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AFTEC Distils 16 Years of Arts Education Leadership into New Book, Offering a Roadmap for Hong Kong’s Creative Future
Igniting a Creative Renaissance, New Book Evolving Creative Mindsets Provides the Roadmap to Transform Hong Kong Schools
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 October 2025 – AFTEC today hosted the official book launch for Evolving Creative Mindsets: Thinking Through the Arts, where leading experts from academia and policy research called for a systemic shift in education to secure Hong Kong’s future. The event, held at the Fringe Club, brought together educators, policymakers, and cultural leaders to discuss the critical role of creative learning in an era of global uncertainty.
Authored by Ms Lynn Yau, AFTEC’s Chief Executive Officer, and published by Hong Kong University Press, the book arrives at a pivotal moment. The latest OECD PISA creative thinking assessment has highlighted a global need to strengthen creative skills, and this book offers a timely roadmap for Hong Kong to address this challenge and cultivate a more innovative generation.
A Call to Action: Nurturing ‘First-Class Humans, Not Second-Class Robots’
Speaking at the launch, author Ms Yau said: “For too long, the arts have been perceived as peripheral—for entertainment or school portfolios, but not as a core driver of learning and innovation. This book is a call to action, built on 16 years of frontline work with AFTEC. It demonstrates through real-world case studies how we can bridge the gap between the arts and education. We need to move away from siloed thinking and build a true ecosystem where creative mindsets can flourish. This is not just about creating artists; it’s about nurturing what Andreas Schleicher, Director for Education and Skills at the OECD, calls ‘first-class humans, not second-class robots.'”
Although the arts have been firmly planted in the Hong Kong school system since the 1950s, they are often sacrificed in place of core subjects and preparation for examinations. Drawing on over 16 years of exploration and experience, Yau makes the case that arts are critical to cultivating creative mindsets, which are our best resource for innovating and responding to challenges in this complex world of sudden changes. Through case studies and conversations with practising artists and educators, the book demonstrates why arts and education, two normally discrete disciplines, should be broadly integrated into the local Hong Kong curriculum, and how this can be—and has been—achieved.
The book launch began with a guided exhibition tour led by the AFTEC team, followed by a dynamic panel discussion. Experts including Mr Victor Kwok, Deputy Director of Research at Our Hong Kong Foundation; Professor Anna Hui of City University of Hong Kong; and independent evaluator Mr Robert Li explored the policy barriers, the economic case for investing in creativity, and the practical steps needed to foster a more innovative education system.
Inside the Book: A Blueprint for Transforming Hong Kong’s Schools
Evolving Creative Mindsets: Thinking Through the Arts is a comprehensive guide that deconstructs the challenges and opportunities facing Hong Kong. It explores:
- The “Poverty of Imagination”: An analysis of how economic and educational constraints can limit the cognitive and emotional growth of young people, and how the arts can redress this imbalance.
- A Proven Pedagogical Model: Detailed case studies from AFTEC’s programmes, such as the Sm-ART Youth and Bravo! Hong Kong Youth Theatre Awards, which showcase practical methods for fostering creativity, critical thinking, and resilience.
- A Blueprint for Policy: A proposal for a phased, 10-year human resources plan designed to cultivate a new generation of “Creative Practitioners” and build a more sophisticated, engaged audience.
- The Future of Learning: An examination of how skills nurtured through the arts—such as abstract thinking, emotional intelligence, and collaboration—are precisely the competencies demanded by a future global economy where 47% of jobs may be automated.
The book challenges the status quo, urging a move from short-term, “copy-and-paste” collaborations to deep, sustainable partnerships. It critiques the current “service provider” model, where arts groups are hired for one-off school performances, and instead advocates for embedding creative practitioners within the educational fabric. The work has already received high praise from international and local leaders in arts education, policy, and culture (see appendix II).
In her closing remarks, Ms Yau reiterated the book’s central message: “The core question we must ask is how to empower our youth to navigate a world of increasing complexity and ambiguity. The answer lies in evolving our mindsets. This book is an invitation to our entire community—educators, artists, policymakers, and parents—to sit side-by-side and build a truly creative city together. The future starts now.”
This book is intended for policymakers, teaching and learning professionals at K-12 and tertiary levels, visual and performing arts establishments, and arts institutions that nurture educators and artists. The volume will also appeal to readers curious about how and why the arts should be foundational to education and capacity building in the twenty-first century.
