Universities' efforts in leveraging IT in education and research praised

October 11, 1999

The Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting, Mr K C Kwong, pays tribute to the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) for its efforts in leveraging information technology in education and research.

At the HKUST/Microsoft Collaboration Agreement signing ceremony today (Monday), Mr Kwong said the collaboration signified due recognition of the outstanding achievement of the University in promoting information technology in education.

It also represents an important step in the development and adoption of interactive learning based on the latest advances in information technology, he added.

Mr Kwong noted that the Government was keen to encourage local universities to promote the use and application of information technology in education and research.

He said, "I am glad to say that we have received very positive response from them : our universities are now developing and making available a number of tertiary level courses on-line to improve subject choice; and establishing partnerships with higher education institutions overseas which would allow Hong Kong students to exploit a much bigger database of knowledge through electronic links and share in the educational experiences offered by overseas institutions.

"They are also developing and implementing education administration systems to support student registration, progress tracking, etc."

Other examples include the HKUST's Cyberspace Centre; the Hong Kong University's authorised Java Campus; and the Chinese University of Hong Kong's Hong Kong Internet Exchange.

"The collaboration between HKUST and Microsoft is yet another example of our universities' efforts in leveraging information technology in education and research.

"I look forward to seeing more collaboration of this kind in Hong Kong as they contribute towards our efforts to make Hong Kong a leader, not a follower, in the information world," Mr Kwong said.

- END -