Funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and organised by the Department of Social Work, CUHK, the CLAP@JC Community of Practice Session on “The Challenges and Advantages of Technology Application in Career Guidance – Establishing Good Practices” was held successfully on 26 January 2022 via Zoom.
Over 220 participants from different parts of the world, including Cambodia, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Korea, Macau, Mainland China, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, attended the event.
It was an honour to have Dr. Deirdre Hughes OBE, Director, DMH Associates and Associate Fellow, University of Warwick Institute for Employment Research (IER), England, Mr. Dan Heffernan, Senior Careers Hub Lead, D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, East Midlands, England, Mr. Lauri Vaara, Pedagogical Expert, Economy and Youth TAT, Finland as well as Mr. Po Sing Chan, Project Manager, Hang Seng – St. James' Settlement Youth Portal “I am…”, St. James’ Settlement, Hong Kong, as our guest speakers. They shared strategies for supporting young people’s career and life development via the use of technology. Guest speakers showcased the different approaches to technology implementation such as the application of virtual reality and a career chatbot powered by artificial intelligence, a virtual work-experience period, as well as the adaptation of a one-stop digital platform.
We are also delighted to have commentators Prof. Bong-joo Lee, Professor, Department of Social Welfare, Seoul National University and Dr. Anthony Mann, Senior Policy Analyst (Education and Skills), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), give insightful reflections on the topic. They reflected on the key issues and lessons learned from three examples of technology application in career guidance presented in this community of practice session. The importance of collaboration with young people and stakeholders as well as the creation of a “culture of curiosity and reflection” in young people were emphasised. Moreover, meaningful discussions on the good practices of applying technology in career guidance were made by guest speakers, commentators and participants during the roundtable discussion.
Group photo with participants