The copy is available on https://hkupress.hku.hk/Evolving_Creative_Mindsets
Appendix I: Synopsis
| Chapter | Synopsis | Selected Quote |
| Introduction | The introduction establishes the book’s central thesis: Hong Kong’s education system sacrifices the arts, hindering the development of creative mindsets crucial for the 21st century. It defines key terms like “arts-in-education” and presents a roadmap for integrating the arts and education, framing the book as a call to action for policymakers, educators, and artists. | “Our best resource is our creative mindset, hence the cultivation of our people.” |
| Part A: Origin | ||
| Chapter 1: Cracking the Creativity Code: The Future Starts Now | This chapter traces two decades of Hong Kong’s education reforms, revealing a persistent gap between policy aspirations for creativity and classroom reality. It makes a powerful economic case for change, citing global reports on the future of work to argue that creative and social intelligence—skills honed by the arts—are essential for the jobs of tomorrow. | “Rote learning cannot save jobs. Adaptability and flexibility to deal with suddenness are crucial.” |
| Chapter 2: The Power of Imagination: Redressing Poverty? | The author introduces the concept of a “poverty of imagination” as a direct consequence of a deficit-based education system focused on rote learning. The chapter argues that redressing this requires a shift to an asset-based model that uses the arts to release the imagination, making empathy and a belief in alternative futures possible. | “As dismal as economic poverty is the poverty of the imagination. In the end, these children may not see alternative ways of living, ways to gain a better quality of being because they are not exposed to, nor do they understand, possibilities and probabilities.” |
| Part B: Passage | ||
| Chapter 3: In Praise of Gaps: Programming with Voids | This chapter details AFTEC’s core strategy: identifying and filling “gaps” in the arts and education ecosystem. Instead of routine programming, the organisation creates targeted projects—from theatre productions that embed learning to cross-sector collaborations with medical schools—that serve as proven models for change and capacity-building. | “Gaps need not be ascribed as failings; they can be opportunities to create something of substance to fill the void.” |
| Chapter 4: Passivity to Engagement: Sm-ART Youth Case Study | Through a detailed case study of the seminal Sm-ART Youth project, this chapter provides a practical roadmap for transforming passive students into engaged learners. It demonstrates how to cultivate a creative classroom by rethinking the physical environment, building trust, and integrating cultural outings and parent collaboration to foster autonomy and self-expression. | “Cookie-cutter activities in which the standardised requirement of the teacher reigning as the sole source of information and students producing the same answers were replaced by authentic experiences that engaged the child’s own experiences, thoughts, and feelings.” |
| Chapter 5: Reflections as Assessment: Acknowledging Considered Thinking | This chapter challenges the traditional view of assessment in the arts, moving “from measurement to judgement.” It champions reflective practice—through journals, dialogues, and guided questioning—as a powerful tool to assess and document qualitative growth. Using case studies, it shows how this approach makes intangible changes in students’ confidence and critical thinking visible and valuable. | “Assessment and evaluation are about storytelling, that through narratives, we can tell how we are doing what we are doing, thereby giving confirmation to why we should continue (or not) doing it.” |
| Chapter 6: Those COVID Days: The Arts and Well-Being | Using the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic as a backdrop, this chapter explores the critical link between the arts and well-being. It documents how AFTEC adapted through a “growth mindset” and presents compelling case studies and international research showing how arts engagement promotes mental health, resilience, and social-emotional learning, especially for the vulnerable youth. | “It took a global pandemic to start this conversation.” |
| Part C: Bearing | ||
| Chapter 7: Creative Mindsets, Creative City: OECD PISA Creative Thinking Test | This chapter analyses Hong Kong’s lacklustre performance in the landmark 2022 PISA creative thinking assessment, contrasting it with top-performing economies like Singapore. It argues that the results are a direct reflection of a school system that, despite policy rhetoric, does not systematically cultivate the creative habits of mind needed for a truly innovative city. | “If we are indeed to be the East-West Centre for International Cultural Exchange, then the degree of contentment, or complacency, should be a driving force.” |
| Chapter 8: Museums and Performing Spaces: Sites of Creative Learning | The author reimagines museums and performance venues not just as places for consumption but as dynamic “Sites of Creative Learning.” The chapter argues that by moving beyond chronological displays and passive viewing, these spaces can become powerful environments for fostering inquiry, critical thinking, and deeper audience engagement. | “The tightness of space need not hamper the expanse of the mind. Their evolution as sites of creative learning has immense possibilities.” |
