Ms. Winnie Ying (centre), Dr. Clement Chen (3rd from left), Prof. Alexander Wai (3rd from right), Dr. Albert Chau (2nd from left), Prof. Steve Guo (2nd from right), Prof. Kara Chan (1st from left) and Mr. Andrew Ho (1st from right) officiated at the Ceremony

Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) held a naming ceremony for the Jockey Club Creative Media and Innovation Studio on 15 June 2023 in recognition of the generous donation of HK$136 million provided by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. The donation supported the Jockey Club Multiple Pathways Initiative – CLAP-TECH Pathway, as well as equipment purchase and renovation work for the Jockey Club Creative Media and Innovation Studio, which is under the Initiative.

The naming ceremony was officiated by Ms. Winnie Ying, Head of Charities (Youth Development and Poverty Alleviation), The Hong Kong Jockey Club, as well as HKBU representatives including Dr. Clement Chen, GBS, JP, Chairman of the Council and the Court; Professor Alexander Wai, JP, President and Vice-Chancellor; Dr. Albert Chau, Vice-President (Teaching and Learning) and Acting Dean of Arts; Professor Steve Guo, Interim Dean and Professor, School of Communication; Professor Kara Chan, Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning), School of Communication and Academic Director (Creative Media) of CLAP-TECH Centre; and Mr. Andrew Ho, Director of  the CLAP-TECH Centre.

Speaking at the ceremony, Professor Alexander Wai expressed his gratitude to the Trust for its ongoing contributions to HKBU’s development, and staunch support for the Jockey Club Multiple Pathways Initiative – CLAP-TECH Pathway. “As a well-respected cradle of creativity, HKBU always strives to engage in groundbreaking research and development. This new Jockey Club Creative Media and Innovation Studio demonstrates HKBU’s commitment to developing its art-tech research and innovation. With this state-of-the-art facility, we hope to foster a new generation of creative talents who will push the boundaries of the art-tech and creative media industries as well as create exciting new forms of art.”

In her address, Ms. Winnie Ying said,  “The Club endeavours to ‘build stronger communities together’, and is committed to supporting the growth and development of young people. We encourage society to be more forward-looking in diversifying pathways, and banish the perception that a university degree remains the golden pathway to defining ‘success’.”

Funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the Jockey Club Multiple Pathways Initiative – CLAP-TECH Pathway is Hong Kong’s first multiple VPET (Vocational, Professional Education and Training) pathways in mainstream senior secondary and post-secondary education formed under the tripartite partnership of HKBU, industry partners and secondary schools. CLAP-TECH Pathway incorporates career and life development into the curriculum and equips students with necessary technical and soft skills to address the future workforce.

HKBU representatives included Professor Rick Wong, Interim Provost, Acting Vice-President (Research and Development) and Acting Dean of Graduate School; Ms. Christine Chow, Vice-President (Administration) and Secretary; Professor Terence Lau, Interim Chief Innovation Officer; Mrs. Lily Chan, Director of University Advancement and Secretary-General of the HKBU Foundation;  as well as  principals, teachers and students from secondary schools also attended the ceremony to celebrate the success of the CLAP-TECH Pathway.