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More than 120 representatives from the business sector, professional bodies and education institutions took part in a "Seminar on Sub-degree Qualifications" held by the Education and Manpower Bureau today (October 26).
The seminar aimed to promote better recognition of sub-degree qualifications and deeper collaboration between the business sector and the institutions. It was an extension of the Business for Education Luncheon hosted by the Secretary for Education and Manpower in June this year.
Delivering a speech at the opening of the seminar, the Deputy Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mrs Betty Fung, said that the main focus of the seminar was on two major aspects requiring employers' participation - curriculum development and internship or placement opportunities for sub-degree students.
"As revealed in the last employer's survey commissioned by the bureau, these are also the areas where employers regarded their participation as most important in order to enhance the relevance of sub-degree courses and the employability of sub-degree graduates," Mrs Fung said.
At present, there are 20 education institutions offering more than 260 self-financing sub-degree programmes in a wide range of disciplines. As a result, currently around 30% of the workforce has attained post-secondary qualifications, as compared to 14% in the early 1990s.
"As well as academic qualifications, employers nowadays look for employees with other attributes such as good working attitude, effective communication skills, adaptability, team spirit, motivation and determination," Mrs Fung said, adding that the Government would continue to facilitate a dialogue between the business community and post-secondary institutions.
To review and update its policy to meet the changing needs of the sector, the Government had conducted the first phase of the Review of the Post-secondary Education Sector in August, 2005, and published a report for public consultation in March this year.
Phase Two of the Review will focus on, among other things, further improvements to the quality assurance mechanisms and how the Government could better support and promote the sustainable development of the sector. The second phase of the review is expected to complete by mid-2007.
Ends/Thursday, October 26, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:59
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