Education Society - Chapter Spotlight: Hong Kong Chapter

The IEEE Education Society Hong Kong Chapter was asked to provide a summary of their activities for the Education Society’s Quarter One Chapter Spotlight. The Chapter highlighted two major activity areas, which include 1) Engaging with different IEEE Organization Units, and 2) Supporting Universities and K12 Schools in Advanced Teaching and Learning.

How does the Hong Kong Chapter Engage with Different IEEE Organization Units?

• With the Education Society: The Chapter continuously assists in organizing the International Conference on Teaching, Assessment and Learning for Engineering (TALE), the Society’s Flagship conference in Region 10. The Hong Kong Chapter organized the conference in 2012, 2015 and 2017, and has participated in various roles (including in the steering committee) in other years. Their Chapter Officers are also involved in the Society in different capacities, including as the Chapters Committee Co-Chair and as a member in the Standards Committee and Membership Activities Committee.

• With IEEE Region 10 and Hong Kong Section: In collaboration with the Hong Kong Section as a team, the Chapter has been involved in local STEM outreach activities. For example, the Chapter recently won the Pre-University Category in the 2020 IEEE Region 10 EAB Educational Activities Challenge on Enriching Local STEM Education.

How is the Hong Kong Chapter involved in supporting Universities and K12 Schools in advancing teaching and learning?

• Within Universities: In 2020, the Chapter quickly developed supporting programmes for helping university teachers to develop technical skills for their remote teaching. One of the Chapter’s webinars attracted > 300 participants (including Vice-Presidents from at least two higher education institutions in Hong Kong). The initiative has also been shortlisted in the QS ReImagine Education Award 2020 (the ‘Oscars’ of Education).

• Within K12 Schools: The Chapter supports a funded project with a focus developing a Large-Scale Computational Thinking Outreach Project, aimed at helping underrepresented/underprivileged groups.

The Hong Kong’s Chapter plan for success in 2021 includes continuing to engage with other IEEE parties by organizing the IEEE-HK STEM Fair and Student Conference, organizing professional development webinars on educational development, documenting good teaching and learning practices in engineering courses during COVID-19, and supporting chapter members to advance through supporting their IEEE Senior Member elevation and Advance HE (Senior) Fellowship application.

Chapter Officers (2021)
• Chair: Dr. Leon Lei (SMIEEE, SFHEA)
• Vice Chair: Dr. Kai Pan Mark (SMIEEE)
• Past Chair: Dr. Gary Wong (SMIEEE)
• Secretary: Dr. Macro Ho (SMIEEE, FHEA)
• Treasurer: Ms. Angel Lu
• Professional Activity Officer: Ms. Crystal Luo