WHILE MOST HONG KONG students pursuing higher education in the United States opt for a four-year university or college curriculum, more are choosing to enter community colleges, which offer more affordable two-year foundation programmes that can transfer to university studies.
Michelle Mak Sau-man, director of the China-Hong Kong Institute of International Education, said the number of Hong Kong students joining US higher education institutions has been rising steadily in recent years, totalling 7,849 in the 2005-06 school year, which was up 9 per cent from the previous year. Hong Kong's ranking as a place of origin for overseas students rose to 12th from 15th in the previous year.
'Compared with a few years ago, the proportion of students choosing community colleges has increased to 10 to 20 per cent of the total, while at least 60 per cent go for universities,' Ms Mak said.
She will chair a forum on the US higher education system during the Education & Careers Expo's US Study Day on Saturday.
Community colleges are smaller than universities and have relatively easier entrance requirements. Form Five graduates from Hong Kong are eligible to apply.
Ms Mak said the two-year transfer programmes at community colleges paralleled the first two years of a four-year college or university course. These colleges also offered associate degree programmes, which generally prepared students for getting a job.