Corporate News

Club initiates fellowships to stimulate innovation among teachers and social workers

01/18/2017

Teachers and social workers play an important role in our community, so an innovative mindset is a valuable asset for them to fulfil their missions. Interviews with some 1,000 teachers and social workers in research commissioned by The Hong Kong Jockey Club have revealed that nearly 90% feel their sectors need innovation, yet only 10% believe they are ready to innovate, citing reasons such as heavy workload and a lack of support.

Initiated and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, InnoPower@JC: Fellowship for Teachers and Social Workers is a four-year programme aimed at nurturing talent in the education and social service sectors. It encourages teachers and social workers to take on innovative projects that will benefit their schools or organisations, thereby contributing to the long-term development of these sectors.

Ednovators, a platform for innovations in education, and Hong Kong Social Workers Association are serving as partners to the Trust in creating the fellowship programme, which has the support of the Education Bureau, Social Welfare Department and The Hong Kong Council of Social Service.

Officiating at the InnoPower@JC launch ceremony on 16 January were Club Steward Dr Eric Li Ka-cheung, Secretary for Education The Hon Eddie Ng and Acting Secretary for Labour and Welfare Stephen Sui. Representatives from partners and supporting organisations of the programme also came along to support the initiative.

Dr Li told the guests the Club had been putting strong emphasis on improving social impact through innovative ideas, and increasing capacity in the non-profit sector. “I look forward to seeing some 200 teachers and social workers who benefit from the project become the seeds in the industry with their peers, spreading the spirit of innovation around,” he said. “I shall welcome the birth of the first cohort of Teacher Fellows and Social Worker Fellows who can promote and put their innovation into practice.”

“I am grateful to The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for initiating this programme,” said Mr Ng. “This programme will involve a series of training and exchange activities to encourage teachers and social workers to evaluate and reflect on all aspects of their work, so as to stimulate their intrinsic innovative spirit, broaden their knowledge base and extend their international exposure. The advancement of education in Hong Kong relies on front-line educators, different sectors and Education Bureau all working together to move it forward. Education Bureau will continue to be proactive in creating space for teachers, developing high-standard courses and organising in-school experiential learning, all of which are aimed at maintaining the professionalism of the city's education team.”

Mr Sui said the HKSAR Government attached great importance to the training and development of social workers and social welfare sector. He believed that teachers and social workers in Hong Kong should move with the times in nurturing the next generation and responding to the needs of different social sectors. He thanked The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for launching the InnoPower@JC, saying it would provide an impetus for teachers and social workers to become “changemakers” in society.

InnoPower@JC is funded by a donation of over HK$68 million from the Trust. The initiative is designed with three main components to build the long-term capability of the social work and teaching professions:

1. Capacity Building: During a subsidised 10-week sabbatical leave, Teacher Fellows and Social Worker Fellows will exchange ideas with local social innovators and experts. They will also go abroad to learn from industry professionals in countries that are known for innovation in the education and social service sectors.

2. Actualising Change: Fellows will each nominate two co-workers as Buddies to learn and implement innovative projects that will benefit their schools or organisations. Relief funds will support hires when Fellows and Buddies are away, while project seed funds will support Fellows in carrying out their pilot projects.

3. Community Building: Fellows and their Buddies will share their ideas in the workplace and the community to spread the spirit of innovation, while also participating in regular gatherings to facilitate mutual learning.

During the course of the programme, 37 teachers and 37 social workers will be nurtured in three cohorts, along with 74 Buddies in each sector. It is expected that over 30 education and 30 social services  pilot projects will be incubated as a result.

Applications for the teacher fellowship are open from now until 6 February 2017. Social worker fellowship applications will open in February. For details, please visit http://www.jcinnopower.hk/.

 

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a not-for-profit enterprise dedicated to community betterment. Through its integrated business model of world-class racing, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charity and community contribution, the Club generates substantial economic and social value and assists the Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2015/16 the Club donated a record HK$3.9 billion to charity and paid a record HK$20.9 billion in tax. It is Hong Kong’s largest single tax payer and one of the world’s largest charity donors. Committed to global excellence and giving back to society, the Club is always “riding high together for a better future” with the people of Hong Kong.

Club Steward Dr Eric Li Ka-cheung says the Club has been putting strong emphasis on improving social impact through innovative ideas, and increasing capacity in the non-profit sector.
Club Steward Dr Eric Li Ka-cheung says the Club has been putting strong emphasis on improving social impact through innovative ideas, and increasing capacity in the non-profit sector.

Club Steward Dr Eric Li Ka-cheung (centre), Secretary for Education The Hon Eddie Ng (right) and Acting Secretary for Labour and Welfare Stephen Sui (left) officiate at the InnoPower@JC: Fellowship for Teachers and Social Workers launch ceremony.
Club Steward Dr Eric Li Ka-cheung (centre), Secretary for Education The Hon Eddie Ng (right) and Acting Secretary for Labour and Welfare Stephen Sui (left) officiate at the InnoPower@JC: Fellowship for Teachers and Social Workers launch ceremony.

Club Steward Dr Eric Li Ka-cheung (front row, centre), Secretary for Education The Hon Eddie Ng (front row, 2nd right) and Acting Secretary for Labour and Welfare Stephen Sui (front row, 2nd left) picture with the Cluba£į?s Executive Director, Charities and Community, Leong Cheung (front row, 1st left), Director of Social Welfare Carol Yip (front row, 1st right), Chief Executive of The Hong Kong Council of Social Service Chua Hoi-wai (back row, 1st right), Director of Ednovators Ada Wong (back row, centre) and President of Hong Kong Social Workers Association Irene Leung (back row, 1st left).
Club Steward Dr Eric Li Ka-cheung (front row, centre), Secretary for Education The Hon Eddie Ng (front row, 2nd right) and Acting Secretary for Labour and Welfare Stephen Sui (front row, 2nd left) picture with the Cluba£į?s Executive Director, Charities and Community, Leong Cheung (front row, 1st left), Director of Social Welfare Carol Yip (front row, 1st right), Chief Executive of The Hong Kong Council of Social Service Chua Hoi-wai (back row, 1st right), Director of Ednovators Ada Wong (back row, centre) and President of Hong Kong Social Workers Association Irene Leung (back row, 1st left).

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