Vocational courses to be offered according to demands

The government is promoting vocational education, but many highschool graduates still aim for university degrees.

The Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong points out it will take time to change stereotype associated with vocational education. Facing a declining student population, future courses will be offered based on evolving industry needs.

With the fertility rate remaining low, there are only 1.2 applicants competing for each publicly funded university spot on average this year, raising concerns that self-financed programmes might face even greater oversupply in the future.

Technological and Higher Education Institute President Alan Lau says on a TVB programme that in response to the decline in school-age children, future courses will be offered according to demands. He says only courses that are necessary and beneficial to society and enterprises will be offered.

For example, while Hong Kong has many new energy vehicles, there is no course dedicated to the field. He estimates the market would be huge in the following three to five years.

A survey once found more than half of the secondary school students polled believed vocational education was only chosen by those with poor academic results.

To change this impression, one of the government's measures is to encourage institutions to apply for designation as applied science universities, and THEi has also applied for such an "upgrade".

Lau remarks changing people's mindset will take time. He also stresses that for applied science universities, the most important thing is whether research outcomes can be put into practical use.