| Chapter 9: Contextualising Human Resource Planning: A Triumvirate Concept | This chapter presents a strategic blueprint for developing Hong Kong into an East-West cultural hub by strengthening the “triumvirate” of audience, schools, and creative practitioners. It argues that the current supply-demand imbalance in the arts can be rectified by investing in a recognised, professionalised corps of “Creative Practitioners” who can elevate both arts education and audience sophistication. | “Quantity may be good as long as funding lasts; quality delivers higher sustainability through investing in current and future generations.” |
| Chapter 10: Myths and Misunderstandings: Musings and Replies | In this concluding chapter, the author directly confronts and debunks common myths about the arts—from the idea that they are merely peripheral to education, to the belief that creativity is only for artists. It serves as a final, passionate plea for a more nuanced and accurate understanding of the value of the arts in society. | “The arts have everything to do with everyone if only we manage to open up, through creative learning, to create curiosity and subsequent inquisitiveness.” |
| Epilogue: First-Class Humans | The epilogue serves as a powerful concluding call to action. It poses a critical question for Hong Kong’s future: “How can we ensure our young people become first-class humans and not second-class robots?” The answer, the author concludes, lies in systemically embedding creative learning at the heart of education and society. | “In space-constrained Hong Kong, physical limitations can inspire the growth of mental capacity when we nurture creative thinking and artistic expression.” |
Appendix II: Testimonial
‘Our schools and professional communities increasingly need creatively vibrant learners to succeed. Evolving Creative Mindsets hits the bull’s-eye exactly, showing creative practitioners how the AFTEC approach, proven by research and by similar best practices around the world, effectively develops the innovative learners and active creators we want and need. Bravo.’
– Eric Booth, co-founder of International Teaching Artist Collaborative (ITAC) and author of Making Change: Teaching Artists and Their Role in Shaping a Better World
‘Lynn’s lived experiences are painstakingly distilled into a book that advocates the imminence of creative thinking as a top future skill set and how to cultivate it. This book speaks to those in education, culture and creativity, policy and grant-making, community NGOs, youth development, and even healthcare. Most importantly, this is one for all the parents in the city.’
– Helen So, board member of the Hong Kong Palace Museum
‘Evolving Creative Mindsets is an eloquent, evidence-rich treasure. Lynn Yau weaves Hong Kong’s vivid case studies with universal insights – uniting policy, assessment, well-being, and creative thinking in one compelling narrative. A practical handbook and visionary manifesto, it will inspire educators, policymakers, and artists striving for sustainable, globally resonant arts learning.’
– Anne Bamford, OBE, director of International Research Agency and former Strategic Education, Skills, and Culture Director for the City of London
Hashtag: #AFTEC
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About AFTEC
Advancing creative learning and arts education in Hong Kong
Creativity allows us to recognise potential within ourselves and the world around us. It promotes problem-solving, nurtures relationships, cultivates resilience, and can transform lives in countless ways. At AFTEC, we work with students, educators, and creative practitioners to plant the seeds of creativity in our community—seeds we have seen yield season after season.
As a proudly homegrown Hong Kong organisation, we nurture the city’s greatest natural resource — its people. Through co-designed, collaborative, and inclusive bilingual educational programmes, we create supportive environments where young minds are free to explore, express, and flourish. We spark imagination, build confidence, and foster a sense of growth and belonging together.
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AECOM supports CEDD and AFCD of HKSAR Government in launching Hong Kong’s first comprehensive nature-based solutions guidelines to advance sustainable urban development
Developed through multidisciplinary expertise in ecology, landscape architecture, engineering, climate resilience and urban planning, the HKNbSDG provides a practical blueprint for designing, implementing, sustainably managing, and evaluating NbS across diverse environmental contexts — from rivers and wetlands to coastlines and high-density urban districts.
Factoring in the characteristics of Hong Kong’s natural ecology and urban development, the HKNbSDG is built on three core principles that outline a holistic approach to promoting ecosystem diversity at multiple scales, embracing human-nature coexistence for mutual benefits, and improving resilience through NbS. It also includes a performance evaluation framework to support evidence-based decision-making and features local case studies, including Long Valley Nature Park and Tung Chung East Eco-shoreline.
“The HKNbSDG reflects our commitment to advancing nature‑positive design and supporting Hong Kong’s journey toward climate resilience and sustainable growth,” said Dr. Johnny Cheuk, senior vice president and Hong Kong executive leader at AECOM. “By integrating ecological science into design practice, we aim to empower practitioners to harness nature’s potential in building climate-resilient infrastructure.”
