VPET News

Information Expo on Multiple Pathways 2024 (Info Expo) will be held on 10 and 11 May 2024 at the Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre to provide information on various articulation opportunities for secondary school graduates and help them plan well for their further studies and career pathways.

Around 30 institutions and organisations set up exhibition booths at the Info Expo to provide information on locally accredited post-secondary programmes (including programmes under the “Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors” or “Non-means-tested Subsidy Scheme for Self-financing Undergraduate Studies in Hong Kong” and as well as vocational and professional education and training (VPET) programmes),  the applied degree programmes, the Diploma of Applied Education programme, and relevant online platforms such as the Information Portal for Post-secondary Programmes (iPASS), the Electronic Advance Application System for Post-secondary Programmes (E-APP), Concourse on Self-financing Post-secondary Education (Concourse) and Qualifications Framework.  There will also be talks on topics such as multiple pathways for secondary school graduates, VPET, career planning and experience sharing by students. Advisory service on further studies and career planning will also be provided.

For details of the exhibition, please visit: https://www.cspe.edu.hk/tc/Resources-CareerGuidance-MultiplePathwaysExpo.html

Information Expo on Multiple Pathways 2023 (Info Expo) will be held on 19 and 20 May 2023 at the Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre to provide information on various articulation opportunities for secondary school graduates and help them plan well for their further studies and career pathways.

More than 30 institutions and organisations set up exhibition booths at the Info Expo to provide information on locally accredited post-secondary programmes (including programmes under the “Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors” or “Non-means-tested Subsidy Scheme for Self-financing Undergraduate Studies in Hong Kong” and as well as vocational and professional education and training (VPET) programmes),  the applied degree programmes, the Diploma of Applied Education programme, and relevant online platforms such as the Information Portal for Post-secondary Programmes (iPASS), the Electronic Advance Application System for Post-secondary Programmes (E-APP), Concourse on Self-financing Post-secondary Education (Concourse) and Qualifications Framework.  There will also be talks on topics such as multiple pathways for secondary school graduates, VPET, career planning and experience sharing by students. Advisory service on further studies and career planning will also be provided.

For details of the exhibition, please visit: https://www.cspe.edu.hk/tc/Resources-CareerGuidance-MultiplePathwaysExpo.html

Virtual Information Expo on Multiple Pathways 2022 (Info Expo) will be held on 27 and 28 May 2022. The Virtual Info Expo will serve as an one-stop online platform providing information on various articulation opportunities for secondary school students and graduates and help them plan well for their further studies and career pathways. 

Apart from VPET’s Facebook page, the Education Bureau has recently launched an Instagram account to provide an additional platform for promoting VPET initiatives, activities and news etc. with our five VPET Superheroes.  

Follow us on Instagram to stay tuned for the latest news on VPET!

The EDB launched the Pilot Project on the Development of Applied Degree Programmes in December 2020 to gain experience in the practical issues involved in the development of applied degree programmes and to assess the implications for the higher education system as a whole. Having assessed the proposals submitted by eligible self-financing post-secondary institutions, the EDB announced that four degree programmes have been selected for the Pilot Project:

   (a) Bachelor of Nursing (Honours) programme by Caritas Institute of Higher Education;

   (b) Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Testing and Certification programme by The Open University of Hong Kong;

   (c) Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Horticulture, Arboriculture and Landscape Management programme by the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong of the Vocational Training Council; and

   (d) Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Applied Gerontology programme by Tung Wah College.

The applied degree programmes to be developed under the Pilot Project will have the following distinct and prominent features that would differentiate them from other degree programmes:

   (a) the qualifications will be equivalent to those of conventional academic degrees (i.e. to be pitched at Qualifications Framework Level 5);

   (b) generally speaking, a more flexible admission requirement will be adopted. Apart from academic results, other relevant factors will also be considered;

   (c) the programmes will have an applied focus blending theory and practice, provide substantial internships and work-based learning experience, and prepare graduates for a specific trade/industry, though they can also support articulation to other qualifications; and

   (d) there will be strong industry involvement in the programme development with trade recognition.

For details, please refer to the relevant press release.

The Education Bureau will hold a Virtual Information Expo on Multiple Pathways 2021 (Virtual Info Expo) online on May 28 and 29 (Friday and Saturday).

Through a one-stop online platform, the Virtual Info Expo will provide the latest information and studies and career guidance on various articulation opportunities for secondary school graduates to make good preparation regarding planning further studies and career paths. Other students, parents and teachers are welcome to join.

There will also be live talks with interactive question and answer sessions on multiple pathways, preparation and strategies for articulation to post-secondary education, and experience sharing by post-secondary students. Representatives from the industry and institutions will also provide first-hand information about various post-secondary programmes and career development.

The Virtual Info Expo can be accessed at www.virtualinfoexpo2021.com. Prior registration is not required. The Virtual Exhibition Platform will be open until 12 August 2021. Interested parties are welcome to access the relevant information and review the recorded talks during the exhibition period.

Details of the Virtual Info Expo are available at https://www.cspe.edu.hk/en/Resources-CareerGuidance-MultiplePathwaysExpo.html.

To provide more opportunities for young people to participate in policy discussions and understand government operation, we have regularized the Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth (MSSY) and expanded it to cover more boards and committees. 

MSSY Phase IV is now open for application.  People aged between 18 and 35 may self-nominate to become members of specified government advisory committees through the Scheme, including the Steering Committee on Promotion of VPET and QF.

