Twenty-year-old Tong Tsz-lun has just graduated from a two-year higher diploma programme at the Institute of Vocational Education (IVE) - and he has a lot to be happy about. Not only did he finish top of his class, he also won a scholarship to study at a university of his choice in Britain.
'I'm very excited,' said the biomedical science graduate. 'I haven't been to England before and I have always wanted to study overseas,' he said.
Tong has a place at Leeds University where he will continue his studies. The Alistair Harvey Foundation scholarship that he won will pay for all his tuition fees, accommodation, flights and living expenses for the duration of his course. The scholarship is open to a number of top-performing IVE graduates each year, and two of Tong's classmates have also won it this year.
Before joining IVE, Tong had managed to pass all of his A-levels and was offered a place on a higher diploma programme in chemical technology at Polytechnic University. He declined the offer in favour of the biomedical sciences course at IVE Sha Tin. 'My real wish was to study biomedical science,' he said. 'My ultimate aim is to save lives by developing new drugs or new vaccines, and this subject can really give me a chance to achieve that.'
The advantage of studying at IVE, he said, was that much of the course content involved having practical classes. 'I have some friends who are studying in local universities and they have said that much of their course involves lectures with few practical lessons. Here we are able to do lots of lab work and learn the practical side of things. I have even been able to take and test peoples' blood.' The course also taught other skills such as customer service and sales and marketing. 'We can really equip ourselves well and become comprehensive, all-round students.'
For him, a highlight of the diploma was the faculty. He said that it was made up of people who had had experience of working in different professions within the industry. 'As well as having strong academic backgrounds, before they taught here they may have worked as pharmacists, clinical technicians or in other areas of biomedical science. They are able now to share their experience with us so we can better prepare for our future jobs.'