Breaking Ranks: The recent reversal of Hong Kong university fortunes illustrates the minefield that is academia grading

There was some soul-searching in the Hong Kong academy community upon the release of the 2024 QS World University Rankings, which saw six of the city’s seven institutions on the list slipping backward. Of the two judged to be among the world’s top 50 – compared to three last year – the University of Hong Kong dropped from 21st to 26th, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong fell nine spots to 47th. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) slid from 40th to 60th.

To further highlight the cause for alarm, a spokesperson for global higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) pointed out that Hong Kong had declined by 60 per cent in the rankings of subjects offered. Hong Kong’s comparative inability to reach out and establish partnerships with overseas varsities was cited as one factor behind the listing downgrade. Changes in the assessment weighting were also deemed to be responsible, along with the introduction of three new metrics – sustainability, employment outcomes and international research network.

Academic conundrum

Yet, just a couple of weeks later, a separate survey reported an uptick in Hong Kong tertiary education standards. In the 2023 Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings, five Hong Kong institutions improved or maintained their standings over the previous year. The plight of HKUST perfectly illustrates this academic conundrum. While the Clear Water Bay-based university dropped 20 places in the QS world rankings, it climbed two spots to seventh position on THE’s list, indicating an improvement in performance – albeit as part of an Asian-oriented survey, not a global one.

A spokesperson for HKUST remained philosophical about the ongoing fluctuations in ranking performance. “Rankings go up and down due to various reasons, and the HKUST will take them as useful references to learn more about our and other universities’ performance and identify areas for improvement,” they said.

The world ranking is just one of the references for evaluating the quality of an institution. Some consider having a proven track record in teaching and research to be of greater significance. The spokesperson said HKUST had demonstrated its capability in teaching and research through numerous recognitions gained by its students and faculty, as well as its many partnerships and collaborations with top public and private institutions worldwide.

Referring to the Asian ranking, they stated: “As a young university with just 32 years of history, HKUST is pleased that it is constantly ranked among Asia’s top 10 universities in different rankings, and its graduates continue to be ranked by a major ranking agency amongst the most competitive and desirable employees in the global job market. The university will continue to contribute to the academic, research and industrial development of society.”

Also Read: Elevate Your Skills with the Most In-Demand Online Courses

Rating by subject

Several global university surveys are published annually. Those by QS Top Universities, THE and the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), also known as the Shanghai Ranking, are the most widely read and quoted by institutions. In addition to the major ranking bodies, The Times and The Guardian newspapers in the UK, and U.S. News and Forbes in the US provide more specific league tables.

The big surveys also have sub-rankings that identify universities with high reputations in certain areas above and beyond their overall position. These lists can be surprising. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, for example, occupies number 85 in the QS rankings but rates 15th worldwide for Optometry. The University of Southampton is rated 78th in the world by QS, but sixth best for Nursing.

A former lecturer at a major Hong Kong university indicates that the worldwide ranking of subjects generates the most concern and interest within the institutions themselves, as it is deemed to reflect the joint efforts of each department.

Ranking breakdown

The way universities are ranked depends on various factors, and the parameters used by the various systems differ slightly. THE, for instance, will consider research volume, income and reputation, and it determines influence in global research by how often papers produced by a university are cited. Among other criteria, QS surveys the academic reputation of the university and considers the employability of its undergraduates. Originally created to determine the global ranking of Chinese universities, the ARWU uses six factors to rank institutions, including the number of alumni and staff winning Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals. The list is published by Shanghai Jiao Tong University and updated annually.

In THE’s methodology, teaching, research and citations contribute 30% each to world ranking. Several assessment methods are used to determine the quality of teaching including self-assessment, student responses and external assessment by lecturers holding doctorates. Research success is assessed by the number of papers published in academic journals and the number of citations – a general indicator of how the university is contributing to the world of knowledge. The impact factor of a journal – its prestige – is also considered.