The HKNbSDG was officially launched at the Promulgation Ceremony held on March 3, 2026, at Long Valley Nature Park. The event was officiated by Miss. Diane Wong Shuk-han, JP, Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology; Mr. David Lam Chi-man, JP, Under Secretary for Development; Mr. Charles Karangwa, Global Head of Nature-based Solutions Centre of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN); Ir Michael Fong Hok-shing, JP, Director of Civil Engineering and Development; and Mr. Mickey Lai Kin-ming, JP, Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation.
The ceremony featured an introduction to the HKNbSDG by Stephen Suen, director of landscape architecture at AECOM, followed by a panel discussion on building cross-sector partnerships to reverse nature and biodiversity loss through NbS.
Panelists included:
- Mr. Charles Karangwa, Global Head, Nature-based Solutions Centre, IUCN
- Ir. Michael Fong Hok‑shing, JP, Director of Civil Engineering and Development
- Mr. Mickey Lai Kin Ming, JP, Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation
- Ms. Frances Chen, Director, Sustainability & Climate Change, North Asia, HSBC
- Mr. Benny Au, Senior Manager, Sustainable Development, Swire Properties Limited
The release of the HKNbSDG supports Hong Kong’s key policy commitments, including the Climate Action Plan 2050 and its biodiversity conservation targets, by providing a practical roadmap for enhancing urban resilience and expanding green infrastructure. This publication equips practitioners with essential tools — from integrating ecology into early planning to designing for multifunctional benefits — grounded in Hong Kong-specific experience. It also serves as a central resource for advancing the Northern Metropolis development strategy, where NbS is helping to drive urban-rural integration and foster the co-existence of urban development and ecological conservation.
The HKNbSDG forms part of AECOM’s broader mission to help cities adapt to climate risks while enhancing quality of life. By bringing together global best practices and local ecological insights, AECOM aims to strengthen industry-wide capability in implementing NbS at scale.
Learn more about the Hong Kong Nature-based Solutions Design Guidelines here.
Download high-resolution images here.
Hashtag: #AECOM #NatureBasedSolutions #NaturePositive #ClimateResilience #Biodiversity
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About AECOM
AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of US$16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at AECOM.
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Asian Computer Industry Online Exhibition 2026: A Global Hub for Technology Industry Collaboration
Since its launch in 2022, the exhibition has been jointly organized by AsianNet and TradeAsia (www.e-tradeasia.com). The event has supported numerous companies in expanding into overseas markets and has earned strong industry recognition for high-quality buyers, efficient matchmaking, and measurable order results.
In 2026, ACI 2026 will expand in scale and be held concurrently with leading international technology trade shows, including Embedded World, Display Week (SID), COMPUTEX TAIPEI, and ISC High Performance. By aligning with major global exhibitions, the event creates a strong time-synergy effect, enabling international buyers to efficiently compare products, evaluate suppliers, and complete procurement decisions within a concentrated timeframe. This strategic alignment enhances purchasing efficiency and maximizes cross-exhibition business opportunities.
ACI 2026 features a robust lineup of respected Taiwanese manufacturers, including industry leaders such as HIGHGRADE TECH, OKAYO ELECTRONICS, BIPOLAR ELECTRONIC, YNG WEI, YNG YUH ELECTRONIC, ESMT, GOOD OPPORTUNITY ELECTRONIC, MSTRONIC, SUN RISE EXACT, AIRWAVE TECHNOLOGIES, KING DESGIN INDUSTRIAL, CLEVER INTELLIGENCE UNITY, YO-TRONICS TECHNOLOGY, DORIS INDUSTRIAL, REUEX INDUSTRIAL, ARIOSE ELECTRONICS, UNITEX NUNG LAI BUTTON and many more. These companies will present thousands of the latest computer industry products and technologies, covering a wide array of sectors crucial to modern manufacturing and production.
Comprehensive Coverage Across the Entire Industry Chain
The Asian Computer Industry Online Exhibition 2026 brings together dozens of premium suppliers from the global computer manufacturing and electronic components sectors, showcasing over a thousand innovative products and forward-looking technologies. The exhibits are strategically structured around the core value of the industry supply chain, comprehensively covering key system-level products such as desktop computers, laptops and accessories, tablets and accessories, industrial computers and embedded systems, gaming and e-sports equipment, as well as computer software, IT, and internet services.
The ACI 2026 also highlights critical communications infrastructure, including networking equipment, wireless communication devices, telecommunications and fiber access equipment, landline and VoIP systems, and antennas. In terms of key components and supply chain solutions, the showcased products include computer components, storage and memory devices, active components, power supply units, connectors and terminals, cables and cable assemblies, wiring accessories, transformers, batteries, and charging equipment.
