ENG-1998 — Page 205

EDUCATION

Training in New Technologies

The New Technology Training Scheme administered by the VTC aims to facilitate the adoption of new technologies beneficial to Hong Kong industry and commerce. Grants are provided to help companies send their employees to acquire skills in new technologies. The training grant can be up to 75 per cent of the training cost. Eligible training programmes consist of local training courses, overseas training courses, work attachments and tailor-made training courses for individual companies. During the year, the VTC approved 3 181 of the 3 437 applications received.

Training For People With A Disability

Five skills centres, three run by the VTC and two by voluntary agencies, prepare people with a disability for open employment or mainstream vocational education and technical training. They provide 1001 full-time places, of which 438 are residential.

An inspectorate unit advises skills centres on administration, curriculum, training methods and standards, and provides guidance on training courses to students with a disability. The unit works closely with the Labour Department's Selective Placement Service to ensure that training matches the demands of the local employment market demand. Some 75 per cent of people with a disability completing full-time courses in skills centres entered open employment or enrolled in further courses in mainstream vocational education during the year.

Higher Education

Ten years ago, less than five per cent of the 17-20 age group could receive higher education in Hong Kong. By 1994–95, this figure increased to about 18 per cent, with 14 500 places available for first-year first-degree courses. A further six per cent of the relevant age group have access to first-year sub-degree courses. Degrees up to doctorate level awarded locally are recognised by institutions of higher learning around the world. Academic standards are guaranteed by the appointment of external examiners from prominent overseas universities and colleges. The Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation validates courses and programmes offered by Hong Kong's non-university, degree-awarding institutions.

Higher Educational Institutions

There are 10 tertiary institutions, eight of which are funded through the UGC. Seven of the eight are self-accrediting institutions (including six universities and one liberal arts college). The other one is the Hong Kong Institute of Education which is a teacher training institution. Two other degree-awarding tertiary institutions are not funded by the UGC. They are the publicly-funded Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and the self-financing Open University of Hong Kong.

The eight higher educational institutions funded through the UGC are:

(a) City University of Hong Kong (CityU);

(b) Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU);

(c) Lingnan College (LC);

(d) The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK); (e) The Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd);

153