The former Hong Kong University lecturer suggests that in very specialised areas, it can be difficult to reach the required number of citations required by the assessment exercise. She adds: “As both teaching and research are ranked, both aspects are important [to academic staff] for contract renewal and possible promotion.”

Income for research is factored in as well since most research grants are competitive and are won or lost on the reputation of research team members. Earnings from industry – a barometer of a university’s capability to realise new inventions and transfer technology – are also considered.

Student satisfaction

Another important consideration is the ability to attract a large proportion of students and faculty from across the world. Regarding student satisfaction, commentators have expressed fears about grade inflation as universities strive to keep students sweet. The former lecturer is quick to dispel such concerns, saying: “Student satisfaction is important as this is reflected in the rankings. Regarding the danger of grade inflation, while it is possible, most lecturers respect the importance of integrity.”

Italian exchange student Riccardo Scavone recently attended the University of Hong Kong (HKU) for one semester. He took four courses, two in Accounting, one in Finance and one in Communication, at Hong Kong’s top-ranked tertiary institution. Faced with a host of destination choices for his time overseas, he eventually plumped for Hong Kong. He says: “I chose HKU instead of other universities in Hong Kong for two reasons: the ranking and the location in the city. After having chosen the city, the ranking was the only way to differentiate among universities.”

He loved his time at the university – both socially and academically. “If I had to give a grade, it would have been a 10 out of 10,” he enthuses.

Grading façade

Scavone feels the importance of rankings is overblown. “I reckon the ranking in the majority of the cases is a façade,” he opines. “There is not that much difference between a 20th-ranked uni and a fifth one.”

That said, he stresses that HKU provides students with a premium experience of high-quality teaching and facilities, and plenty of extracurricular courses to create bonds between students. He also believes its reputation will play an important role when looking for a job.

Interestingly, Scavone adds that ranking may be a pivotal criterion for some of his peers – for reasons other than academic. “It is not a matter of obtaining a better education or job placement, but social recognition,” he explains. “Everybody wants to feel approved and respected and, in these terms, attending a top-ranked uni helps in the process.”

An Indian student revealed she took Journalism at HKU because the department was staffed by experienced journalists. On the reverse side of the coin, Hong Kong-raised Valerie decided to study archaeology at Cardiff University in the UK because there are limited heritage and archaeological sites in Hong Kong. She felt the UK would offer a broader perspective.

Despite this year’s QS world-ranking setback, Hong Kong is rightly proud of its many excellent universities and academic institutions. Proposals to attract more non-local students to the city’s government-funded universities will add diversity and talent, helping Hong Kong in its drive to become a regional centre for education.

Photos: Hong Kong University of Science &Technology (HKUST)

Woman to Watch: Ariel Yang on creative arts to teaching to regenerative medicine…

Not only does Ariel Yang serve as Executive Director for skin specialist company DS Regenerative Medicine, the accomplished multitasker is also prepping the next generation in the ways of artificial intelligence…

Yang at Heart From creative arts to teaching to regenerative medicine, Ariel Yang is comfortable in her own skin gafencu people interview March 2022 — Earrings, necklace, bracelet by Van Cleef & Arpels; Jacket and pants by Alexander McQueen; Top by La Perla; Heels by Gianvito Rossi

What were your early years like?
I could probably sum up my childhood self in four words: well-behaved, sensible, affectionate and filial. I was born in a really small town outside Wenzhou in Zhejiang Province, and I lived with a large extended family aside from my parents, so it was a really lovely, warm and supportive environment to grow up in.

Did you have any particular career aspirations as a child?
To be honest, I was always creative as a child, but my parents weren’t keen on me going down that track. Understandably, they wanted me to pursue something more traditionally acceptable in their eyes. One of my uncle was a postdoctoral fellow at Peking University, and my father – who was a teacher – was adamant that I followed in their footsteps, so back of my mind I always knew that a career in education was a significant possibility.