In addition, the ACI 2026 features monitors, computer accessories and peripherals, input devices, point-of-sale (POS) systems, printers, plotters and scanners, printer consumables and parts, as well as broadcast and professional AV equipment, audio and video components, consumer electronics accessories and components, and electronic materials and supplies.
Together, these comprehensive categories fully demonstrate the complete ecosystem of the computer industry, spanning system integration, communications infrastructure, core components, and end-use applications. Combining technological depth with product breadth, the exhibition stands as a premier international trade event for efficient business matchmaking and global market expansion among professional buyers and industry stakeholders worldwide.
ACI 2026 Online Exhibition：
https://www.etradeasia.com/online-show/43/Asian-Computer-Industry-Online-Exhibition-2026.html
Innovative Online Exhibition Model
The Asian Computer Industry Online Exhibition 2026 features dedicated online showrooms, digital catalogs, and virtual exhibition halls fully integrated with the TradeAsia platform. Buyers worldwide can browse exhibitor information, submit quotation requests, and conduct procurement evaluations in real time, thereby facilitating efficient, cost-effective, and results-driven global business connections.
Hashtag: #TradeAsia
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About TradeAsia
TradeAsia (
www.e-tradeasia.com) is a well-established global B2B trade platform with millions of members and over 600,000 suppliers worldwide. The platform facilitates efficient matchmaking between buyers and sellers and maintains strategic partnerships with hundreds of trade organizations and exhibition entities globally. Through cross-platform marketing and integrated exposure, TradeAsia provides suppliers with expanded international visibility and multi-channel promotion opportunities. For ACI 2026, the organizers will implement a comprehensive global marketing campaign to support exhibitors in expanding overseas markets, enhancing brand presence, and maximizing business opportunities.
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ABP Securite Announces Strategic Partnership With Rapid7 to Enhance Cybersecurity in Asia Pacific
The collaboration marks an important step in enabling enterprises to strengthen their security posture amid the region’s rapidly expanding digital landscape. With evolving hybrid infrastructures, accelerated cloud transformation, and increasing threat complexity, organisations across Asia Pacific are seeking more comprehensive ways to gain visibility, prioritise risk, and streamline response.
Under this partnership, ABP Securite will distribute and support Rapid7’s cybersecurity portfolio across Asia Pacific— including the Rapid7 Command Platform covering exposure management, SIEM and XDR, cloud security, application security, automation, and external threat intelligence.
Closing the Cyber Visibility Gap
“As the cybersecurity threat surface in Asia Pacific continues to grow, visibility and control have become mission critical,” said Joyce Ng, Chief Executive Officer of ABP Securite. “At ABP Securite, our role is to help customers turn complexity into clarity. Partnering with Rapid7 brings a best-in-class platform that empowers security teams to quantify and reduce risk more effectively. Together, we can help organisations operationalise cyber resilience and protect their most valuable assets.”
Jason Heng, Regional Sales Director, ASEAN at Rapid7, added, “ABP Securite has built a strong reputation for enabling regional partners and customers with advanced cybersecurity technologies. Through this collaboration, Rapid7 gains a powerful ally to extend our reach and help organisations in Asia Pacific gain real-time insight into their exposure, simplify operations, and respond faster to emerging threats.”
Hashtag: #ABPSecurite
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About ABP Securite Pte Ltd
ABP Securite Pte Ltd is a leading cybersecurity and network-performance Value-Added Distributor (VAD), incorporated in 2015 and headquartered in Singapore, with regional offices across Asia Pacific. The company delivers a comprehensive portfolio of advanced security technologies and professional services — including architecture advisory, solution integration, after-sales support, and cloud-managed services. ABP Securite collaborates with a broad ecosystem of partners to help organisations strengthen cyber resilience, secure infrastructure, and protect critical assets across cloud, network, and data environments.
Website: www.abpsecurite.com
About Rapid7
Rapid7, Inc. (NASDAQ: RPD) is a global leader in AI-powered managed cybersecurity operations, trusted to advance organizations’ cyber resilience. Open and extensible, the Rapid7 Command Platform integrates security data, enriching it with AI, threat intelligence, and 25 years of expertise and innovation to reduce risk and disrupt attackers. As a recognized leader in preemptive managed detection and response (MDR), Rapid7 unifies exposure and detection to transform the cybersecurity operations of more than 11,500 customers worldwide. For more information, visit our website, check out our blog, or follow us on 
LinkedIn or 
X.
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