Hong Kong authorities have established the city’s first university of applied sciences (UAS), with the institution revealing it plans to train local pilots and other talent in the field of aviation.
Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) president Paul Lam Kwan-sing said on Thursday that the institution will also ramp up efforts to change the public’s perception of vocational studies as “second-class”.
“It, of course, takes time to change perceptions. UAS in Hong Kong is built on the foundation of university education but with the element of professional education added to it. That means our standard is no different from other universities,” Lam said.
“We have a strong link and cooperation with industries. What they learned [in UAS] is what society and industries need and it will make our graduates work-ready,” he added.
Hong Kong Metropolitan University ‘expected to become city’s first UAS
Hong Kong Metropolitan University ‘expected to become city’s first UAS
Lam said he understood the vocational programme path was typically seen as the option for students who were declined a spot in traditional universities in Hong Kong, but he was adamant this view could be changed given that some European countries had accomplished this.
HKMU was planning to offer more new vocational programmes to resolve the city’s manpower crunch after talks with different industry representatives, he revealed.
“They may include recreation, hotel and aviation management … we hope to train our own pilots as Hong Kong lacks this kind of talent. Aircraft engineering will also be considered,” he said.
But Lam pledged that the university would retain some programmes such as language and philosophy, which are traditionally viewed as non-vocational, to ensure a well-rounded curriculum.
Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin said HKMU was successful in its bid to become the first UAS in Hong Kong as it had satisfied criteria of winning industry support and introducing “high-quality vocational and professional courses that combined theoretical and practical elements”.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu discussed the idea of upgrading educational institutions to UAS-status in his policy address in October last year as part of an effort to change negative perceptions about vocational education.
Esmond Lee Chung-sin, deputy secretary for education, said the government budget announced last month reserved HK$100 million (US$12.8 million) as a start-up fund to promote the image of vocational and professional education.
Enough to fix manpower crunch? Hong Kong pushes applied sciences universities
Enough to fix manpower crunch? Hong Kong pushes applied sciences universities
The government believed that this fund was enough for an “alliance of UAS” to use for five to 10 years.
Lee added the government had no fixed target for the number of UAS but noted some institutions already expressed interest.
Tung Wah College and the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong under the Vocational Training Council, earlier said they were interested in obtaining UAS status.
Lam, the university head, said they would use the fund to hold local promotional activities on vocational and professional education, joining international conferences and overseas visits.
