To promote national aerospace technology development, the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) together with the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers (HKFEW) launched the first cohort of the “Youth Aerospace TechEd Programme” (the Programme) in Hong Kong.
The programme is fully sponsored by the Bank of China (Hong Kong) (BOCHK). The Inauguration Ceremony officially kick-started a series of training for local students, which aims at nurturing future talents in the aerospace field and deepening their understanding of the latest aerospace technologies and Space Science. It is hoped that this would arouse their interest towards the aerospace industry and inspire them to become aerospace engineers to serve the country in the future.
The Inauguration Ceremony is officiated by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government; the Chairman of HKFEW; the Chief Information Officer of BOCHK and the Chairman of HKPC.
The Programme will last for 6 to 8 months and is designed for local secondary school students aged 13 to 17, covering workshops in five key areas ranging from Flight Simulation Training, Space Science knowledge, Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), 3D Printing to Cube Satellites (CubeSat) prototyping. Students can broaden their horizons by interacting with top national aerospace experts to learn about Space Science and related theories, the structure of spacecraft and the work of aerospace technology experts, etc.
Students will also experience the most desirable Metaverse ecosystem, thus enabling them to self-explore and discover their potential during the process. Moreover, the making of a CubeSat prototype will enhance students’ problem-solving skills, design thinking and teamwork spirit, thus improving their all-rounded development and multiple-perspective thinking.
The Programme has tentatively planned an aerospace study tour to the Mainland in 2023 for students to learn about the advancement of China’s aerospace technologies and exchange views with the Mainland youths, thereby arousing their interest in the aerospace field.
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government stated that the Programme provides young students with the opportunity to acquire the latest knowledge of aerospace technology and space science, stimulates their enthusiasm and interest in the aerospace industry, and provides valuable channels for nurturing aerospace technology talents in Hong Kong.
The Chairman of HKPC stated that given the speedy aerospace technological development of the country, HKPC hopes that the Programme can help Hong Kong youths learn more about the latest aerospace technologies and the development of China’s aerospace industry, thus encouraging them to contribute to the innovation and technology (I&T) industry of the city and country in the future.
Participants will be able to interact with national aerospace experts and create their own CubeSat prototypes, enabling them to acquire knowledge through hands-on and “mind-on” experiences beyond textbooks. HKPC actively cooperates with academia and STEM partners to promote the development of ‘Smarter Campus’ and aerospace technology education, allowing students to master novel technologies and their applications. These efforts strive to groom more I&T talents for Hong Kong and the country, as well as provide them with favourable conditions for upward mobility.
The Chairman of HKFEW stated that while the country’s current aerospace technology is at a world-class standard, it is still lacking in popularising aerospace-related knowledge. Through this Programme, Hong Kong students’ understanding of aerospace technology will be deepened.
The Chief Information Officer of BOCHK stated that the bank sponsored the Programme to deepen the youth interest in advanced technology, nurture more future leaders in scientific research through this scheme, and contribute to Hong Kong’s development as an international innovation and technology centre under the 14th Five-Year Plan.
It was noted that the programme is a high-quality STEAM education activity aimed at strengthening the independent thinking and creativity of the youth in support of promoting innovation and technology development in Hong Kong.
Earlier, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive welcomed the country’s recruitment of payload specialists for the first time in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in the launch of the recruitment of the fourth batch of astronauts.
Payload specialists are professional scientific researchers who are mainly responsible for conducting aerospace experiments or research, operating space laboratory equipment, and managing daily operations of space stations with other astronauts. Preliminary screening of the payload specialist’s recruitment will be arranged by the HKSAR Government, whereas further screening will be conducted by relevant authorities in the Mainland.