Learning through Personal Development at the Hong Kong Institute for Vocational Education

Abstract

A new “3+3+4” education system was proposed by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Education and Manpower Bureau in 2000. This new education system, implemented in 2009, seeks to offer to all students the opportunity to gain a fully rounded education. To adapt to these changes, vocational and lifelong education now place greater emphasis on the employability skills and all-round development of individuals. Personal development is the cornerstone of lifelong learning and academic and professional achievement. The challenge for educators is to formulate effective personal development strategies and education by developing different learning methodologies to strengthen students in learning and development. Moreover, experiential and lifelong learning need to be emphasised. All methodologies should be adopted with significant learning approaches. Enquiry-based, peer-assisted and active learning can support students over the learning journey both inside and outside the classroom.

This chapter undertakes an in depth critical review of the literature related to the issues of learning and personal development. Data was collected from multiple sources, including questionnaires and interviews, and involved the differing perspectives of students, educators and human resource practitioners to explore the personal development opportunities of students at the Hong Kong Institute for Vocational Education. The author identified the key issues in learning, developed a practical guide to personal development for educators and formulated an active learning model to support personal development. This study drew heavily on research experience to identify pathways to personal development such as a Supplemental Instruction Programme at a Hong Kong institution. Through this work, important insights into informal learning were achieved and practical guides and innovative learning strategies were developed to support personal development education.

Keywords: Active learning, Informal learning, Personal development, Supplemental Instruction, Peer-Assisted Learning and Vocational Education