EyE on U | Andrew Yao: Arts and tech should go hand in hand, as all-round talent needed in job market

President Xi Jinping said in his important speech on July 1 last year, "Hong Kong will prosper only when its young people thrive; HK will develop only when its young people achieve well-rounded development, and HK will have a bright future only when its young people have good career prospects." HK's future lies in the younger generation, so the city should offer a variety of opportunities for youth empowerment. Cultivating a strong talent pool and providing sufficient community outreach are crucial amidst the unstable political and economic environment worldwide.

In today's program, we are glad to have invited Mr. Andrew Yao Cho-fai to discuss with us his understanding of nurturing talent in HK. After being re-elected last month as an HK deputy to the National People's Congress, Yao said he sees himself as "a bridge between the motherland and the people of Hong Kong."

Yao pointed out that STEAM education should be promoted with proper national education in schools, so as to cultivate all-round talents to contribute to the future development of HK and the country.

Also the Chairman of the Council of Lingnan University, Council Member of Fudan University, and Founding President of the Hong Kong-Shanghai Youth Association, Yao founded a series of exchange programs for HK youth in the Mainland, one of which organizes internships for HK youngsters in renowned companies in Shanghai. Since its inception in 2007, the scale of the program has grown from 30-odd students to nearly 30 schools with about 400 students participating each year. A total of almost 5,000 students participated in the program in the past 15 years.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of HK's education system? How should HK attract and retain more quality talents in the global competition for brilliant brains? How can the city give full play to its strengths and further strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the Mainland? Watch the video now for more of Yao's insights.