Is that the path you took initially?
Well, after graduating from high school, I enrolled at the Qianjiang College of Hangzhou Normal University to study tourism management. My first job right after receiving my degree was to teach at Zhejiang University’s Faculty of Science, followed by a stint in its School of Management. I guess you could say I ended up fulfilling my father’s wishes.

What spurred your move from Shanghai to Hong Kong in 2017?
After I left my teaching job, I moved to Shanghai and pursued something a little closer to my original interests – working as a designer for a Chinese jewellery business. By that time, Hong Kong was already renowned as an international centre for the industry, so I thought moving here would be good for my career. On top of that, the city’s status as a leading financial and cultural hub was very attractive to me. I felt I could meet talented individuals and have a much more multicultural experience, so I packed my bags and left Shanghai for Hong Kong.

“I felt I could meet talented individuals [in Hong Kong] and have a much more multicultural experience”

How did you become involved in the business of skin health?
I guess my husband can take some of the credit here as he was the one who got me thinking about investing in a company. I first met him, through a student of mine, long ago during my early teaching years and we stayed in touch. We just happened to reconnect romantically around the time I came to Hong Kong – he’d moved here just before me. As he was in the business of investing, I picked up some tips and tricks of the trade from him.

So, when the opportunity arose to invest in DS Regenerative Medicine prior to its listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2017, this budding interest paired with my lifelong passion for beauty and skincare meant I absolutely jumped at the chance. It was a great decision, and as a company we’ve gone from strength to strength.

What exactly does DS Regenerative Medicine specialise in?
Basically, we’re a group of skin specialists who place emphasis on regenerative medicine. Perhaps our strongest service is treating certain forms of skin cancer. In particular, we use a specialised procedure called Mohs Micrographic Surgery. With carcinomas, early detection is vital; most people don’t really pay attention to spots when they appear, but it’s critical to get any skin abnormalities checked out right away. The next step is to treat them immediately. Post-surgical care is equally important, and our dermatologists are skilled in ensuring that there’s minimal evidence afterwards that the patient has had skin cancer – especially when such blemishes occur on the face.

Aside from cancers, our medical experts and regenerative skincare doctors are adept at treating a wide-ranging array of skin conditions, be it itchy, flaky skin, alopecia or eczema. We also specialise in medical imaging, from CT scans to MRIs. Finally, there’s our in-house DS Skin & Wellness Clinic skincare line, which has been specially developed by our dermatologists and chemists to help achieve and maintain healthy skin.

Where did the company originate?
It started as a dermatological clinic in Singapore back in 2005, and today, it’s the largest private practice skin clinic in the city, with five locations as well as an outpost in Kuala Lumpur. We decided to launch operations in Hong Kong as we wanted to take advantage of the city’s unique location as a global hub, as well as a potential springboard into China. In fact, we’re launching two new dermatological centres across the border this month – one in Shenzhen and another in Hangzhou.

One of the company’s sub-brands is QR Skin & Laser Centre. This is a regenerative medical centre focused on the skin, with branches in Central – where we are meeting today – and Kowloon Bay.

How has the ongoing pandemic affected your business?
I think I can say that two years of Covid has negatively impacted everyone in the world, and we’re no different. Obviously, we’ve been hit in terms of patient traffic, and we’ve also had to slow down our expansion. Having said that, I’m still optimistic. Not only do we have the medical know-how, but our staff are resilient at heart, so we’ll move forward one step at a time towards the day when everything improves. Hopefully, soon!

Aside from DS, are there any other projects you’re involved with?
Absolutely. Last year, I started a new youth education venture to raise awareness about artificial intelligence. The idea sparked from my own experience as a teacher, and being involved in this new project allows me to go back to my roots in education. Our company currently helps more than 200 primary and secondary schools across Hong Kong, training them to develop requisite skills within this sphere. We also host activities to increase awareness and encourage development, be it annual competitions or even international conferences. I believe it’s something that fills an unmet need, and that’s very meaningful to me.

