The Outstanding Apprentice Award Scheme

The 2022 Outstanding Apprentice Award Presentation Ceremony cum Earn & Learn Day hosted by the Vocational Training Council (VTC) was held in the Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) on 31 March 2023 (Friday) to recognise the excellent performance of apprentices and showcase their rewarding career opportunities, with Ms. Alice Lau, JP, Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare of HKSAR Government gracing the event as the Guest of Honour.

This year, 170 registered apprentices were nominated by employers for the Outstanding Apprentice (OSA) Award Scheme. The final awardees were selected by, the judging panel composed of Mr. Edmond LAI, Chairperson of the VTC Apprenticeship Training Board, and three other Board members.  Ten apprentices were named the Outstanding Apprentices of the Year and four others successfully nominated for Sir Edward Youde Memorial Outstanding Apprentice Awards 2022/23.  These top winners came from a wide range of specialisms such as aircraft maintenance, automotive engineering, building services engineering, electrical and mechanical engineering.

As an integral part of VPET, apprenticeship training has been injecting momentum to the sustainable development of industries in all walks of life by nurturing applied talents possessing both professional knowledge and practical experience.  Riding on such a meaningful occasion, the Office of the Director of Apprenticeship also organised the first-ever Earn & Learn Day at the same venue to further raise the public awareness and profile of apprenticeship.  The Earn & Learn Day featured two special events: the “Upskilling and Passing the Torch Forum” and “Career Expo”.  

It was delighted to have 3 apprentices of different decades and trades, who were at different stages of their personal career development, gathered together to share their experiences, insightful ideas and gains from apprenticeship training in the Forum held at the early afternoon.  Over a hundred audience of mainly VTC first year students and secondary school students joined the Forum in person at the VTC Auditorium in HKDI, and others were able to view the livestreaming of the Forum online.

The Career Expo lasted between 11 am and 6 pm at the Design Boulevard in HKDI.  During the day, secondary school students, education practitioners and the general public were also attracted to get the first-hand information on the employment prospect and appealing career pathways from the booths set up with the presence of industry partners from Engineering and Technology, Design, Transportation, Logistics and Healthcare Services sectors.

The overseas exchange for OSA awardees had been temporarily withheld in the past few years due to the pandemic.  This year the 2022 OSA awardees, together with their seniors of 2021 OSA awardees, were delighted and blessed for the opportunity to participate in a 1-week study and exchange tour to Singapore in late February to early March 2023.  They visited teaching facilities in the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) such as lift and elevator engineering and green energy system units, and local business entities and greater communities, thus broadening their global perspectives and multi-cultural awareness.  The OSA awardees expressed in their sharing at the Ceremony the wonderful experience of participation in the visit and the OSA Award Scheme, and more importantly, their gratitude to families and employers for all the unfailing support, trust and ample opportunities.