How vocational education and training are grooming a generation of professionals in Hong Kong

Carrie Yau says it’s important to change the mindsets of parents and educators who see vocational training as ‘blue-collar’ education. In fact, it plays a vital role in Hong Kong’s development, and more is now being done to increase the academic opportunities for students who choose this path

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The Institute of Vocational Education’s Legend Creator team competes in The Landing Disc contest during the Robocon Hong Kong 2017 competition at the Science Park in Sha Tin, in June. Photo: Edward Wong

Published: 12:11pm, 7 Nov 2017Updated: 7:17pm, 7 Nov 2017

Hong Kong’s Vocational Training Council provides quality vocational and professional education and training to nurture globally competitive individuals for the development of Hong Kong and the region. We offer vocational education and training from crafts to technician up to degree level every year to 250,000 young people and in-service workers, of whom 50,000 are full-time students. To further such education and training, we have a number of priority issues:

First, we need to change the mindset of parents and educators who wrongly perceive vocational training as “blue-collar” education for less-talented students with limited career prospects. To change this perception, we have rebranded technical and vocational education and training as “vocational and professional education and training”. We wish to hammer home the word “professional”.

Katrina Leung Hei-man (right), a student in the Vocational Training Council’s Earn & Learn Scheme shows how to test bone density with her classmate Kathy Chan Yin-on. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Hong Kong’s Vocational Training Council wants to help you earn while you learn

We are grooming a generation of professionals conversant not only with trade skills but also soft skills (that is, people skills). They are critical thinkers, problem solvers and design thinkers. The council has devoted significant efforts to promoting vocational and professional education through publicity campaigns, school outreach activities, forums and seminars, targeting local and international educators, plus skills competitions and events.

Second is the issue of articulation and permeability in vocational and professional education and training. Currently, Hong Kong’s education system is similar to the Swiss and German models, which offer two routes – the traditional academic route and the vocational education route. Hong Kong provides a vertical progression route. It is not a single-track road but extends in multiple directions. If students choose the vocational route, they can also climb the higher education ladder. Switzerland is well known for is its effective, permeable dual-track system, but Hong Kong lacks a “vocational baccalaureate” like the Swiss system’s. We plan to soon launch a three-year vocational baccalaureate programme for senior secondary level students, enabling them to join a university of applied sciences, equivalent to a higher education institute, or traditional university.

Third, a look at Hong Kong’s dual-track vocational education is in order. Making reference to the international best practices of Swiss and German models, we introduced the Earn & Learn Scheme in 2014 for secondary school leavers, with support from government and industry, which provides an opportunity to follow a well-defined path for higher qualifications. By integrating structured classroom learning with on-the-job training, young people can put learning into practice in a work setting. Following positive feedback, the scheme has been extended to cover 10 industries and trades. We plan to further develop the dual-track model to degree level, ultimately achieving dual-track learning for all.

Cornelia Oertle, director of the Swiss Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training, sits down with Hong Kong’s Vocational Training Council chairman Clement Chen in March. Chen has said that, like Switzerland, Hong Kong should enhance its vocational facilities and encourage more companies to take on students as apprentices. Photo: Nora Tam