AUSTRALIA OFFERS TOURISM SCHOLARSHIPS The Australian government has offered seven scholarships in tourism and hospitality education to international students who wish to study masters and diploma level programmes in the country. The scholarships, with a total value of more than A$230,000 ($1.3 million), allows students to study at member institutions of the International Centre of Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality Education. Applications close November 30. For details visit www.the-ice.org/Page.aspx?page_id=47#Diploma ONLINE INTER-LIBRARY LOAN SYSTEM Students will gain access to a wider range of books through a new inter-library loan system for Hong Kong's seven universities and teacher training institute. Books can be reserved over the internet using the new $10 million system funded by the University Grants Committee. COMIC BOOKS TO TEACH VALUE OF MONEY Citibank has launched an educational comic book aimed at teaching upper primary school students financial literacy, in collaboration with the Learning Society. The comic book uses the adventures of super hero Agent Penny and her sidekick Will Power to teach 10 to 12-year-olds the value of money and the importance of saving. A 30-minute drama by Jumbo Kids Theatre will tour about 50 schools. First launched in Singapore in February, the comic book has since been exported to Malaysia and Taiwan. LIGHT DIMMING TECHNOLOGY WINS AWARD A novel dimmable lighting technology developed by City University researchers has won the Best New Product 2005 award from the Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturer's Association. The technology, which can dim a range of indoor and outdoor lighting networks that are incompatible with existing dimming systems, cuts electricity consumption by up to 30 per cent. HKU PROFESSOR AWARDED LECTURESHIP Professor Vivian Yam Wing-wah, head of the University of Hong Kong's chemistry department, has become the first Chinese academic to be awarded an endowed lectureship by the Royal Society of Chemistry in Britain. The centenary lectureship, involving a lecture tour of six British universities, was made in recognition of her innovative design and synthesis of luminescent materials and contributions to knowledge of light-induced chemical reactions. JOCKEY CLUB FUND APPLICATIONS Applications for grants from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Education Fund are nearly due. Eligible Form Five students need to apply by next Saturday, while Form Four students have until December 31. The fund aims to encourage financially needy students with an educational subsidy of $1,000. Forms can be downloaded from the fund's website at www.hkjcef.org .
