ENG-2000 — Page 209

EDUCATION

Training in New Technologies

The New Technologies 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 933 of the 1 180 applications received.

Training for People with a Disability

Five skills centres, three run by the VTC and two by NGOs, prepare people with a disability for open employment or mainstream vocational education and technical training. In the 2000-01 training year, they planned to provide 1 157 full-time places, of which 468 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 78 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.

Project Springboard

The Government's objective has been to promote life-long learning to upgrade human resources and enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong in an increasingly knowledge-based society. To this end, Project Springboard was launched in October as a new bridging programme, to provide an alternative route and expand the continuing education opportunities for secondary school leavers and adult learners. The bridging programme is organised by the 10 member institutions of the Federation for Continuing Education in Tertiary Institutions (FCE). It is skill-based, with emphasis on biliteracy, trilingualism, information technology application and practical subjects. To cater for students of different backgrounds, the programme is offered for either full-time or part-time study. With the agreement of participating institutions to mutually recognise Project Springboard qualifications, the programme will provide secondary school leavers and adult learners with an important entry qualification to pursue higher education through the progression ladder of continuing education. The first year intake is more than 4 000 students, and the number of places can be adjusted in future, in the light of demand.

The FCE has adopted a vigorous course development procedure and quality assurance process to ensure that the standard of courses provided is consistent with the objectives of the programme. The Government announced in December that it would recognise Project Springboard qualifications for the purpose of recruitment for certain posts in the Civil Service.

Higher Education

At present, about 18 per cent of the 17-20 age group can receive higher education in Hong Kong. Each year, 14 500 places are available in institutions funded by the

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