Hong Kong approves second university of applied sciences after 7-month wait

Hong Kong has approved its second university of applied sciences (UAS) following a seven-month wait, with the city also preparing to establish a body which will travel to Europe to learn from other experiences in vocational education.

Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin announced in a Legislative Council meeting on Friday that Saint Francis University had been granted the new status, while a lawmaker also said the new promotional body should aim to change negative perceptions towards vocational training among parents and students.

“I am glad to announce Saint Francis University has successfully gone through a stringent institutional review by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications and fulfilled all relevant criteria as confirmed by the Education Bureau, and has become Hong Kong’s second UAS,” Choi said.

She added the UAS alliance group would be set up this month, with plans to visit Germany, Switzerland and Finland to hear about the countries’ efforts in the vocational education industry.

Hong Kong Metropolitan University in Ho Man Tin became the city’s first UAS in March, after about a one-month wait for approval.

Explaining why Saint Francis University had to wait seven months, acting president Lo Tit-wing said the process was complex and required detailed proposals and reports.