HKTDC Education & Careers Expo Opens Next Thursday

	HKTDC Assistant Executive Director Sophia Chong highlights the Careers Theme Days of the Education & Careers Expo. The new theme days cover Culinary and Bakery, Electrical and Mechanical, and Career Internship, while the Aviation theme day returns to the fair
	Guest speakers preview the Education & Careers Expo during today’s press conference. They shared the latest information on local and overseas study opportunities and analysed the prospects and human resources demand of popular industries   From left: Florence Ip, Senior Labour Officer (Employment Information and Promotion Division), Labour Department; Stanley Chow, Senior Engineer, Electrical & Mechanical Services Department; Yvonne Wong, Assistant General Manager, Qianhai International Liaison Services Limited; Sophia Chong, Assistant Executive Director, HKTDC; Patricia Chan, Deputy Director, External Relations Office, Vocational Training Council; Jolita Pons, Head of Political, Press and Information Section, European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao; Thomas Wong, Program Director, AFS Intercultural Exchanges
	The Education & Careers Expo attracted a large number of visitors in 2015

20 January 2016 –The 26^th HKTDC Education & Careers Expo will run from 28 to 31 January at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). Admission will be free of charge. This year’s expo, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will gather more than 800 exhibiting organisations from 16 countries and regions, including educational institutions, consulting firms, professional associations, government departments, semi-government bodies and private enterprises. Together they provide a one-stop platform for visitors to get information on study opportunities, continuous education and the job market.

The four-day expo features Education and Careers zones. Apart from the popular Aviation theme, new daily career themes this year include Culinary and Bakery, Electrical and Mechanical, and Career Internship. Employment opportunities in related industries will be highlighted during each of these thematic Careers Days. A number of industry institutions such as the Chinese Culinary Institute, International Culinary Institute, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department and Hong Kong Airport Services Limited will provide a wide range of practical information including current industry trends, job prospects, advice on entering different industries and the availability of jobs to help students and job seekers map out their career paths.

On-site recruitment: local and mainland opportunities tapped
The Youth Zone gathers various types of institutions to offer information on internship and employment to young people. Qianhai International Liaison Services Limited from Shenzhen will present personal development and career opportunities in Qianhai, while experienced professionals working on the mainland will also be invited to share their insights. Representatives from the Labour Department will introduce Youth Employment and Training Programmes, which are specially designed to support young people in securing local employment and offer information on various placements and working holiday opportunities for youngsters seeking work experience outside Hong Kong.

This year the HKTDC will, for the first time, join hands with FreshLinker, an online platform specialising in job listings for university students. During the fair, on-site recruitment will be conducted by around 16 companies to fill some 200 summer jobs and internships. Companies will include Hyatt Hotels Corporation, New World Telecommunications Limited, Hopewell Holdings Limited and Golden Harvest, among others. In addition, the Hong Kong Police Force, Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited and Centaline Property Agency are among those accepting on-the-spot job applications.

Overseas institutions to help students find opportunities abroad
The Education & Careers Expo will provide the latest information to students seeking to further their studies outside Hong Kong. The focus markets of this year’s expo are the Chinese mainland, the United States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. At the seminars, experts from these markets will share their tips on admission procedures and entry requirements as well as information on campus life.

Regarding local opportunities, fair visitors can get information on how to pursue their academic goals, continue their studies or embark on the path of creative education. Exhibitors include the Vocational Training Council (VTC), City University of Hong Kong’s School of Continuing and Professional Education (CityU SCOPE), Hong Kong Shue Yan University, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and the International Professional Grooming Academy. They will give details of different courses, highlighting the diversity of options available.

Education seminars held during the expo have always been popular with students. This year, in addition to seminars providing tips on taking TOEFL and IELTS examinations, Dr Au Yeung Wai-hoo, Senior Lecturer at the Chinese Language and Literature Department of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Yan Yuk-ki, author and consultant for the 5 Stars Chinese Composition Series, will talk about Chinese writing skills in preparation for the local Diploma of Secondary Education.

Celebrities to share workplace insights
More than 100 events will be arranged during the expo, including seminars on further education, theme day talks, overseas Working Holiday programmes and management trainee programmes. Celebrities coming to share their experiences and secrets of success include former TV news anchor and drama producer Ngai Yee-shan, cross-media professional Cheng Tan-shui, Hong Kong’s first F1 Development Driver Fong Cheun-yue, Clinical Psychologist and one of the “Hong Kong Ten Outstanding Young Persons 2015” Dr Cheung Yee-lai, as well as investment banker-turned-chef Chan Yin-lam.

Apart from seminars, the HKTDC will also collaborate with the VTC to present a range of innovative activities, such as building a robotic ant and using smart devices to control a racing car and a badminton-playing robot.

Daily expo themes:

Fair Website: www.hktdc.com/hkeducationexpo/

Media Enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC's Communication and Public Affairs Department:

Joe Kainz     Tel: (852) 2584 4216           Email: joe.kainz@hktdc.org

Media Registration: Media representatives wishing to cover the event may register on-site with their business cards and/or media identification.

To view press releases in Chinese, please visit http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/tc

About the HKTDC
A statutory body established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based traders, manufacturers and services providers. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China and throughout Asia. The HKTDC also organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in overseas markets, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.