New facilities unveiled at Jockey Club-supported disaster prevention and emergency management institute in Sichuan

The Sichuan University – Hong Kong Polytechnic University Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction (“IDMR”), built with a RMB 200 million donation from The Hong Kong Jockey Club (“the Club”) as one of Sichuan’s reconstruction projects following the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, held a plaque unveiling ceremony today (8 November) for a new building, Block B.

Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (2nd right) and Executive Director, Corporate Affairs, Raymond Tam (1st right) officiate at the plaque unveiling ceremony for Block B of the Sichuan University – The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction (“IDMR”) together with Secretary of the Party Committee of Sichuan University Gan Lin (2nd left) and Vice President of Sichuan University Zhao Changsheng (1st left).

The first of its kind in the country, the IDMR integrates scientific research, talent development and social services in the fields of disaster prevention and reduction, and post-disaster reconstruction. The new building provides a more spacious environment for teaching and scientific research. It is another stage in the partnership between Sichuan and Hong Kong in support of disaster prevention and post-disaster reconstruction in China.

The plaque unveiling ceremony was attended by Secretary of the Party Committee of Sichuan University Gan Lin; Vice President of Sichuan University Zhao Changsheng; Deputy Director of the Council of Sichuan University Yan Shijing; Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges; Club Executive Director, Corporate Affairs, Raymond Tam; Club Head of Mainland Affairs Ronald Chan;  Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Sichuan Province (“SCHKMAO”) Li Hui; Deputy Director of Sichuan Provincial Commission of Development and Reform Huang Yong; Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Chengdu Enoch Yuen; Associate Vice President (Institutional Advancement) of Hong Kong Polytechnic University Laura Lo, as well as other guests.

The plaque unveiling ceremony was attended by Secretary of the Party Committee of Sichuan University Gan Lin (5th left); Vice President of Sichuan University Zhao Changsheng (4th left); Deputy Director of the Council of Sichuan University Yan Shijing (1st left); Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (5th right); Hong Kong Jockey Club Executive Director, Corporate Affairs, Raymond Tam (4th right); Hong Kong Jockey Club Head of Mainland Affairs Ronald Chan (1st right); Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Sichuan Province Li Hui (3rd left); Deputy Director of the Sichuan Provincial Commission of Development and Reform Huang Yong (2nd left); Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Chengdu Enoch Yuen (3rd right); Associate Vice President (Institutional Advancement) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Laura Lo (2nd right).

Secretary of the Sichuan University Party Committee Gan Lin welcomed Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges and Club representatives. Both parties had a meeting prior to the unveiling ceremony.

Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (left) meets with Secretary of the Sichuan University Party Committee Gan Lin (right).

SCHKMAO Deputy Director Li Hui welcomed the opening of the new building, noting that following the devastating Wenchuan earthquake of 2008, Hong Kong had generously donated HK$10 billion to support post-disaster reconstruction and relief in Sichuan. These efforts have contributed to the high-quality development of Sichuan, benefiting such areas as education, public health and talent development. In recent years, the IDMR has developed capabilities across the country and in Sichuan. The new building will help Sichuan University develop its disaster prevention and emergency management and enhance Sichuan-Hong Kong co-operation.

Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said the IDMR is an outstanding example of “One Country, Two Systems” in action, bringing together Sichuan University and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, with strong support from the Central Government, the Sichuan Provincial Government and the HKSAR Government. The Club is committed to building a better society for all and has supported several post-disaster projects in Sichuan including the IDMR. He looked forward to many more students applying their skills to the front lines of disaster prevention and relief, to the further development of the IDMR, and to continuing strong ties between Sichuan and Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said the Club is looking forward to the further development of the IDMR, as well as to more exchange and co-operation between Sichuan and Hong Kong.

With a total area of 8,400 square meters, the IDMR’s new Block B has 16 laboratories providing facilities for the study of geological disasters, flood disasters, post-disaster environmental management, urban disasters and resilience, disaster information and emergency command and control. 

Guests visit the newly-built Block B at the IDMR.

Since its establishment in 2013, around 645 master’s and doctoral students have enrolled at the IDMR, with emergency management professionals being trained for Sichuan and the country. It also provides education and skills training in the community to enhance public awareness of disaster prevention and risk reduction.

Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (2nd right) and other Club representatives listen to master's and doctoral students in disaster nursing share their research results at a seminar at the IDMR.

The Hong Kong Academy of Medicine (HKAM) has received approval from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust to donate HK$49.6 million to establish the Jockey Club Institute for Medical Education and Development (JCIMED), and support a five-year training program. The Institute was officially established on 1 November 2024 to strengthen the development of postgraduate medical education.

