Hong Kong to open to first university of applied sciences next year, John Lee says

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, who revealed the move in his second policy address, also said the number of permitted non-local undergraduates in the 2024-25 academic year would be doubled from 20 per cent for publicly funded undergraduate programmes across all years of study.

Several institutions could become universities of applied sciences, with the first expected to open next year.

“The government will facilitate the establishment of universities of applied sciences, and strive to raise the status of vocational and professional education and training to attain qualifications at university degree level, providing an alternative path to success for young people who aspire to pursue a career in the technical professions,” Lee said.

He added that the government and the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications would set out the standards, covering aspects such as admission, curriculum, accreditation, career articulation and collaboration with the industry sector.

The Post was told the government hoped the universities would enrol students not solely based on academic performance but also work experience.

“If some students think they are not academic type, then they could choose the vocational pathway, which could also lead them to universities,” a government source said.

The insider said the universities of applied sciences would position themselves differently compared to traditional ones.

“The eight public universities in Hong Kong are relatively research-oriented and put an emphasis on rankings,” the source said. “It is the road of academic universities. But universities of applied sciences will emphasise career articulation and internship.”

The insider added the curriculum design should be joined by industries at the initial stage and suit the employment market requirement.

“In the most ideal scenario, we hope there will be a university of applied sciences next year,” the source said.

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The Vocational Training Council welcomed such a move and said its member institute – the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong offering 20 degree programmes – would strive to apply for the upgrade.

Universities of applied science overseas focus on vocational and practical training. Such institutions in the Netherlands offer four-year bachelor courses with hands-on, profession-specific training, while those in Germany provide courses in applied sciences and applied arts, such as engineering, industrial design and architecture.

The policy address also confirmed Post reports in July on doubling the non-local students quota in public universities. The current level is about 19 per cent.

According to the statistics of the University Grants Committee obtained by the Post, 14,147 non-local students were studying in the eight government-funded universities undergraduate programmes in the last academic year. Sixty-eight per cent of them were from mainland China, while 32 per cent were from the rest of the world.

The government source believed the varsities would try to attract students from other countries after the increase of the quota and step up overseas promotion. The government would not put a quota on the number of students from the mainland, the insider said.

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The government will also inject HK$1 billion (US$127.8 million) into the government scholarship fund to offer 50 more places, from the current 100, for students from countries belonging to the belt and road trace initiative.

For hostel places, there would be 13,500 additional places by 2027 in public universities, while the government source admitted some non-local students might need to rent places themselves off campus.

The government will also exempt full-time postgraduate students from restrictions in taking up part-time jobs to increase their incentive to stay for development after graduation. About 35,000 students will benefit from this two-year trial scheme.