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SCMP Reporter

HONG KONG Polytechnic has first-hand experience of the needs of working people who want to further their education.

  The polytechnic now has about 24,000 students and nearly 60 per cent of them are enrolled in part-time courses.

   About 25 per cent of part-time students are in the business school's courses.

  Academic secretary Patrick Conway said many students were middle mangers or those in similar positions.

  ''Our courses are in high demand. We have to turn people away from them. Completing a business course is seen as a way of advancing their career prospects and leading to promotion,'' he said.

  Mr Conway said the polytechnic closely monitored the needs of the business community in developing its courses.

  He said the polytechnic had close links with business executives who updated staff on market demand.

  ''We are looking all the time at the specific needs of Hong Kong society. With that information, we can start developing our courses in the future,'' he said.

  One prominent trend at the polytechnic is the development of postgraduate courses.

  It is now moving towards providing mainly degree courses and higher qualifications and this is reflected in the growth of its post-graduate programme in business-related topics.

  These include diplomas and masters of science degrees in management.

  Students can specialise in areas like health service and public sector management, or concentrate on business.

 Part-time courses last a minimum of two years and are aimed at managers who want to improve their knowledge and skills.

  Most students have about one or two years' work experience.

  The other main element to post-graduate studies is the master of business administration programme, a part-time course spread over 27 months.

  In 1993-94, the annual tuition fee was $12,750 and the course was aimed at middle managers - preparing them for more senior positions in public and private sectors.

  The head of the polytechnic's management department, Peter Yuen, said the MBA programme was designed to cater for people with substantial experience in business, rather than relative newcomers to a work environment.

  ''Our students usually have five years' working experience or more and are already at middle-manager level,'' he said.

  ''We're not training people to go into business at entry level, but are allowing them to go on to more senior positions.

  ''That is the reason why our programme has more of an emphasis on areas like business policy rather than more basic foundation courses.''     Mr Yuen said most students and managers were well-aware of the need for good training and business courses.

   ''I think increasingly people are beginning to realise that managerial qualifications and know-how are important in their career advancement regardless of what position they are in now,'' he said.

  ''From our experience, most students seem to get promotions rather rapidly . . . we like to think that our courses help.'' 



Fine tuning for middle managers