How do you relax when you have time?
I love hiking as I find it helps me clear my head, but my favourite self-pampering activity is having a massage – full-body ones that just knead and roll away any tension I might be feeling.
If you could go back and meet anyone from your past, who would it be and why?Honestly, I’m someone who lives firmly in the moment, so I don’t believe in looking back. I’m the person I am today because of the decisions I’ve made and people I’ve met along the way.

What’s the most interesting thing that has ever happened to you?
That’s a tough question. I have a bad memory, so it’s difficult to pinpoint any particular outstanding moments. I will say, though, that having my son and watching him grow up is the funniest, strangest and warmest thing to happen to me. He’s four now, and seeing the world through his eyes and discovering his likes and dislikes are, for me, the most interesting moments ever.

“I’m someone who lives firmly in the moment, so I don’t believe in looking back”

Finally, tell us a secret about yourself.
Hmm… well, I touched upon this earlier, that I’ve always had a huge creative side. I love the arts and love performing. In fact, as a child, my teacher also said I had a talent for painting. However, ultimately, my parents managed to turn my interests elsewhere, and I have no regrets. Occasionally, though, I do wonder what might have been if I’d followed that passion. I’d probably have been another person entirely! Perhaps one day I’ll translate my love of art into a new business opportunity…

Thank you.

(Interview by: Tenzing Thondup Photographer: Jack Law Art Direction and Styling: Jhoshwa Ledesma Videographer: Kes Lei Venue: QR Skin & Laser Centre Cover look: Earrings by AAR Boutique Ring by Graff Dress by Nana Jacqueline Heels by Amina Muaddi)

Sophie Kindergarten’s Helena Pong creates a wholesome environment for children

A refreshing voice in early education, Helena Pong has reschooled herself since founding Sophie Kindergarten, while juggling motherhood and charity work. Having the support of her family helped.

The new year is often a time for reflection and resolutions. Can you share your thoughts on this as we enter 2022?
Happy new year to all your readers. As for reflections on another year passed, I always take time to assess where I am in life and show my appreciation to all those who have had my back. And instead of setting high-flying goals, I keep my resolutions simple – to strike a better balance between work commitments, charity and family life.

What keeps you motivated?
It’s the people around me, the kindergarten, the children, their parents, my whole team – positive feedback from them means the world, bringing me immense satisfaction and the impetus to keep going forward. It’s important for everyone to feel acknowledged and appreciated so we can continue to do great work. My team at the kindergarten, my kids, my husband – indeed the whole family – are so supportive and that is why I’m where I am today.

helena-pong-sophie-kindergarten-wholesome-children-gafencu-hongkong-5 — Top by Fendi; Long skirt by Valentino, courtesy of The Outnet; Helels by Manolo Blahnik

How important is it for a working mother to have a solid support system?
In order to keep going as a working mother, you need a powerful network of strong people that you can rely on. This can come from colleagues, neighbours, family – we need a wealth of support in our everyday lives. Personally, I am grateful to have a supportive husband who encourages me to pursue my passions and embrace my interests.

Can you tell us about your upbringing and how it has shaped your personality?
Dance was an important part of my childhood. Consistent dance practice and participation throughout my school years – from primary to secondary – was critical in imparting healthy lessons about team spirit and physical and emotional strength. Any kind of performing arts is incredibly tough – not just the self-discipline required to continue week in, week out, but also stepping onto the stage in front of a live audience, which requires mastering another set of skills, particularly self-confidence and resilience. Dance practice certainly instilled a can-do attitude in me, and building all those short bits of movement into a full-fledged performance taught me so much about the importance of a collaborative team effort. Attributes honed in childhood always come handy in your adult life.

“Building all those short bits of movement into a full-fledged [dance] performance taught me so much about the importance of a collaborative team effort”

In 2014, you opened Sophie Kindergarten & Nursery School in southwest Kowloon. Why did you decide to start a kindergarten?
It’s a scientific fact that between birth and the fifth birthday, the brain develops more than at any other stage of life. Early childhood education gives important life skills – from using forks to holding pencils, forming relationships and understanding social skills – and attending a good kindergarten is integral to the holistic foundation of a child’s emotional, cognitive and physical needs.

