Today we will celebrate the fruitful corporation between the Ministry of Education of the People s Republic of China and LEGO.

Transcription

1 The Royal Danish Embassy, Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen s welcome speech at the MoU signing between LEGO (LEGO System A/S og LEGO Foundation, collectively LEGO) & MoE, held at The Danish Embassy September 25, Dear Mr Liu Chang Ya, Mr Ge Zhen Jiang, dear President of LEGO Education, Mr Jacob Kragh, distinguished guests a warm welcome to all of you and thank you for coming to the Danish Embassy today. Today we will celebrate the fruitful corporation between the Ministry of Education of the People s Republic of China and LEGO. The Chinese Ministry of Education has a very high standard and recognizes the importance of innovation and the development of creativity with the future workforce of China in their hands, the Ministry of Education plays a crucial role in the building of tomorrow s leaders. LEGO is one of the oldest companies in Denmark, founded in 1930 s by Ole Kirk Kristiansen which with its unique LEGO brick, has engaged in the development of creativity and innovation through play (for children and student s at higher education levels well actually children in all ages!) I had the pleasure of LEGO myself as a child and today to you I will admit that with a LEGO brick in front of me, I still feel the urge to put them in my hands and create. 1

2 The mutual gain of the corporation between the Ministry of Education and LEGO Education is evident and I am honoured to welcome you all to the signing ceremony of the second phase of this partnership. From a very early stage LEGO showed engagement in China. This was further strengthened during H.M. The Queen of Denmark s State Visit to China in April this year. And again - during the Danish Prime Minister s visit to China just 2 weeks ago - where LEGO together with the Ministry of Education emphasized how important education, play, creativity and innovation is in developing a strong future and how it links our two countries closer together. Today s signing ceremony is an important example of the good relationship between China and Denmark, and how our two nations continue to prosper from it. In a time where innovation and creativity are the key-phrases when describing the future, The Ministry of Education and LEGO has caught the essence with their joint Innovative Talent Development Program - together they have put this thinking into action. More than 400 innovation-labs and 48 teacher bases have been created around China, which teachers and students have had the opportunity to explore, since the cooperation between Lego and the Ministry of 2

3 Education took its first steps strengthens this initiative, is taken. Today a step, which further I look forward to sharing this important moment with you welcome! - End - (Moderator introducerer den næste taler: Jakob Kragh) 3

4 Stikord: LEGO Education's vision is to bring the most innovative solutions to classrooms in order to transform the way that learning takes place. By providing the best resources for hands-on and creative learning experiences, both teachers and students will experience a new way to learn that is more effective, engaging and motivating. This philosophical concept where the learner indulges in a symbiosis of play and learning is a concept that is designed for the future. The essence of what we see signed here today: a better and stronger foundation for education and the building of our future. The name 'LEGO' is an abbreviation of the two Danish words "leg godt", meaning "play well". The LEGO Group was founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen. The company has passed from father to son and is now owned by Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, a grandchild of the founder. The brick in its present form was launched in The interlocking principle with its tubes makes it unique, and offers unlimited building possibilities. It's just a matter of getting the imagination going and letting a wealth of creative ideas emerge through play. 4

5 In 2010, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China and LEGO System A/S and The LEGO Foundation started the MOE-LEGO Innovative Talent Development Program, a joint project of technology education application and general technology lab equipment construction plan. This project has been instrumental in improving the equipment of technology education in schools, enhancing the ability to teach technology in schools, and promoting student's technological literacy and innovative abilities. LEGO has established 400 innovation labs, and 48 teacher bases in the past five years, thousands of teachers and students nationwide benefits from the projects. 5