Education: where next

Education and skills where next?

Professor Paul Cheung, former Dean of Engineering at the University of Hong Kong and current member of HKFYG’s Council, is not only an educator but an innovative maker and an advocate of innovation, technology and entrepreneurship. When asked about skills for the future, he spoke from deep conviction and wide experience.

“When thinking about skills, we need to recognize the sharp distinction between education and training.” Training is about skills and about learning how to do things, Prof Cheung explains, while education is not only about knowledge but about fostering the mind.

“Education can provide the environment where it is possible to develop character, shape attitudes and formulate values. Schools need to find a balance when offering knowledge and skills. Although knowledge of fundamental facts is essential for understanding scientific theory with universal applicability, it needs to be balanced by the ability to grasp the practical applications of such knowledge.”

When thinking about skills, we need to recognize the sharp distinction between education and training.

Continuing to define skills young people need, Prof Cheung says, “I would divide important skills into three kinds: knowledge skills about subjects and

techniques, language skills that enable one to organize and communicate thoughts and soft or social skills which permit one to interact well with others.”

Moving on to talk about nurturing young innovators, Prof Cheung reminds us that both nature and nurture are involved and he says that apart from education and skills, what they need most is exposure. “They need to meet other innovators who provide stimulus for doing things differently.”

When it comes to competitiveness, Prof Cheung again says it depends on exposure. “Hong Kong’s main competitiveness comes from being the most international city in China so young people need to understand their own and other cultures, have a realistic, true world view and learn to be global citizens. The best way for them to achieve this is by exposure and travel, by reading widely and reflecting on what they read, but they also need to stay curious, be willing to take risks and develop the courage to face failure.”

Prof Cheung notes that trying to offer excessive support for youth development is unsustainable and that the best form of support is a sand-box: somewhere to experiment, build foundations and try out ideas. “A sand-box offers the chance to build but also the chance to fail. In the next few years we will see cold winters for the economy, for NGOs and for many startups, so knowing how to fail and not give up easily will be invaluable.”

Looking at the past development of HKFYG, from a small social enterprise to the largest youth service organization in the city, Prof Cheung advises against trying to solve all the problems of youth. As for the future of youth services, he says “Change happens constantly, quickly and unpredictably and nobody can define precisely the right direction for the future. Therefore, we all have to be less results-oriented and less KPI-driven.”

Instead, he emphasizes the need for clear vision and purpose, whereas key performance indicators (KPI) are useful to assess progress and identify problems. “They should not be the actual objectives and purpose. Only the mediocre are driven by KPI and metrics, excellence is always driven by vision.”

The Federation can offer the soil, the water, the nutrients and the sun to nurture the younger generation.

Looking forward, he says outreach and connectivity, opportunities and technology will all bring deepening engagement with youth and this will be useful for building communities. “I don’t mean just virtual communities on social media, but real communities for human engagement and venues where youth can meet face to face. Enhancing professionalism will enable this engagement.”

Embracing innovation will also be vital. “Hong Kong has never been faced with so many challenges in such a short time and covid-19 is just one of many. Now, more than ever, it is very important for young people to stay innovative and to keep entrepreneurial spirit alive.”

Prof Cheung assures us that HKFYG can provide the environment where such young people can grow and hone their skills. “The Federation can offer the soil, the water, the nutrients and the sun to nurture the younger generation. It can encourage them to develop and grow, get ready to contribute to their society and develop the courage to challenge the status quo constructively and positively. In this way they will find new ways to solve problems innovatively, guided by a good education, sound moral values and positive attitudes.”

As well as being Dean of Engineering at the University of Hong Kong, Professor Cheung was also Director of its Technology Transfer Office and Associate VicePresident (Research). He is currently an Honorary Professor in both Electrical & Electronic Engineering and in Computer Science at the same university.

青協理事會成員張英相教授認為青年應著重發展軟實力， 其中最重要是培養創新能力和區域視野，建立正確價值觀 以及培養良好品格。