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The Hong Kong Observatory and the University of Hong Kong Jointly Train Students in Computer Science and Information Systems

27 Nov 2003

The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) and the University of Hong Kong will jointly train up students of the University's Department of Computer Science and Information Systems. A Cooperative Training Agreement was signed today (November 27). HKO is the first government department to cooperate with the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems to provide practical trainings to students.

Under this joint training programme, the Observatory will provide facilities and projects to train the University's students. It will also assign staff to serve as tutors to guide trainees in the completion of training projects. The two parties will share the outputs of the projects, both benefiting from the training programme.

The Director of HKO, Mr Lam Chiu Ying, observed, "One of the missions of HKO is to work towards the betterment of the community. The most meaningful way to achieve this is to educate the next generation to equip them with the necessary skills and to familiarise them with the working environment so that they can better serve the community in the future. In the training period, we will not only provide mentorship to the students in technology, but will also guide them in their personal development, cultivate their spirit to serve the community and to encourage their quest for excellence.

We aim to train the next generation of scientists and engineers by enhancing their technological capacity and their quality as persons. We regard such training as one of the many services we provide to the community. It is consistent with the Department's motto of Service through Science."

The Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Hong Kong, Professor Ng Tung Sang, remarked, "This is the first time the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems signs an agreement on cooperative training with the government sector. This agreement provides second-year students of Hong Kong University's Department of Computer Science and Information Systems, especially those studying software engineering, an opportunity to get practical training in HKO so as to broaden their experience and to enhance their competitiveness after graduation. This training programme will also provide a rare opportunity for undergraduate and postgraduate students to solve real computational problems. HKO has a long history of using computers, 30 years I was told. It has been using computers extensively in the collection, processing, display and dissemination of information. It can therefore provide students with rich learning opportunities. This is why the Faculty of Engineering cooperates with the Observatory."

Mr Chan Chun Sang, a second year software engineering student presently undergoing a one-year internship at the Observatory said, "Exercise in class is hardly a match for real applications. The Observatory requires that I practice what I have learned in a real working environment, to analyse problems and to find solutions on my own. I am now developing a system for processing and displaying tropical cyclone information to help forecasters to perform their forecasting duties better. An opportunity like this comes rarely. I shall make good use of it."

Mr Chan's supervisor at the Observatory Dr Yeung King Kay added, "We require the trainees to complete an assigned research or development project within a given time. In this way, we develop their ability and determination to solve problems. In the course of that, they would have to learn how to work with other people. These are qualities which will help them to meet the challenges of society when they graduate."