Hong Kong’s first university of applied sciences reveals plan to train local pilots and other aviation talent
- Hong Kong Metropolitan University president Paul Lam says the institution has strong links with industries to help graduates become ‘work-ready’
- Institution will also ramp up efforts to change the public’s perception of vocational studies as ‘second-class’
Hong Kong authorities have established the city’s first university of applied sciences (UAS), with the institution revealing it plans to train local pilots and other talent in the field of aviation.
Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) president Paul Lam Kwan-sing said on Thursday that the institution would also ramp up efforts to change the public’s perception of vocational studies as “second-class”.
“It, of course, takes time to change perceptions. UAS in Hong Kong is built on the foundation of university education but with the element of professional education added to it. That means our standard is no different from other universities,” Lam said.
“We have a strong link and cooperation with industries. What they learned [in UAS] is what society and industries need and it will make our graduates work-ready,” he added.
Lam said he understood the vocational programme path was typically seen as the option for students who were declined a spot in traditional universities in Hong Kong, but he was adamant this view could be changed given that some European countries had accomplished this.
HKMU was planning to offer more new vocational programmes to resolve the city’s manpower crunch after talks with different industry representatives, he revealed.