Northumbria honours Hong Kong civic leader

Northumbria University, Newcastle, has awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law to Mrs Carrie Yau, the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Vocational Training Council (VTC) in recognition of her contribution to the promotion of vocational education, skills and in-company development in Hong Kong.

Mrs Yau joined VTC in January 2013 after a long and distinguished career of over 30 years in public service in the Hong Kong government in major policy areas including security, building and lands, education and manpower, transport and health and food safety, every stage of which has demonstrated her achievements and contribution to public services and education that have helped to shape and build Hong Kong’s civic and educational infrastructures.

The award was bestowed by the University’s Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Governors, Mr Chris Sayers at the University of Northumbria’s Academic Congregation Ceremony on 17 October in Hong Kong at the School for Higher and Professional Education (SHAPE), part of the VTC organisation.

This year, more than 460 graduates completed a degree programme offered by the University of Northumbria in collaboration with SHAPE. Northumbria University’s Newcastle Business School has been partnering with SHAPE since 2002 to provide top-up degree programmes in a number of specialisms namely, Finance and Investment Management, International Business Management and International Hospitality and Tourism Management and more recently in Business (with Law) and Food Science and Nutrition.

Kevin Kerrigan, Executive Dean for Newcastle Business School and Northumbria Law School, said: “Our partnership with SHAPE is extremely important to us. We have a shared set of values and a commitment to ensuring students on our courses have an outstanding learning experience and develop the skills needed to succeed and prosper as international graduates competing in today’s global markets.

“It was also wonderful to make a bit of history by conferring the first honorary doctorate at an overseas congregation on Mrs Yau – an award she so richly deserves.” Newcastle Business School has recently joined an elite group of less than 1% of business schools worldwide, after achieving a rare double accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International in both business management and accounting and finance.

Mr Kerrigan added: “AACSB accreditation carries huge reputational value and has major benefits for us, our students and staff and indeed for our international partners, and I was delighted to share the good news with colleagues from SHAPE during our visit.”

Established in 1982, the Vocational Training Council（VTC）is the largest vocational education, training and professional development group in Hong Kong with some 250,000 students and trainees each year.

The mission of VTC is to provide a valued choice to school leavers and working people to acquire the values, knowledge and skills for lifelong learning and enhanced employability, and also to provide valued supports to industries for their manpower development.

SHAPE is a member of VTC Group and was established in September 2003 to provide further study opportunities to Higher Diploma graduates and other sub-degree holders through full and part-time and part-time top-up degree programmes offered locally in collaboration with local and overseas universities.