Knowledge can be gained every second of our life, but our attitude and character are shaped in the early years. It’s very important for youngsters to have the right exposure and values – at home or in kindergarten – for maximum growth. Raising three kids of my own gave me the passion to help our most precious resource grow into responsible, well-rounded, competent learners. What better way to achieve that than by providing a stimulating, fun environment? At Sophie’s, we focus on the intangible gains a child makes – developing fine motor skills through play and practice, honing creativity through role play, broadening mental capacity through board games and acquiring social skills through group activities.

Also Read: Timothy Yu launched an online learning platform right after university. Today it serves 2.5 million children in eight countries

helena-pong-sophie-kindergarten-wholesome-children-gafencu-hongkong-2 — Dress by Zimmermann, courtesy of The Outnet; Heels by Sophia Webster

As a female entrepreneur, what were the main challenges you encountered and how did you overcome them?
The most challenging aspect of being a mompreneur is time management. Creating a balance between family life and work obligations so neither suffers and professional targets are met is a skill I mastered over time.

Raising my qualifications to the required level was another arduous task. I had a banking and finance background, but without a formal degree in child education dipping my toes in an early-years programme was tough. Only after opening the school did I realise that my knowledge and experience from being a mother weren’t sufficient for running an educational institution.
The importance of being qualified cannot be debated, so besides being active at Po Leung Kok, running a home and a kindergarten, and attending social functions, I started studying for a principal certification. It took me three years of hard work and dedication to get this and my postgraduate diploma in early childhood education in place – there were times when my family didn’t see much of me for the entire week and weekends were reserved for assignments. So yes, if you are a mompreneur, time management is the key skill.

helena-pong-sophie-kindergarten-wholesome-children-gafencu-hongkong-3 — Button up shirt by Hermès; Trousers by Stella McCartney

Can you tell us about your education?
I attended St Paul’s Convent School and then went to London for higher studies in finance and banking. Funnily enough, I never really pursued what I studied in college. I met my husband, Wilson Pong, at university and we married early in life.

Growing up did you ever imagine you would be in the place you are right now?
I never had any fantasies, expectations or big life plans growing up. Even when I was young, I couldn’t imagine what I might be doing in 10 years. I’ve always just gone with the flow, and it’s worked out just fine…

helena-pong-sophie-kindergarten-wholesome-children-gafencu-hongkong-4 — Dress by Zimmermann, courtesy of The Outnet; Heels by Sophia Webster

A little girl in your kindergarten wishes to become a future leader. What words of advice would you give her?
I hope you don’t mind if I twist this question a little. I would advise the parents instead, as the girl is little and might not understand. Parenting doesn’t come with a set of instructions, mums and dads navigate a course of action, prod along and hope for the best outcome.

The process to raising future leaders starts with us. It’s never too early to start working on your children hoping they’d be the ones to change the world. As parents we need to make sure the fundamentals are right. Ensure your children cultivate a positive attitude, give them the tools to overcome challenges, stick to a goal, persevere, commit, learn from mistakes and accept setbacks in the process. It’s important for parents to find the area their children are interested, help them find a passion and encourage consistency and commitment in efforts. See, in life as long as you love something and have that burning desire, you do well. I studied for banking and finance but never worked in that industry for a day in my life. I found my passions after university and relentlessly pursue them till today. For me or anyone else, taking charge and changing the course pf your life is okay.

At the kindergarten stage, I always tell parents that primary-school admissions are tough, competition is cut-throat – the important thing is to make sure your child likes school and it’s a positive place for them to thrive. If they are not fond of the environment, there is nothing you can do. You can’t do the [admissions] interview for them, you can’t perform for them – unless the child likes their school, it’s hard for them to succeed.

