Education has undergone many changes and the emergence of lifelong learning has been one of them. People nowadays often talk about lifelong learning rather than adult education because the term adult education has a social definition as being a form of education undertaken by those who are regarded as adults. In fact, learning is a basic human need and the process of learning occurs throughout life. There is also a paradigm shift from education to learning, the latter focusing more on the active role of individuals to learn.

As our mission is to provide high quality lifelong learning opportunities, we continue to develop new programmes and explore new articulations with local and overseas institutions. This autumn, the School will offer a wide range of new programmes and courses for you to choose from. New programmes include a Higher Diploma in Public Relations and Advertising, a Higher Diploma in Chinese Journalism, and an Advanced Diploma in Student Affairs Administration. New articulation top-up degree programmes include a Bachelor of Music jointly organised with University of New England and a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) with Griffith University.

One of the School's provisions aims at providing secondary school leavers an alternative route of education. These students are no less talented than their peers. In April 2008, our students in Higher Diploma Programmes in Business Studies as well as Business and Corporate Administration captured four major prizes in the "Higher Diploma and Associate Degree Business Innovation Awards", including the Gold Award, the Bronze Award and two Honorary Mention Awards.

To support the Government's initiative of establishing the Qualifications Framework and the Qualifications Register, we have placed more than 200 programmes onto the Qualifications Register. This will facilitate learners in planning their route of lifelong learning. We also support the Government's plan to expand the manpower development scheme to higher level of qualifications. Being one of the accredited training bodies of the Employees Retraining Board, we will extend our courses to more people in need, including the unemployed. This is a milestone in our contribution to the human resource development of Hong Kong, as we have the expertise in training and programme design of higher qualifications.

Leadership skills and a global network are essential to success of business executives. This autumn, the School in conjunction with Lehigh University's Iacocca Institute from the US will organize an international training event for future leaders of business and industry - Global Village on the Move, a unique leadership experience like no others.

With all the learning opportunities provided by the School, I am confident that you will be able to find some of them to meet your professional as well as personal development needs.


Dr Victor S K Lee
Director
August 2008