The HKAM held the inauguration ceremony of the Jockey Club Institute for Medical Education and Development today (27 November 2024). Officiating at the ceremony were Ms. ImeldaChan, Head of Charities (Positive Ageing & Elderly Care, and Healthy Community) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Professor Gilberto Leung, President of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, Professor Philip Li, Vice-President (Education and Examinations) of the Hong KongAcademy of Medicine, and Dr Benny Cheng, Honorary Director of the Jockey Club Institute forMedical Education and Development. The presence of these guests not only demonstrates the importance attached to the development of medical education, but also shows the common vision of all walks of life to improve the quality of medical education.

4 Officiating Guests: Ms. Imelda Chan, Head of Charities (Positive Ageing & Elderly Care, and Healthy Community) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (2nd from left), Prof. Gilberto Leung,President of the HKAM (2nd from right), Prof. Philip Li, Vice-President (Education and Examinations) of the HKAM (1st from left), and Dr. Benny Cheng, Honorary Director of the JCIMED (1st from right) attended inauguration ceremony of JCIMED.

The HKAM has been committed to promoting the development of postgraduate medical education and continuing medical education. On the occasion of its 30th anniversary in 2023, the Academy held a tripartite medical education conference with two local medical schools early last year, followed by the Strategic Planning Retreat on Education and Training 2023, and published the " Hong Kong Academy of Medicine- Position Paper on Postgraduate Medical Education 2023" (link) in September 2023. This document confirms the HKAM's unwavering commitment to strengthening medical education by seizing new opportunities and adapting to changes in the profession. The position paper sets out 10 key recommendations, including promoting specialist training, implementing competency-based medical education (CBME), promoting lifelong learning, innovating continuing medical education, improving teaching skills, and implementing quality assurance, which aims to improve the quality and effectiveness of medical education across the board.

The guests took a group photo at the JCIMED Inauguration Ceremony marks a new milestone in medical education for the Academy.

The recommendations in the Position Paper are also the blueprint for the establishment of the Jockey Club Institute for Medical Education and Development, which aims to enhance the standard of medical education and specialist training in Hong Kong, with a focus on building capacity and enhancing quality of medical education to better meet the demand for medical professionals in society. Based on the recommendations of the Position Paper, the JCIMED hasset out the following four new directions:

1. Competency-based Medical Education (CBME): Focuses on equipping specialist trainers and trainees with the principles and skills of continuing workplace-based assessment, providing professional knowledge and resources for effective implementation to ensure the quality and effectiveness of medical education.

The competency-based model, which emphasizes the acquisition of specific competencies rather than the completion of fixed-time training, incorporates continuous assessment and feedback that provides participants with timely suggestions for progress and improvement, and promotes continuous learning and development.

2. Faculty Development: Enhance teaching skills, foster a culture of continuous improvement in medical education, and facilitate experience exchange and professional development among trainers.

3. Continuing Medical Education/Continuous Professional Development (CME/CPD):Practicing a modern approach to lifelong learning for healthcare professionals to ensure that healthcare professionals are able to continuously update their professional knowledge and skills.

4. Quality Assurance: Implement robust systems to maintain high standards in medical education, ensuring that all training courses and activities meet the high standards.

In 2013, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust approved a donation of over HK$53 million to set up the Hong Kong Jockey Club Innovative Learning Centre for Medicine, which enabled local medical professionals and medical students to enhance their medical skills and quality through various situational training and surgical simulations, providing simulation training to more than 30,000 healthcare professionals. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust hasonce again allocated $49.6 million to renovate the facilities of the existing Centre and renamed it to the Jockey Club Institute for Medical Education and Development (JCIMED). In response to the development of medical technology, JCIMED will also introduce extended reality (XR), artificial intelligence (AI), and other innovative technologies to provide trainees with a more comprehensive and interactive learning experience, and is expected to train more than 4,800 doctors to diagnose, evaluate and analyze patient data. JCIMED will develop training courses to implement CBME, faculty development, and modernise CME/CPD, strengthen research and innovative teaching methods in medical education, with the aim of promoting local medical education and specialist training, and improving the overall quality of medical services in HongKong and the Greater Bay Area.

Ms. Imelda Chan said the establishment of the JCIMED and its related training programs will help respond to the growing demand for specialist training, further enhance the quality of healthcare services in Hong Kong, and enhance the professionalism of healthcare professionals in Hong Kong and the Greater BayArea through enhanced exchanges with the Mainland.

Ms. Imelda Chan, Head of Charities (Positive Ageing & Elderly Care; and Healthy Community) at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said, "With the changing times and technological advancements, the equipment used in training needs to be updated to keep pace with the development of healthcare services and society. We believe that the establishment of the Jockey Club Institute for Medical Education and Development and its related training programs will help respond to the growing demand for specialist training, further enhance the quality of healthcare services in Hong Kong, and enhance the professionalism of healthcare professionals in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area through enhanced exchanges with the Mainland."