EDUCATION
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day-release and part-time evening attendance. A large number of short courses are also offered and these are mainly designed to update the knowledge and skills of people in employment.
The main disciplines covered by the institutes include: Applied Science, Clothing, Commercial Studies, Computing Studies, Construction, Design, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Environmental Studies, Food Technology, General Studies, Hotel-keeping and Tourism Studies, Industrial Technology, Marine Engineering and Fabrication, Mechanical and Production Engineering, Motor Vehicle Engineering, Printing and Textiles. Most technician level courses have been validated by the United Kingdom Business and Technician Education Council and students attending these courses are able to register for the council's awards.
The demand for places in most courses remained high. Enrolments for the 1988–9 academic year totalled 11 000 full-time, 16 000 part-time day and 30 000 part-time evening students. In September, there were 800 full-time teaching staff and some 700 supporting staff in the technical institutes.
Each technical institute has on average 70 computer work-stations comprising terminals linked to medium-scale computers and microcomputers. In addition, computer-aided design and drafting facilities have been installed in the technical institutes. These enable the study of computer appreciation and application to be included in most courses.
The annual employment survey of graduates from full-time courses again showed that they had little difficulty in finding employment after completion of their studies.
To meet the increasing demand for study places, the Kwai Chung, Kwun Tong and Morrison Hill technical institutes are being expanded. Construction work began in mid- 1988 and is expected to be completed in the next two years.
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Industrial Training
Industrial training is promoted and co-ordinated by the Vocational Training Council.
The council administers and operates a number of industry-wide training schemes for the major industries and assists individual employers in setting up or improving their own staff training schemes. Young persons wishing to obtain organised training may also approach the council for assistance.
In 1988, the Vocational Training Council operated 16 training centres for training man- power for the automobile, banking, electrical, electronic data processing, electronics, gas, hotel, insurance, jewellery, machine shop and metal working, plastics, precision tooling, printing, shipping, textile, and welding industries. Together, the centres provide off-the-job basic or updating training for over 21 000 trainees a year on a full-time or part-time basis, at skill levels ranging from the operative to the technologist. The council was in the process of setting up a training centre for the wholesale/retail and import/export trades.
The Engineering Graduate Training Scheme aims at bringing about adequate practical training opportunities for engineering graduates and engineering students in sandwich courses to enable them to complete their overall training as engineers and satisfy the training requirements of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers as well as other recognised institutions for professional status. In 1988, 80 engineering firms took part in the scheme and provided training places.
Since May 1987, the council has been administering an experimental scheme on behalf of the Industry Department for the training of engineers in the design of application specific integrated circuits (ASIC). The scheme involves the provision of a government grant to assist employers to train local engineers in overseas facilities in the field of ASIC design.
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