XN000022-1991-05-08 — Page 27

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 8. 1991

INTAKES TO IT-RELATED COURSES TO INCREASE

THERE WILL BE A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN INTAKES TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT)-RELATED COURSES IN TERTIARY EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND TECHNICAL INSTITUTES IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER (DESIGNATE), MR JOHN CHAN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

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SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE COMPUTER CONFERENCE '91 AT THE HONG KONG CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE, MR CHAN SAID INTAKES ΤΟ IT-RELATED COURSES IN THE TERTIARY EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS CURRENTLY STOOD AT 1,750 AND THE INTENTION WAS TO EXPAND EXISTING COURSES AND TO INTRODUCE NEW COURSES TO MAKE AVAILABLE AN ADDITIONAL 680 PLACES THIS YEAR.

"THE NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL PLACES IS INTENDED TO RISE ΤΟ OVER 1,000 BY 1994/95," HE SAID.

AS REGARDS TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, MR CHAN SAID THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL HAD INCREASED INTAKES ON IT-RELATED COURSES FROM 1,730 IN 1989/90 TO 3,175 IN 1990/91.

"A FURTHER INCREASE TO 3,345 IS PLANNED FOR 1991/92 DOUBLE THE 1989/90 NUMBERS, HE SAID.

L

NEARLY

MR CHAN SAID THE COUNCIL WAS INTRODUCING A RANGE OF NEW COURSES IN RESPONSE TO CHANGING SKILLS NEEDS.

TRAINING IN

"THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL ALSO PROVIDES OFFERING IN-CLASS TRAINING PLACES AS WELL AS SEMINARS AND IN-COMPANY TRAINING,' HE SAID.

IT,

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ALL IN ALL, MR CHAN SAID, THERE HAD BEEN AND WOULD CONTINUE TO BE A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN INVESTMENT IN IT EDUCATION AND TRAINING.

"THE ADMINISTRATION WILL CONTINUE TO CONSIDER HOW BEST TO RESPOND TO IT USERS' NEEDS FOR SKILLED MANPOWER.

MADE A

"THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HAS RECENTLY NUMBER OF CONSTRUCTIVE PROPOSALS FOR FURTHER ACTION BASED ON ITS SURVEY OF THE IT ENVIRONMENT AND MANPOWER IN HONG KONG.

"THE ADMINISTRATION IS CONSIDERING

RESPOND SOON, HE SAID.

THESE PROPOSALS AND WILL

MR CHAN SAID THE DEMAND FOR SKILLED STAFF WAS LIKELY ΤΟ INTENSIFY IN THE COMING YEARS AS IT USERS UPGRADED THEIR SYSTEM AND DEVELOPED NEW APPLICATIONS, AND AS OTHER ORGANISATIONS IT FOR THE FIRST TIME.

"THE TYPE OF

STARTED USING

SKILLS REQUIRED

WILL ALSO APPLICATIONS

CHANGE, AS THE FOLLOW STATE OF

EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS PLANNED FOR NEW THE ART TRENDS, HE SAID.

TI

/MR CHAN