According to an editorial in the Standard newspaper, Centennial College, an extension arm of University of Hong Kong, is struggling to survive as a result of student recruitment targets falling well below target. The editorial suggests that this also creates a dark shadow over other private tertiary institutions.

The College charges tuition fees of HK$89,000 to HK$99,000 (£7,800 to £8,700), and offers independent degree programmes in the liberal arts. The College was opened in 2012.

In recent years the Hong Kong Education Bureau has tried to position Hong Kong as a regional “Education Hub” in order to make education a new economic pillar, however in reality a very large proportion of non-local students are from Mainland China. Students from Mainland China are however barred from studying at self-funded institutions

Compounding the issue, a current fall in student numbers as a result of low birth rates in the last two decades also means a shrinking supply of local students. Since 2012 the number of day school candidates sitting the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education has declined from 71,700 to 57,000 this year.

Commentary by Steve Corry, Head of Education Marketing Services, British Council Hong Kong:

The self-funded tertiary sector in Hong Kong, which includes the institutions that partner with UK universities to offer UK TNE programmes, is currently facing multiple challenges in student recruitment. Self-funded degree programmes are typically a third choice behind publicly funded programmes and studying overseas. This sector is therefore perhaps being hit harder than UK universities in student recruitment. Recruiting students from Mainland China would ease the difficulty, however that is unlikely to happen considering current political tensions and anti-China sentiment among the Hong Kong population.

UK universities looking to offer TNE programmes in Hong Kong should be aware of these challenges that self-funded institutions are facing, and consider that post-graduate courses may have better market prospects than undergraduate courses.

Source:
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/section-news.php?id=168880