Chief Executive John Lee today outlined measures in the Policy Address to strengthen Hong Kong’s education and youth development.

International post-secondary education hub

From the 2024-25 academic year, the admission quota for non-local students to Government-funded post-secondary institutions will be doubled to 40%. As such, the schools may admit more non-local students, especially those from Belt & Road countries and the Mainland, and stand to expand capacity and enhance standards through quality teaching and supporting facilities.

To attract outstanding talent to study and conduct research in Hong Kong, $1 billion will be injected into the Government Scholarship Fund. By doing so, from the 2024-25 academic year, the quota for the Belt & Road Scholarship will increase by 50%, while the quota for the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme will increase by one-third gradually, from 300 to 400 places per academic year. At the same time, the Government will continue to support annually around 100 outstanding local students through the Hong Kong Scholarship for Excellence Scheme, under which they pursue studies in world-renowned universities outside Hong Kong to broaden their global perspectives.

As for local students, University Grants Committee-funded universities will take forward hostel projects to cumulatively provide about 13,500 additional hostel places by 2027. Next year, the Government will also start a new round of the Land Grant Scheme and Start up Loan Scheme which aim to support self-financing post-secondary institutions in developing and enhancing their campuses for supporting teaching and learning activities.

Separately, starting from this November, full-time non local postgraduate students will be temporarily exempted from the restrictions on taking up part time jobs. This arrangement will run on a trial basis for two years and benefit more than 35,000 students.

From the 2023-24 academic year, the University Grants Committee will also inject $100 million into the Funding Scheme for Mainland & Global Engagement & Student Learning Experience. This will encourage universities to offer more exchange and learning opportunities outside Hong Kong, and promote a diversified and inclusive international learning environment.

Additionally, the Government will take forward the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town where post-secondary institutions are encouraged to strengthen co-operation with renowned Mainland and overseas institutions, and create synergy by collaborating with the industry sector.

Universities of applied sciences

To raise the status of vocational and professional education and training to attain qualifications at university degree level, the Chief Executive unveiled a plan to facilitate the establishment of universities of applied sciences (UASs) in the Policy Address.

The Government, together with the Council for Accreditation of Academic & Vocational Qualifications, will make reference to international experience and work to prescribe the standards to be qualified as a UAS, covering such aspects as admission, curriculum, accreditation, career articulation, and collaboration with the industry, he explained.

The Government will offer financial assistance as well as ancillary support, and give priority consideration to include eligible UAS programmes in the Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors. To support existing self-financing institutions to develop into UASs, the Government will provide additional subsidies to encourage such schools to offer more applied degree programmes related to technical professions, and provide more incentives for enrolment. Furthermore, it will set aside a startup fund to support potential post-secondary institutions to form an Alliance of Universities in Applied Sciences to undertake joint promotional activities to instil in students, parents and the community a better appreciation of the importance of vocational and professional education and training.

Vocational talent pool

Mr Lee outlined that the Government will establish the Hong Kong Institute of Information Technology, under the Vocational Training Council (VTC), focusing on pre-employment and on-the-job training for the information and technology sector. It will introduce programmes in the 2024-25 academic year.

Meanwhile, the VTC will, for a period of three years starting from the 2024-25 academic year, provide each registered apprentice with an additional monthly training allowance, and subsidise graduated apprentices in taking upskilling courses of relevant trades. Each of these subsidy arrangements will last for 36 months.

Hong Kong also will work with Mainland authorities on the mutual recognition of sub-degree level qualifications, including higher diploma qualifications, and will put the arrangement on trial for selected pilot areas.

Separately, the Chief Executive said the Government will further promote STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics) education in primary and secondary schools, including the introduction of the science subject in primary schools, with the curriculum framework to be announced in the 2023-24 school year for implementation from the 2025-26 school year. In addition, a programme in support of the mathematics curriculum will be rolled out in the 2023-24 school year.

Teacher, student support

The Government will strengthen co-operation with Mainland authorities and institutions to organise regular professional training, sharing and collaboration programmes; introduce new awards under the Chief Executive’s Award for Teaching Excellence to recognise teachers who are bold at innovation; and regularise the Relocation Grant for Kindergartens from the 2024-25 school year to help kindergartens move to government-owned premises.

Youth development

The Government will implement and enhance some 160 measures in the Youth Development Blueprint, and organise the Youth Development Summit in mid-2024 as the opening and highlight of the next Youth Festival. As various youth exchange and internship programmes in the Mainland and overseas continue, it will also establish the Alliance of Hong Kong Youth Innovation & Entrepreneurial Bases in the Greater Bay Area within this year to provide a one-stop information, publicity and exchange platform.

In addition, the Government will study the possibility of utilising facilities to provide Youth Link participants with a platform for constant interaction, including setting up multi-function areas, a youth culture and creativity bazaar, and small-scale performance spaces.

For the Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum, diverse learning opportunities, exchange activities with Mainland universities as well as study tours will be organised, Mr Lee said, adding that an affiliated Leaders Forum Alumni Association will be formed.