The number of students applying to the Vocational Training Council (VTC), the city's largest vocational training course provider, has tripled from five years ago, with more than one-third of Form Seven students now exceeding minimum academic entry requirements. The VTC is made up of 13 member institutions, with the Institute of Vocational Education (IVE) and the Hong Kong Design Institute offering higher diploma courses to A-level graduates. 'We have revised our entry requirements to one A-level or two Advanced Supplementary Level passes. Five years ago, they were only expected to complete their Form Seven studies,' says VTC education adviser Leung Yam-shing. Form Seven students are opting for practical subjects, such as childcare studies, hotel studies, building services engineering, and programmes under the Department of Applied Science. Armed with A-level results, Form Seven students can secure direct offers from schools by applying at the IVE Wan Chai and Cheung Sha Wan campuses from today until Friday. There will also be VTC 'info-stations' at the Mong Kok, Sha Tin and Sheung Shui MTR stations on those days, and at the Tuen Mun Town Plaza. Annual tuition fees vary from HK$22,000 to more than HK$40,000. Higher diplomas are widely recognised and up to 40 per cent of higher diploma students pursue top-up studies immediately after graduation. Ninety-six per cent of full-time higher diploma graduates applying for places on degree courses at local and overseas universities manage to secure a place. Most higher diploma graduates will have gained their undergraduate degree within five years of graduating. Higher diploma programmes offered under the IVE's Department of Applied Science are popular. 'Our courses are based on the emerging needs of the population,' says Dr Christopher Leung, academic director at the Department of Applied Science. 'We have considered the government's six new economic pillar industries: education services, medical services, testing and certification services, environmental industries, innovation and technology, and cultural and creative industries.' Some of the department's popular higher diplomas include programmes in food science and safety, testing and certification, and pharmaceutical technology. Stringent import standards, particularly for mainland goods, have made testing and certification a sizeable industry. Building services engineering is also popular, and is considered a safe bet due to the buoyant construction sector. 'In good times, there are ample projects, but when the economy dips, as it did during Sars [severe acute respiratory syndrome], demand remained steady as our graduates were needed to carry out upgrading and maintenance work,' says Au Yeung Yiu-nam, course leader of the higher diploma in building services engineering. For a list of programmes, campus locations and information on the info-stations, visit www.vtc.edu.hk