innovation hub for research and professional education. He encouraged the young participants to pursue innovation for the betterment of the world. “Innovation is fundamental to technological advancement. Since Hong Kong is being promoted as a technological and research centre in the region, we need to nurture engineering talent for industry. I hope our young engineers will have a bright future and will contribute to Hong Kong, our country, and the well-being of mankind worldwide,” said Dr Chung.
Other guests attending the Inauguration were Ms Rebecca Lee, Administrative Director of Bright Future Charitable Foundation, and CityU representatives including Professor Richard Yuen Kwok-kit, Chief of Staff; Professor Chan Chi-hou, Chair Professor of Electronic Engineering in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Director of Talent and Education Development Office; Ms Kathy Chan Yin-ling, Associate Vice-President (Development and Alumni Relations); Dr Howard Leung Wing-ho, Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Executive Principal of the Hub; and Dr Kannie Chan Wai-yan, Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Deputy Principal of the Hub.
