The implementation of the new secondary school diploma in Hong Kong will result in a double cohort of graduates in 2012, further intensifying the competition for opportunities in further education or vocational training.
On the career front, the latest information on employment options has helped to sharpen the competitive edge of individuals looking for a shift in their careers, or other employment opportunities amid the volatile global economic conditions.
More and more employees aiming for career advancement also see the need to further equip themselves by enrolling in continuing knowledge and skill-enhancing programmes.
The annual Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Education and Careers Expo provides an important platform connecting students, job seekers and career-shifters with over 720 local and overseas educational institutions and professionals associations, as well as government departments and private enterprises in search of new recruits.
This year marks a major transition in Hong Kong's educational system - it is the first year that secondary school students will complete the '3-3-4' curriculum and sit the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) examinations. Together with those students who will receive their A-level certificates, the total number of the double-cohort graduates is likely to top 110,000 this year.
'[Given the larger number of graduates,] we expect to see a surge in students' demand for information about further education opportunities available both locally and abroad,' says Clare Wong, assistant executive director, HKTDC.