CIE organises Youth Environmental Leaders Training Programme for Secondary School Students

The College of International Education (CIE) organised the first Youth Environmental Leaders Training Programme entitled “Challenges and Opportunities facing Nature Conservation in Hong Kong” to raise awareness of environmental issues and encourage secondary school students to share the conservation message with their fellow students. The programme, comprising seminars, workshops and field trips, attracted more than 100 participants from 15 secondary schools to join.

In November 2014, CIE invited several veteran environmental protection experts, including Dr Samuel Hung, Chairman of Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society; Mr Ken So, Chief Executive of The Conservancy Association; Dr Michael Lau, Assistant Director of World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong; and Mr Felix Chan, Conservation Officer (Special Duties), Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department; to share their inspirational insights on a number of local conservation issues, such as biodiversity, arboriculture, Chinese white dolphin habitats, and wetland conservation in seminars.

During the workshops, CIE Associate Degree students and lecturers from the Environmental and Conservation Studies and Life Science of the Division of Applied Science served as facilitators to guide the participants in analysing relevant topics covered in seminars and workshops.

Throughout January 2015, CIE lecturers and students led participants on field trips to visit the Lok Ma Chau Wetland. For decades, the site was a restricted area, but about a year ago, it was opened for public access. Participants not only had the chance to directly observe wildlife in their protected habitats, but also feel and witness the threats triggered by urban development, as well as explore solutions to reduce the impact. 

“Through the joint effort of environmental protection experts, lecturers and students, the training programme received very positive feedback from secondary school students and we are glad that all participants agreed that the programme was inspiring and gave them a clearer picture of the challenges and opportunities facing nature conservation in Hong Kong,” said Dr Alan Leung, Lecturer of Division of Applied Science.