“…make sure your child likes the school. You can’t do the interview for them – unless the child likes the environment, it’s hard for them to flourish”

Tell us more about your charity work at Po Leung Kuk.
Po Leung Kuk is one of the most prominent and committed charities in Hong Kong. Tirelessly serving for over 140 years now, we are currently providing services to over 300 units which, in turn, help an average of 800,000 people a year. The charity genuinely believes in the spirit of benevolence, and that as a community we should protect the young and innocent, the old and vulnerable. It’s a very people-oriented philosophy with the mission to cater to an all-round, “holistic development” of those in need. Care, respect, equity and empowerment are the key guiding lights and the charity strives to create a harmonious environment of rendering social, educational, recreational, cultural and medical services to individuals from all walks of life.
As their Vice Chairman, I am now more on the management side, but pre-Covid, I used to spend time with the sick children, feeding, cuddling and playing with them – it’s heart-warming to see how much our time, attention and affection can mean to those in need. That gives me true contentment and satisfaction.

helena-pong-sophie-kindergarten-wholesome-children-gafencu-hongkong-1 — Jumpsuit by Iris & INK, courtesy of The Outnet

What’s your favourite way to unwind?
Listening to music and just lazing around at home with my family.

What would be an ideal Sunday for you?
A late Sunday brunch followed by boating or hiking. My husband loves the boat and I love exploring the city’s hilly terrain of on foot. Hiking is such a great exercise; we both love the outdoors and being out in nature. Covid-induced restrictions have been a blessing in disguise for us – since the halt of travel, we have a newfound appreciation for our home.

What are you most looking forward to once the pandemic is behind us?
Though we’ve been content not to travel, it would be amazing to venture beyond our shores once again. We’d probably do a short trip to Tokyo to begin with. It’s the family’s favourite destination – the kids are avid Disneyland fans, and my husband and I love the food and shopping there too.

Thank you.

Also Read: Hong Kong socialite Helen Ma talks about life & her latest venture

Interview by: Nikita Mishra Photos: Jack Ngai Styling and Art Direction: Jhoshwa Ledesma

Timothy Yu’s Snapask reaches eight markets in Asia, aiding 4.5m students!

Tech trailblazer Timothy Yu matches students with questions to professionals who can answer them, without ever needing to meet face-to-face.

Did personal experience factor into the birth of your start-up, Snapask?
Yes, definitely. When I was in college, I used to spend a lot of my time tutoring students, so it was part of daily life to travel door-to-door between home tutoring sessions. Around the same time, I also began creating teaching videos and posting them on Facebook. I initially thought to ask people to pay to get this content, but quickly realised that there was no demand for such things. Then, in the comments section, I would often be asked specific questions, so I began charging to answer them instead. That’s pretty much what sparked the idea for Snapask. Funnily enough, it was my first company as well as my first job, and I started it when I was just a second-year student [at the University of Hong Kong].

What exactly is Snapask?
The initial idea of Snapask was to connect students who need help with someone who is qualified, vetted and capable of answering questions that pop up during their day-to-day studies. It’s almost like Uber for tutoring. Students take a photo of their problem, and we automatically connect them digitally with a qualified tutor within 30 seconds, and they can then have a one-on-one discussion about it. It’s an app that supports students whenever they need an answer.

We started in Hong Kong in 2015, and we’ve accumulated about 4.5 million students on the platform. Today, we’re in nine different markets, including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and other Southeast Asian countries. We didn’t want to give our clients the additional stress of trying to figure out if they can afford to ask that next question, so they pay a monthly fee, and it’s pretty much like a buffet where they can reach out to any number of tutors and have unlimited access to our educational video library.

The idea is to make our platform attractive not only to the students, but also to the parents who are footing the bill. It’s kind of like online shopping in a way, because once you experience the convenience and efficiency of this kind of home learning, especially when compared to travelling to a tutorial centre or calling a teacher to your home once or twice a week, then you realise it’s a better way to get what you need.

