EDUCATION
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total enrolment in technical institutes was 10 000 full-time, 3 950 mixed full-time, 11 140 part-time day and 23 300 evening students on some 310 courses.
Industrial Training
In addition to offering pre-employment training to new entrants to the labour market, some of the VTC's 24 training centres also offer upgrading for in-service personnel at all levels. Such upgrading training includes courses in precision tool and die design, application of CAD/CAM to die manufacturing, electronic systems design, object-oriented technology and open systems in information technology. Some 45 300 full-time and part-time places were available during the year. Trade tests were offered for employees in the automobile, building and civil engineering, electrical, jewellery, machine shop and metal-working, and plastics and printing industries.
The Construction Industry Training Authority, established in 1975, operates three training centres and a management training and trade testing centre offering a total of 7 959 training places. Full-time courses are offered to train craftsmen, operatives and supervisors in the construction field, and there are also part-time management and upgrading courses for in-service construction personnel.
The authority is funded by a levy of 0.25 per cent on the value of all construction works exceeding $1 million. To help improve construction site safety, about 2 800 certification tests for crane operators were conducted during 1995. The authority is also conducting trade tests for construction workers of principal trades with a view to upgrading the quality of construction works.
The Clothing Industry Training Authority was established in 1975 to provide training centres for the woven garment, knitwear, fur and footwear industries. It is financed by a levy of 0.03 per cent on the FOB value of clothing and footwear products exported from Hong Kong. In 1994-95 two training centres trained 7 397 people at technician, craftsman and operative levels on full-time and part-time
courses.
The Engineering Graduate Training Scheme, administered by the VTC, helps engineering students and graduates to complete their training necessary for obtaining the corporate membership of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers or equivalent professional bodies. During the year, 87 firms took part in the scheme, providing 300 places.
Management Development
The VTC's Management Development Centre of Hong Kong aims to develop, promote and extend managerial effectiveness in Hong Kong. Major activities include the development and distribution of locally relevant management learning material, the provision of workshops and seminars for managers, and courses for management trainers. The centre operates a pilot management development programme with the University of Oxford Delegacy for Local Examinations.
Training in New Technologies
The VTC's Precision Tooling Training Centre houses a precision sheet metal processing training unit. It was set up in 1990 with financial and expert help from the Japan International Co-operation Agency under an inter-governmental agreement.
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