Education innovation in Hong Kong

Although education in Hong Kong ranks among the world top, there remain plenty of opportunities for innovation. For this reason a prestigious fund for social innovation in Hong Kong started an ambitious programme for excellent and innovation-minded teachers in 2017, carried out by Ednovators and Kennisland.

header_img — Little children in Hong Kong.

2017 - 2017

Although education in Hong Kong++KL in Hong KongRead more about other projects we do in Hong Kong. ranks among the world top (see PISA 2018), there remain plenty of opportunities for innovation. The education system in Hong Kong faces relatively high rates of early dropouts, teachers experience a high workload and the education system has a strong focus on knowledge transfer as opposed to building essential skills for the future. For this reason The Hong Kong Jockey Club – the most important fund for social innovation in Hong Kong – started an ambitious programme in 2017: Innopower@JC: Fellowship for Teachers. The programme facilitates excellent and innovation-minded teachers in their education innovation journey, and is carried out by Ednovators and Kennisland.

The Fellowship for Teachers is inspired by Education Pioneers++Education PioneersTake a look at our case ‘Teachers as Education Pioneers’. a Dutch programme initiated by Kennisland in 2008 that has currently translated into structural government support for pioneering educators. Each year ten teachers are selectedThe Fellowship for Teachers is inspired by Education Pioneers, a Dutch programme initiated by Kennisland in 2008. to take part in the fellowship, which consists of a ten-week sabbatical of which two weeks are abroad and funding to realise an innovative project in one’s own school. The fellowship supports the teachers in the process of becoming excellent education innovators with a big heart for sound, inspiring and future-proof education. Kennisland helps design this programme, facilitates the kick-off for the fellows in Hong Kong and welcomes the fellowship for an Education Expedition in The Netherlands.

Each year fellows start their journey in April with a sabbatical. During this time they reflect on their educational vision, they learn and get inspiration from examples from abroad and get to know different/various education systems. As part of their sabbatical the fellows travel to the Netherlands, each accompanied by two colleagues. After their arrival Kennisland takes the fellows on an Education Safari: an inspiring programme that allows the fellows to meet a variety of educational innovatorsKennisland seeks to strengthen an international network of education innovators who freely share experiences, innovations and ideas. in the Netherlands.

The expedition includes visits to innovative schools and sessions with the local government representatives, and innovators from the field. The Hong Kong fellows meet the Dutch network of education innovators to spark the exchange of new and international perspectives. With the Teacher Fellowship and our collaboration with Ednovators in Hong Kong, Kennisland seeks to strengthen an international network of education innovators who freely share experiences, innovations and ideas. In march and may 2023 we were able to welcome seventy new and old fellows in the Netherlands after two years of online support due to covid.

Download the Education Expedition programme