Permanent Secretary for Education:
GIS Drives Positive Change in HK
Esri China (Hong Kong) continually strives to nurture future GIS talent. In recognition of innovation and excellence in applying Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology in solving real-world challenges, the winners of the Esri Young Scholars Award (Esri YSA) 2024 in Hong Kong have been officially announced.
A local Award Presentation Ceremony was successfully held on August 8, 2024, at H6 Conet, Central. The Guest of Honor, Ms. Michelle Li, JP, Permanent Secretary for Education, Education Bureau, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, gave an opening address to recognize the young scholars for their outstanding achievements and emphasized the importance of harnessing geospatial technology to develop innovative GIS applications that benefit and drive positive change in our community. She also appreciated the company’s role in nurturing future leaders and promoting spatial literacy among youngsters and students through the Map in Learning Program and the Esri YSA. Click here for the speech by Ms. Michelle Li.
“I am grateful to Esri for its generosity in sharing the valuable educational resources with our schools so that students can have access to this platform from a young age”
“Indeed, GIS is a useful tool conducive to Hong Kong’s development as a smart city.”
“In a city like Hong Kong which is devoid of natural resources, talent is the most valuable asset to proper Hong Kong’s development in an increasingly technology-driven global landscape.”
Excerpts from the speech by Ms. Michelle Li, JP, Permanent Secretary for Education
at the Esri YSA Award Presentation Ceremony 2024
The competition this year drew submissions from talented individuals and groups across tertiary institutes. Mr. Zhang Chen from the Department of Geography at the University of Hong Kong is the champion of the individual category with the winning project “Socio-Economic Inequality below Floods” which was displayed at the Esri User Conference 2024. For the full list of the awardees, please visit our result announcement page.
The Guest of Honor, Ms. Michelle Li, JP, Permanent Secretary for Education (center) presented the award and certificate to the group champions from the Department of Urban Planning and Design in the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Hong Kong.
The Guest of Honor, Ms. Michelle Li, JP, Permanent Secretary for Education (front row third from the left), Dr. Winnie Tang, MH, JP, Founder and Chairman of Esri China (Hong Kong) & Founder of the GIS Academy (front row second from the left), and Sr Paul Tsui, Chief Executive Officer, Esri China (Hong Kong) (front row fourth from the left) shared a joyful moment with the awardees of the Esri Young Scholars Award 2024.
The briefing session for the upcoming Esri YSA 2025 will take place in January 2025. The champion of the individual category will win a trip to attend the Esri User Conference in San Diego. Additionally, the Urban Renewal Authority, our strategic partner in the Esri YSA, will offer internship opportunities for the winners.
GIS Academy is now accepting membership applications. Esri Young Scholar Award participants, local professors, and lecturers are welcome to join the membership.