The Automotive Engineering Department (AED) belongs in the Service Sector and has an important role to play in support of a clearly defined and dynamic local mobility industry.

It is well recognized that, similar to most modern cities, Hong Kong needs an efficient transport system in place in order to realize its intention of becoming the premier Asia Hub for goods and services. All forms of transport, road, rail, sea and air, are considered to be strategically important to Hong Kong and will therefore need high quality education and training support services to develop the necessary critical mass of technical, supervisory and management personnel needed.

The Hong Kong SAR Government needs vehicle-related testing, research and development activities expanded in order to support related industries and to help local partners, such as those in the Auto-Parts & Accessories fields, to better penetrate the Mainland’s rapidly expanding economy. Students studying ‘key’ Automotive Engineering courses therefore need to be exposed to cutting-edge technology and related processes and testing and R&D activities.

A new HK$4million Light Vehicle Emissions Test Cell has been developed within the AE department. Further to this, a donation of HK$16.61million has been received from the Jockey Club Charities Trust to build and equip the Jockey Club Large Vehicle Testing [R&D] and Emissions Centre. This new centre is planned to come into operation in mid 2008 or early 2009 as a shared resource with local technological universities.

The AE Department’s specialist technology laboratories, light vehicle emissions test cell, diagnostic centre and other specialist centres, will further enhance the relationship with local University’s and key industry stake-holders. The marriage between the analytical skills of the universities and the AE department’s expertise in the area of AE Technology will enable the necessary cohorts of high-quality AE students to be developed in future years.

Besides enjoying a dynamic working relationship with industry stake-holders, professional bodies and Learned Societies the AED maintains close and productive ties with local universities. As a result of this excellent networking the AED has developed a strong track record of ‘joint’ projects and consultancy work. A sample of these projects can be found reported on the website http://aedatabase.vtc.edu.hk 

The Automobile Industry Training Centre (AUTC) recently integrated with IVE (LWL) has gained greatly enhance synergy with the AED and at the same time has create more clear-cut academic career paths for AUTC trainees. The AUTC provides pre-employment, full-time courses for school leavers and also practical training for HD students studying in the AED. They also provide trade tests which are applied to gauge the mechanical dexterity and level of skill of local mechanics.

The Hong Kong SAR has a large private car retail sector, an energetic Auto-Parts & Accessories industry, a large franchise bus market, many light and heavy goods vehicles, about 18,000 taxis and lots of light buses / vans. It therefore follows that many job opportunities can be found locally, by successful AE graduates.

There is also a large infrastructure of Governmental bodies such as the Transport Department (TD), Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) which each manage special associated societal concerns related to the AE industry. The AE department has close ties with all of these Governmental institutions and a number of AE academics sit on various associated Technical Advisory Boards and committees.

After a lengthy period of working with stake-holders the EMSD has recently introduced a Voluntary Mechanics' Licensing Scheme so as to foster better quality workmanship at shop floor level. It is envisaged that this new scheme will help provide greater consumer protection, enhanced environmental protection (better air quality) and improved road safety. The launching of the scheme was on 4th January, 2007 and EMSD are now accepting applications for licenses. Once the voluntary scheme is working successfully, the HKSARG will consider upgrading to a mandatory scheme. More details and an application form may be found on the EMSD website.

The AED and the AUTC are continually developing course provision for school leavers, in-service apprentice mechanics / technicians, serving mechanics / technicians and the forthcoming Voluntary Mechanics' Licensing Scheme.  A range of CPD modules is also available for mechanics / technicians as and when they may need to upgrade their skills and knowledge. Short courses may be tailor made as and when the need arises. 

The AED has a well-educated, highly experienced and dedicated group of staff working diligently for the best interests of the students in their care. One of the major aims of the department, under the purview of the AE Course Board (AECB), is to continually apply appropriate measures to develop its’ staff and hence enhance the effectiveness and quality of the learning experiences provided, on an ongoing basis. The AE teaching team is therefore considered to be the most important resource at the disposal of the department. In addition, professionally written Teaching and Learning resources have been acquired by the department from a number of different sources. One such provider is CDX (Global) which is featured on the website in the form of a ‘free to use’ e-textbook (just a sample of the materials used for the benefit of AE students).

The name of the department is based on the name of the premier professional institution presently existing in the mobility field, namely the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). The SAE www.sae.org is a large society, which serves the land, sea, air and aerospace mobility industries worldwide and has one of the finest technology / standards databases in the world. Both an SAE Chapter having about 100 professional members and an SAE Student Collegiate Club, with about 60 student members presently operates in Hong Kong. The AED has close links with SAE (HK) and has the intention of further develop these links to benefit all concerned, particularly in the area of SAE Student Mobility Competitions.

The AED has similar strong ties with other premier professional bodies such as The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, Institute of the Motor Industry, Society of Operations Engineers - Institute of Road Transport Engineers, Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators and so forth.

During the next decade, there will be several new, major road and road bridge projects under construction and further such projects are presently subject to feasibility studies. The number of roads in Hong Kong will therefore increase incrementally over time and hence the population of vehicles will continue to grow.

All current and new vehicles will continue to need type approval, safety checks, environmental protection related inspections, maintenance, diagnostics and repairs. These services need to be carried-out by good quality craftsmen, technicians, senior technicians, managers and technical support staff if our local mobility industry is to remain efficient, reliable and of a high caliber.  The SAR Government is enthusiastic to see the training of the aforementioned workers extended and strengthened. In addition, it is the intention of the HKSAR Government to upgrade the quality of the vehicle repair industry, across all sectors, not least to improve local air quality and road safety related matters.

Ir. Leung Tin Yau

Acting Head of Department of

Automotive Engineering

December, 2008