Hong Kong Living Influencer Awards 2021: Education
Get to know this years influencers in the Education categoryAs amazing as Hong Kong’s education system is, there is always room for improvement. These influencers have not only found ways to improve the education system but have also found ways to allow children to enjoy school as well as ways that can help them study more efficiently.
Emily Kwan, Founder & Director of Kids Connect
To Emily Kwan, nowhere can compare to the thrill of living in Hong Kong. After graduate school and years of clinical experience in Canada, she moved back to the city ten years ago and hasn’t looked back since. “Hong Kong is such a connected community. It provides a positive feedback loop that rewards dedication and performance”. Her brand, Kids Connect began as a startup in 2011. It was fueled by Kwan’s dedication and efforts to build an enriching program that secured Kids Connect a place in Hong Kong’s highly competitive education sector.
“Throughout the years, we’ve built a very comprehensive curriculum, constructed systems for teaching materials, crafted levels of professional training, polished the supervision model, and established effective communication channels with parents”. She was determined to establish Kids Connect as a unique program. It was made with a mission to create learning experiences that would become fond childhood memories. “We emphasize heavily on what we call ‘Kids being Kids!’ so in addition to our core curriculum, we also run abundant events and parties that motivate and energize our students”.
In Asia as a whole, the emphasis and dedication on education by committed parents who do the research is a key factor to the success of high-quality programmes. From the educational side, the level of collaboration and communication from the international schools that I have worked with do an excellent job in learning about the prospective students and facilitating smooth transitions to their educational setting as well. Together, parents and educators provide the pillars of which students build their learning foundations. Kwan believes that being an entrepreneur is as much about personal development as it is about creating a business. It is critical to keep educating oneself and problem solving with your team.
Kwan has some words of wisdom for new business owners. “Be grateful for the positive and negative experiences that push you and your business to greater heights. Don’t panic, stay positive, brave the storm, and enjoy the adventure”.
Read more: Hong Kong Academy: A highly personalised education
Hubert Ho, Head of Admissions Consulting Services at Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions
Hubert Ho is on a mission to help Hong Kong students build their dream and develop their true potential. As the Head of Admissions Consulting Services at Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions, Ho will pass the five-year mark in his role in November 2021. His time at Kaplan has been nothing short of stimulating. His supervisor, Rebecca Lui, has always given him maximum flexibility to develop his own style of teaching and counselling.
“I could form my own elite admissions counsellor team and design my own style of admissions counselling. That’s what most of my students and their parents call “Hubert’s Magic” now”, says Ho. Ho has a great passion and mission to help students strive for their best future. It drives him to understand more about his students’ backgrounds, stories and strengths. His students and their parents have always said he understands their needs and that they are friends instead of just service providers. “90 percent of my students mentioned that they are ready for all challenges ahead. They are ready for the uncharted future as well as walking out from their current comfort zone”.
His favourite thing about Hong Kong is that it’s the only city in the world to allow more than three curriculums to co-exist together – HKDSE, A-Level, AP as well as IB. Ho notes that this provides flexibility for the students to choose the best-fit curriculum for themselves. They choose it according to their strengths and next destination for further studies. Ho believes admissions counseling will keep evolving in the future. He is also publishing his first book in the coming Christmas and has plans for a second book to be published in the next few years to talk more about admissions inspiration. Lastly, he will be starting his Ph.D. study in life coaching.
