EDUCATION
162
Computing and Mathematics, Construction, Design/Printing/Textile and Clothing, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Hotel, Service and Tourism Studies, and Mechanical, Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering.
After a major restructure of IVE courses, new courses are offered in 1999–2000. Many Diploma and Higher Diploma courses have been put into subject groups and share a common year-1 curriculum. Promotion to year-2 of Higher Diploma for students in these subject groups is determined by their academic achievement at the end of the first year and their preference. Diploma and Higher Diploma are awarded after two and three years respectively of post-Secondary 5 study. Part-time courses are modularised on a 2 + 2 + 2 years structure for the award of Certificate, Higher Certificate and Higher Diploma respectively. In the 1998-99 academic year, 1 615 graduates were full-time, 529 part-time day and 2 511 part-time evening at higher- technician level and 4 914 full-time, 1 529 part-time day and 4 592 part-time evening at technician level. In November, the enrolment of IVE at technician and higher- technician level was 18 119 full-time, 3 910 part-time day and 20 229 part-time evening. Short courses are also offered to people in employment.
At the craft level, IVE continues to offer courses in the various disciplines to students who have completed Secondary 3 education. The number of craft-level graduates in 1998-99 was 2916 full-time, 2 511 part-time day and 3 082 part-time evening. The enrolment of craft-level students in IVE in November for 1999-2000 courses was 1 640 full-time, 8 276 part-time day and 4 397 part-time evening.
The VTC launched two initiatives for 1999-2000, the Foundation Diploma and the Certificate in Vocational Studies, for Secondary 5 and Secondary 3 school leavers respectively. Both courses place special emphases on language and communication, and IT application. The two courses together provide 4 160 training places in 1999-2000 and offer Secondary 3 and 5 school leavers with an alternative route of further education.
Technical Training
Besides offering pre-employment training to new entrants to the labour market, the VTC's 22 training centres also offer upgrading training for in-service personnel at craft, technician and higher technician levels. Some 57 120 full-time and part-time places were available during the year for both school leavers and people in employment. Trade tests were offered to workers in the automobile, building and civil engineering, electrical, jewellery, machine shop and metal working, plastics, printing and precision tooling trades.
Information Technology Training and Development
The Information Technology Training and Development Centre was set up during the year. It provides Information Technology (IT) training for new entrants and upgrading training for IT professionals; provides industry support services for small and medium enterprises; establishes an IT Skills Assessment Centre and IT Information Centre, and organises special groups for applied research on new technologies and the development and popularisation of software systems using such technologies in specific economic sectors.