VTC training boosts youth job prospects

The Vocational Training Council (VTC) is launching a number of new training programmes and expanding some of its more popular existing programmes.

This is a move to help Forms Three and Five school-leavers improve their job skills and employment prospects.

A new two-year full-time 'Hospitality Industry Foundation Certificate Course' is being offered by the VTC's Hospitality Industry Training and Development Centre. It will help meet the increasing demand in the hospitality industry for well-trained young people.

The free programme covers knowledge of the food and beverage industry, preparation of Western and Chinese snacks, drinks and desserts, front office organisation and operations as well as computer skills and vocational English and Putonghua.

A total of 300 places will be offered. Those with Form Three education and aged 16 or above are eligible to apply.

Other courses on offer will be in the areas of building services, textiles and digital media such as technician foundation courses in vehicle servicing, air-conditioning and refrigeration, electrical engineering, lift engineering and textiles (quality assurance and merchandising) for Form Five students. Basic craft course in digital print media publishing techniques is a course for Form Three students. All are one-year full-time courses.

There are 20 other one-year full-time technician foundation courses and basic craft courses offered by the VTC's training centres in the fields of cars, electronics, electrical, jewellery, plastics, printing, gas and welding industries. They are also offered free.