11 August 2011

The Hong Kong Education Bureau successfully hosted the International Education Forum and Expo – Learning Journey for the Globalised World in Hong Kong on 14-16 July 2011. A number of events were held in Hong Kong, including a Ministerial Roundtable, International Conference and Education Expo.

Australia was one of only 11 countries invited to participate in the Ministerial Roundtable. During the roundtable participants highlighted their country’s key reforms in schooling and higher education. This provided an important opportunity for participants to learn from each other’s experiences and share best practice in education policy. The Roundtable was attended by education ministers and senior representatives from Australia, Hong Kong SAR, China, Austria, Canada, Germany, India, Indonesia, Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States and Macao SAR.

Mr Iain Watt, Minister Counsellor (Education), Beijing, delivered a presentation on behalf of the Hon Peter Garrett MP, Minister for School Education. Mr Watt spoke about key education reforms in Australia, including government initiatives to expand participation, improve quality, and increase accountability and transparency in Australia’s education system.

The forum and expo also featured sessions for teachers, administrators, parents and students in Hong Kong. Representatives of AEI Hong Kong spoke at two country-specific seminars on Australia and explained how Hong Kong’s new senior secondary education system could articulate into the Australian system. Five speakers from Australian universities and colleges also provided specific examples of how the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education would articulate into programs at their institutions. More than 200 people attended the Australian seminars and Austrade received many enquiries afterwards about studying in Australia.

Presentations and recordings of the sessions will be available shortly at the Hong Kong Education Bureau website.  AEI Hong Kong will also provide policy updates on the AEI website on the new academic structure in Hong Kong as it is rolled out.

Mr Iain Watt, Minister Counsellor (Education), Beijing (fourth from left) at the International Education Forum and Expo in Hong Kong with education ministers and representatives from Hong Kong SAR, China, Austria, Canada, Germany, India, Indonesia, Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States and Macao SAR.

Ms Jen Tyrell, Education Counsellor, Beijing presenting at the Australia Country Seminar.