Press Release

(Hong Kong – 28 April 2018) The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE) held the Secondary Student and Parent Orientation 2018 at Chinese YMCA College today to welcome new secondary student members and their parents. HKAGE received 2,735 nominations this year and admitted 2,310 secondary students (including school nomination and self nomination) as preliminary members.

Professor Ng Tai Kai, Executive Director of HKAGE, hoped that the orientation could give new members and their parents an idea about the Academy’s unique programmes and learning opportunities which were different from those provided in mainstream schools, so that members could make good use of those programmes to better understand themselves and bring their talent into full play. Ms Stella Chu, Student Services Manager, briefed new members on the services provided by the Student Services Team. Mr Albert Hong, Head of Academic Programme Development Division, Ms Melanie Cheung, Head of Affective Education Division, and Ms Shirley Kwok, Head of Advanced Learning Experiences Division, encouraged new members to participate actively in HKAGE programmes and activities to embark on a remarkable learning journey that would help unleash and develop their talent and potentials. In addition, Dr Eric Fung, Head of Research Division, shared with the attendees a recent research on ‘Relationships amongst Life Satisfaction, Benefits Obtained, and Expectation’. Dr Fung encouraged the new student members to uphold a positive attitude towards the Academy programmes and experience a fruitful study journey.

Several secondary student members also shared with attendees their learning experiences at HKAGE. Ip Tsz Sum, a student member in Mathematics Domain, said that the demanding training for the China Girls Math Olympiad (CGMO) was the most unforgettable experience for her. The programme, which is the longest and strictest one she had joined in HKAGE, had enhanced her ability for solving Maths problems. Besides, she had become more mature and persevering after the training. Tsz Sum added that HKAGE programmes were different from regular programmes in school. They were more challenging and interactive in nature. Through the interesting learning activities, participants were inspired to think critically and were encouraged to advance together and face up to challenges with other gifted peers. These all helped cultivate a real spirit of learning among gifted students. Chiu Sin Chun, a student member in Sciences and Mathematics Domain, told the audience that the Academy’s courses, which were lively and relevant to real life, were delivered at a quicker pace with more in-depth content compared to the regular school curriculum. He said the programme that impressed him most was ‘Hong Kong Food Culture: Observation, Reading and Writing’, during which he had learnt how to appreciate food and write on this specific theme. Trying different foods with classmates in a restaurant during the programme was also unforgettable for him.

Upon joining HKAGE, student members can choose from a variety of programmes in different domains according to their interests to acquire knowledge beyond textbooks. Some educational yet interesting programmes are recommended:

•    Future Curator Training 2018 (HUMS1011):

The course is designed for secondary student members who want to know more about museums and are interested in history and culture. It is themed around significant stories of individuals from different cultural backgrounds and ethnic groups in early Hong Kong history to inspire students to reflect on the meaning of life.

•    Intermediate Course in Virtual Reality (MULS2361):

Students will learn how to develop an original Virtual Reality (VR) application with related software, applying various compositions, lighting and shading skills.

•    Numbers Around Our Life (MATS1411):

Numbers are everywhere in our daily life –We all have a telephone number, student number, HKID card number, and so on. Do you know the secrets behind these numbers? Do you know that numbers are involved, even if they do not explicitly appear, in cryptography or even in music, art and architecture? In this short course students will explore different kinds of numbers in our daily life.

After the ceremony, some parents joined the Programme Highlight and Experience Sharing Seminar organised by Affective Education Division, Academic Programme Development Division and Advanced Learning Experiences Division to find out more details of the Academy’s programmes and services.

Key facts about HKAGE’s Secondary School Nomination and Self Nomination for Secondary Students 2017/18 are attached in the Appendices.

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Around 1,000 new members and their parents attended the HKAGE orientation.

Professor Ng Tai Kai, Executive Director of HKAGE, delivered a welcoming speech in the ceremony.

HKAGE secondary student members shared their learning experiences with the attendees.

Appendix I: Key Facts about HKAGE’s Secondary School Nomination 2017/18

1.    Number of schools participating in the nomination and students nominated and admitted

2.    Breakdown of newly admitted students by learning domains

3.    Gender ratio of newly admitted students

4.    Timeline for Secondary School Nomination 2017/18

Appendix II: Key Facts about HKAGE’s Self Nomination for Secondary Students 2017/18

1.    Number of students nominated and admitted

2.    Breakdown of newly admitted students by learning domains

3.    Gender ratio of newly admitted students

4.    Timeline for Self Nomination for Secondary Students 2017/18