“It’s pretty much like a buffet where [students] can reach out to any number of tutors and have unlimited access to our educational video library”

How does Snapask supplement the traditional education system?
In fact, there are a lot of inefficiencies in the education system today, since even after students have spent an entire day at school, they need to follow it up with evenings at tutorial centres and such for additional exam preparation. Most of them may not have access to a private tutor, and they can’t wait around for a day to go back and ask the teacher. So, Snapask steps into that gap by always connecting them to someone who can help.

At the same time, we are also creating a lot of high-quality supplemental content on a wide range of topics. It’s similar to MasterClass [the US-based online education subscription platform]. We build bite-sized topic-specific videos. For example, if a student is struggling with trigonometry, they can take a look at that to gain a better grasp of the subject matter. We don’t just post videos of teachers with a whiteboard; we try to approach it in a more effective way.

Also Read: Stitching Sustainability with Innovation: Will Lam, MD, High Fashion International Group

How do you vet your tutors?
Our teachers are all graduates from top universities – that’s a must. They first have to submit their university qualifications and transcripts, and we verify that their identities are authentic. At the end of the day, we are working with a lot of underage students, so their safety and security is the number one concern for us.

In addition, our tutors not only have a very high achievement profile, but backed by artificial intelligence machine learning they also understand how well they are serving our students via user ratings, platform ratings, as well as tutor-to-tutor ratings. This ensures only the good ones remain.

What projects do you have lined up this year?
As we have a lot of virtual learning on our platform, our first priority is to enable personalisation in learning. Right now, we’re collecting a lot of data on how students are learning, and we are trying to apply AI technology to suggest personalised recommendations to ensure each individual learn in the most efficient fashion.

Then, we’re strongly pushing our development of proprietary teaching videos. In fact, I am personally creating some of the content as the teacher – specifically in mathematics – so I’ll be making roughly 180 online videos this year. There’s also a new partnership coming up with a local TV channel, and we’ll be launching our programmes on air through that platform as well.

How has the pandemic affected your business?
When Covid hit Hong Kong in February 2020, we were about to close a round of fundraising, so many investors were calling in to see how we would deal with it. At the same time, it was announced that schools would be closed indefinitely, so we were in a major state of flux. Thankfully, we managed to handle the situation by being as transparent as possible, and reassuring investors that with the shutdown, home learning would become the only educational option, rather than an alternative as it had been in the past.

In the first couple of months, we did experience a dip as students went on ‘holiday’, but by summertime, some schools had reopened in Hong Kong and we saw traffic pick back up. Of course, in some of our markets Covid hadn’t yet had a major impact, so things pretty much were running as usual.

What do you like to do during your downtime?
To be honest, between running Snapask and creating teaching videos, I don’t have much time left over. That said, right behind my desk in my office, there’s a small room which is almost like a greenhouse because I like to do gardening. In particular, I plant Pachypodium gracilius, which is a super exotic-looking root-like plant native to Madagascar. I personally find a lot of parallels between gardening and education, because some plants can take 10 years to mature, and likewise, learning can be a decades-long process.

“I find parallels between gardening and education, because some plants can take 10 years to mature, and likewise, learning can be a decades-long process”

If you were stuck on a desert island, what is the one thing you’d need to bring with you?
I’d definitely need to bring some paper or a notebook to jot down my thoughts. I believe ideas can spark at any moment, so it’s important to be able to write them down when it happens.

Finally, tell us something most people don’t know about you.
There was a time in college when I seriously considered becoming a chef. In my mind, I was torn between pursuing a culinary or majoring in mathematics. Ultimately, as an Asian child, there are always some expectations and I felt like mathematics was the more responsible option.

Thank you.

