CITA keeps up with technology
THE CLOTHING Industry Training Authority (CITA) was set up in 1975 to help train employees in the textile and garment industry, and has evolved with the times as the manufacturing base for Hong Kong companies moved to the mainland and further afield.
'Now the focus is more on applying technology within the industry and enhancing the global competitiveness of Hong Kong companies,' said CITA's associate director for training K.K.Chan.
To do that, the authority is concentrating on training activities, providing centres of excellence in areas such as quality assurance, dyeing and garment-fit technology, and offering expert assistance for individual businesses.
The training courses fall into various categories. The one-year certificate and two-year diploma programmes are full time and intended primarily for Form Five school leavers. Students can opt to specialise in areas such as design, applied merchandising, knitwear fashion or woven products.
Each diploma course involves classroom study plus up to 400 hours of workshop practice and language training in English and Putonghua. The emphasis is on practical knowledge and teaching the skills most valued by employers.
There are also part-time evening courses for people in the industry who need to improve their formal qualifications. The most popular of these is the one-year advanced diploma in merchandising, for which the annual intake is about 120 students.
'People working, for example, with trading companies, now realise the need to know more about the theory of merchandising. We also keep them up to date with industry developments so they can make the most of career opportunities.'
He said that prospects in the clothing and merchandising sectors were good. More international companies were establishing buying centres in Hong Kong and looking for well-qualified technical staff.
'One US-based retailer had a buying office with five employees a few years ago. It now has around 400 and is looking for more,' Mr Chan said.
