Civil Service Newsletter Issue 109

A A A

Knowledge Inheritance at Environmental Academy@Smart Venue

Environment Bureau /
Environmental Protection Department

PEOPLE are like seeds of many varieties held in your hand, each of them holds great potential. Nurturing staff is akin to providing good soil and essential nutrients for the seeds to grow and prosper.

With this in mind, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) established the Environmental Academy (the Academy) in May 2018. More than 1,000 colleagues, both professional and technical grade staff, have already benefited from the training programmes offered. Below are a few of the testimonials made by trainees and trainers.

“I joined EPD in 2018, and fortunately the Academy was established at that time. The Academy is a great platform forknowledgeable trainers to pass on their experience and skills to us — giving us a solid start.”Environmental Protection Inspector(attending the First Graduation Ceremony of theEnvironmental Academy in 2020)

“The refresher trainingprogramme offered by theAcademy reviews fundamentalknowledge and helps traineesbrush up their skill sets withup-to-date information.”Environmental Protection Officer(with the Department for many years)

“As a newcomer, I am very happy to joinEPD. The establishment of the Academy andresources deployed clearly demonstratethat the Department places humancapital as a top priority. The Academy hasequipped us with the skills and knowledgewe need to meet the challenges ahead.”Assistant Environmental Protection Officer

“I really enjoyed sharing myknowledge and experience withall these young and energetic newrecruits, and their feedback duringthe Q&A session proved insightful.”Programme trainer

EPD has further upgraded its training facilities to meet the growing demands in training needs and offer a more systematic training approach — establishing the Environmental Academy@Smart Venue (the Venue).

The Venue was officially opened in November 2020, marking a new milestone for human resources development in the Department. EPD continues to strive for further advancement, passes on knowledge and experience, keeps staff abreast of the latest developments, and encourages open-mindedness and innovation. More importantly, the new space also serves as a hub for colleagues to share and discuss ideas — nurturing collegiality with a real sense of belonging.

Inspired by the famous Chinese writer Mr Lu Xun, the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, designed the Environmental Academy logo to symbolise the spirit of sharing knowledge and passion for the environment from the mouths of one generation to ears of the next.

The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing (centre) exchanged views with Academy graduates.

Training facilities include immersive Cave Automatic Virtual Environment.

The Venue is well equipped with a variety of training facilities. These include the immersive Cave Automatic Virtual Environment — a technological innovation providing staff with immersive 2D and 3D training experiences. Through the 3D geographic information presented in the virtual tour, trainees can quickly grasp the current state of the environment.

Official opening of the Environmental Academy@Smart Venue in November 2020.

To highlight the importance of sustainable development, eco-friendly interior design and decors have been incorporated into the Venue. These include upcycled furniture made from waste materials including recycled timber marine fenders.

Upcycled furniture made from waste materials.

Corridor designed and decorated with Big Waster and policy-related animations.

Feature wall made entirely from recycled cardboard boxes.

A feature wall showcases the use of old cardboard boxes, with strips of cardboard being fashioned and handcrafted to form a Hong Kong skyline that features famous landmarks including Hong Kong's first waste-to-energy facility, the T•Park.

The Environmental Academy will continue to make the best use of its new venue and training facilities and provide high-quality training to enhance the environmental expertise of all staff.

Top