For details, please refer to the relevant press release.

The Government announced on 1 September 2020 the establishment of the Steering Committee on Promotion of Vocational and Professional Education and Training (VPET) and Qualifications Framework (QF). 

The Steering Committee has been established pursuant to a recommendation of the Task Force on Promotion of VPET in its review report submitted to the Government in January 2020, with a view to strengthening co-ordination of the overall strategy to promote VPET and fostering closer industry partnership.  To foster collaboration and create synergy between VPET promotion and the QF, the newly established Steering Committee will also take over the functions of the Steering Committee on QF Fund.  For details, please refer to the relevant press release.

The Education Bureau will hold a Virtual Information Expo on Multiple Pathways 2020 (Virtual Info Expo) online on June 12 and 13 (Friday and Saturday) in light of the latest situation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through a one-stop online platform, the Virtual Info Expo will provide the latest information and studies and career guidance on various articulation opportunities for secondary school graduates to make good preparation regarding planning further studies and career paths. This is the first time the annual Expo will be delivered online, and other students, parents and teachers are welcome to join.  

The Virtual Info Expo supports a live chat function for institutions/organisations to answer enquiries directly online. There will also be live talks on multiple pathways, preparation and strategies for articulation to post-secondary education and sharing sessions by post-secondary students. Industry and institution representatives will also provide first-hand information about relevant programmes and career development in the industries concerned.

The Virtual Info Expo can be accessed at infoexpo2020.fste.edu.hk from 10am to 6pm on June 12 and 13. Prior registration is not required.

For further details, please refer to the press release and the designated website.

We have recently launched our Facebook page of VPET to share the latest information on VPET and to enhance public awareness and understanding. Content of the Facebook page includes information on articulation opportunities, VPET-related events and course introduction etc.

We cordially invite you to become “fans” of our Facebook page to stay tuned for the latest news on VPET.

For further details, please refer to the link (only Chinese version available).

The International STEM Students’ Forum 2020 was held online successfully on 16 May 2020. With the theme of “Innovation in STEM”, the forum provided a platform for industry leaders and STEM students and graduates from different countries and regions to discuss the trends for STEM careers, the demand for STEM skills in the workplace, and the challenges and opportunities for STEM start-ups. For video highlights, please refer to this link.

Jointly organised by the Education Bureau (EDB) and the Vocational Training Council (VTC), the first digital VPET International Conference in Hong Kong was successfully held on 15 May 2020.  With the theme of “Skilling for the Future”, the Conference featured 25 VPET experts and speakers from all around the world to explore avenues of empowering the young generation with 21st Century competencies for the future workplace.  To check out the video highlights of the Conference, please refer to this link.

The Government has established the Task Force on Promotion of VPET on 13 April 2018 to review and consider enhancements to the promotion of VPET in Hong Kong with a more targeted approach. Members of the Task Force comprise representatives of schools, parents and employers, as well as community service and labour sectors. The Task Force completed its public consultation from May to July 2019, and submitted its review report to the Government on 23 January 2020. The review report put forth 18 recommendations focusing on four areas, namely enhancing promotion in secondary education, enhancing promotion in higher education, developing vocational progression pathways, and strengthening future promotion. For details, please refer to the website of the Education Bureau.

Hong Kong sent a delegation made up of 24 competitors to the 45^th WorldSkills Competition in Kazan, Russia from 22 to 27 August 2019. These competitors were selected after winning in their respective trades in the WorldSkills Hong Kong Competition 2018, and coming through further tests and training to become members of the Hong Kong Team. The team eventually won Medallions for Excellence in 11 Trades. For more details, please refer to the relevant website.

The Government announced on 13 April 2018 the establishment of the Task Force on Promotion of Vocational and Professional Education and Training (VPET).　The new Task Force will evaluate the implementation progress of the recommendations made by the Task Force on Promotion of Vocational Education in 2015, and advise the Secretary for Education on how VPET can be better promoted in the career and life planning education in secondary schools to cater for students' diverse abilities and interests, and how to foster closer business-school collaboration through the Business-School Partnership Programme to meet the manpower needs of Hong Kong. The new Task Force will also make recommendations on other VPET promotion measures. It is expected to submit its recommendations in about a year's time. For details, please refer to the relevant press release.

Hong Kong sent a delegation made up of 23 competitors to the 44th WorldSkills Competition, to be held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, from 15 to 18 October 2017. These competitors have been selected after winning in their respective trades in the WorldSkills Hong Kong Competition 2016, and coming through further tests and training to become members of the Hong Kong Representative Team. For more details of the event, please refer to the relevant website.

On 8 September 2017, a flag presentation ceremony has been arranged to signify the support and encouragement for the Hong Kong Representative Team. For photos of the ceremony, please refer to this link.

On 16-17 June 2017, the Education Bureau (EDB) and the Vocational Training Council (VTC) jointly organised the Vocational and Professional Education and Training (VPET) International Conference (also known as the “VPET Connex 2017”). With the theme of “Partnership, Enterprise and Innovation”, VPET Connex 2017 aims to bring leaders, policy makers and practitioners in VPET from around the world together to share best practice and strengthen collaboration among VPET partners and institutions. For more details of the event, please refer to the relevant website and press release.

The Education Bureau (EDB) has produced three 10-minute dramas for promotion of Vocational and Professional Education and Training (VPET), which were uploaded to the EDB YouTube channel in February 2017.