The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has teamed up with the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth to offer world-class developmental programs for talented youngsters worldwide.
A signing ceremony was held today at HKUST to formalize the partnership between the two institutions.
“The partnership between two of the world’s top institutions in the field of gifted education is an act of synergy and will play a significant role in nurturing the potential leaders of the world,” said Prof Roland Chin, Vice-President for Academic Affairs at HKUST.
“We are extremely proud to shake hands with one of the very best institutions of its kind on the other side of the globe, and we trust that this bond of excellence will prevail in the years ahead,” he added.
Dr Charles Rowins, Deputy Director of the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth , said, “HKUST and the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth share a vision to be leaders in our respective fields – not just nationally, but internationally. We are aware of your efforts to pursue global leadership through a series of partnerships with institutions like Johns Hopkins that are committed to education, research and service. We are honored that you have selected us to be one of these partners in providing what we call knowledge for the world.’ We look forward to this collaboration.”
“You have discovered in your programs, as we have consistently discovered in ours, that highly able students appreciate the academic and social opportunity to be with their true intellectual peers. These young people are national treasures, and they deserve our attention,” Dr Rowins said.
Two programs will be held on HKUST campus for gifted students in different age groups.
Junior Program – for Gifted Students at Grades 7 to 9 (aged about 13 to 15)
– 12 to 31 July 2009 (residential / non-residential)
The participants will explore subjects that they normally have no opportunity to pursue, and to take subjects taught at a challenging pace – covering one year’s worth of learning in three weeks. The courses offered in the summer of 2009 will be:
Cryptology
Mathematical Logic
Mathematical Modeling
Probability and Game Theory
Fundamentals of Computer Science
Astronomy
Fast-paced Upper School Biology
Fast-paced Upper School Chemistry
Electrical Engineering
Introduction to Biomedical Sciences
Neuroscience
Crafting the Essay
The program will also embrace a wide range of activities outside the classroom, such as sports, games, dances, movies and a talent show.
Senior Program – for Students at Grades 10 to 12 (aged about 16 to 18)
– 15 July to 5 August 2009 (all residential)
With the theme of “Accelerated Societal Development through Science and Technology”, this Talented Youth Summer Program will guide students from different corners of the world in examining the roles of science and technology in societal development throughout the history of civilization, discuss the implications of past trends, and explore their potential contribution in future developments.
Beside classroom lectures, laboratory sessions, course assignments and group projects, students will also have the opportunity to participate in a variety of extramural activities, such as city exploration tours and educational visits.
Courses will be taught by distinguished HKUST faculty, as well as instructors from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth and Stanford University.
About HKUST
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology was established in 1991 to advance learning and knowledge through teaching and research, particularly in science, technology, engineering, management and business studies.
HKUST has a student population of over 9,000, and a faculty comprising over 460 academics from over 35 countries, all of whom hold PhD degrees from world renowned universities.
HKUST has been commissioned as the Asia test center for the World Class Test – launched by the British Government’s Department for Education and Skills for assessing and nurturing gifted youngsters. The test focuses on mathematics and problem solving.
About the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth
Set up in 1979, the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth is a non-profit center based on the University’s campus in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
The Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth conducts the earliest and most extensive academic talent search in the USA and offers educational programming for students with exceptionally high academic ability. In the past three decades, the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth has identified over 1 million gifted children from all the 50 states in the USA and from over 90 countries worldwide, and has served over 100,000 of them through its programs. In 2007-08 alone, over 63,000 students participated in its talent searches.
For media enquiries, please feel free to contact :
Ross Lai
Tel: 2358 6306 / 9103 2928
Email: rosslai@ust.hk
Donna Wong
Tel: 2358 6317
Email: donnaw@ust.hk
The Center for the Development of The Gifted and Talented (CDGT)
Samson Chan
Tel: 2358 5084
Email: cdgt@ust.hk
