For the past year a task force has been researching perceptions of vocational education, and ways to promote the sector to the public in Hong Kong. This is context of a lack of uptake of vocational education and a mismatch between qualifications and the needs of Hong Kong’s service economy.

The task force recommends a three-pronged strategy comprising rebranding vocational education and training; strengthening promotion; and sustaining efforts, with a total of 27 recommendations. A long term vision has been identified, of changing public perceptions of vocational education as a second choice.

Source:

http://7thspace.com/headlines/512243/task_force_on_promotion_of_vocational_education_submits_report.html

Full Report:

http://www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/other-edu-training/vocational-other-edu-program/promotion-vet.html

British Council comment, by Steve Corry, regional business development manager.

Currently Hong Kong is a very challenging market for establishing partnerships or recruiting students to vocational courses, due to the poor image the sector has amongst the Hong Kong public. As is the case across much of East Asia, parents in Hong Kong drive students to obtain the best possible grades in academic education, and view vocational education as a last resort.

The Hong Kong government often moves slowly, and it is likely to be a period of months before any concrete policy eventuates as a result of this report. Changing public perceptions will also be a challenging task. It therefore remains to be seen whether real change will eventuate, and UK organisations that might be interested in participating in the vocational education sector in Hong Kong will therefore need to keep a watching brief on developments over a lengthy period of time before any new market opportunities might become apparent.