Also Read: Power Player: Stephan Pudwill on taking over the reigns of his family business

Interview: Tenzing Thondup Photos: Jack Law Art Direction: Jhoshwa Ledesma Videographer: Kes Lei Venue: Roche Bobois Showroom, Horizon Plaza

Summer Camp Curriculum: The leading elite summer schools for children

While kids in China and Hong Kong have long topped global educational rankings thanks to their ability to parrot amazingly long lists of facts – none of which it has ever been established that they actually understand – there are now signs that new criteria are emerging. New only in the sense of being alien to the existing Asian academic culture, these freshly arrived concepts put a greater emphasis on understanding rather than on rotelearning, and prize creativity above capitulation to group-think.

Put simply, ceaseless chanting is out while interaction is in. Basically – teacher speaks, students listen = bad; students speak, students listen, teacher prompts and guides = good. Interestingly, though, these new teaching styles are not just being embraced or imported as the latest nod to the vagaries of a new generation of Mums and Dads. They are actually being tacitly nodded through at the very highest level, as awareness grows that the workforce of tomorrow needs very different skills to those of its current counterpart.

While this may assuage the mounting concern of certain parents, the cannier custodians of their kids’ futures are also well aware that change is in the air. How, then, to future-proof your offspring without wholly abandoning the high-fact diet of the past? The answer may well be an age-old phenomenon in a new 21st century easy guise – the summer school. High on hands-on experience and student-led learning, the best of these ideally complement the core curriculum of term-time tuition, while instilling just the sort of sensibility sure to be sought out in the future. Below are five summer camps that are seen as best fitting the bill…

Les Elfes International (Verbier, Switzerland)

Back in 1987, Les Elfes International began welcoming children as young as 12 to residential summer camps during summer and winter holidays. Its Swiss watchmaking course, which taught children how to assemble top-end timepieces. This, though, is just one small example of what the school actually offers, with its students having the chance to learn almost any skill, from skiing to Swiss cookery. They also offer intensive English, French, German or Spanish language courses. The academy also prides itself on promoting a can-do attitude among attendees, giving them the confidence to problem-solve unaided and unprompted.

Bermotech (London, UK)

This is one summer camp that could not be more up to- the-minute, with its avowed mission being to transform coming-of-age coders into tomorrow’s tech savants. Bermotech has evolved into one of the most in-demand enablers of digital development for nine- to 17-year-olds. In keeping with the current concentration on career cultivation, it also offers education in all the entrepreneurial essentials across the same age groups.

The Boston Leadership Institute (Massachusetts, USA)

Open to 13- to 18-year-olds, the institute’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) based summer courses were referred to by one graduate as an “out-of-this-world experience”. Among the options on offer are biotechnology, marine biology, robotics and even veterinary science. One reason that its courses are seen as quite so revolutionary is that they use research and experiments as core teaching strategies, meaning that the next big breakthrough in biotech could come from a far-from-home 14-year-old.

The American Institute for Foreign Study (London, UK)

The American Institute‘s most notable manifestation is its much-admired Shakespeare Summer Camp, which takes place within the hallowed halls of London’s Globe Theatre, a note-perfect re-creation of the venue that premiered many of the Bard’s most-admired masterworks. A pretty much best-practice example of how to fuse classroom learning with real-time experiential education, it’s no wonder that the institute is regularly cited as offering some of the very finest international residential courses parental payments can secure.

Camp Asia (Singapore)

Singapore is seen as taking something of a lead when it comes to summer break educational sessions. While many of the options on offer from Camp Asia are hugely popular, it’s the wide range of sporting study within its repertoire that are seen as the jewels in its undoubted crown. According to its own publicity materials – as well as to many parental testimonials – much of its success is down to the notoriously high calibre of its staff.

Indeed, as Exhibit A, its Director of Football – Igor Ferreira – has played football professionally in Brazil, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Singapore and Australia, while its Head of Swimming – Darren Gum – has coached no less than 30 Australian athletes to gold medal greatness. With such grounded and well-rounded professionals on its books, it’s actually a little hard to dispute Camp Asia’s claims of true greatness.

Text: Alice Duncan