Vetting for third UAS won't be fast-tracked, says education minister

Self-financing higher institutions could aspire to become the third university of applied sciences, said Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin, while adding authorities will ensure their quality when assessing their applications.

During a recent media interview, Choi said that although the government has not yet received applications from the local institutions to become the city’s third university of applied sciences, she acknowledged that schools were striving to meet the application criteria.

Two private universities became UAS last year: Hong Kong Metropolitan University in March and Saint Francis University in November. 

“The socio-economic situation in Hong Kong changes so quickly, and society has been eager for talents with technical and applied skills."

“We have noticed there are universities that see the demand and are actively developing in this direction, but no application has been received from the third UAS.”

The authorities will ensure quality in vetting applications from self-financing institutions and will not fast-track the accreditation process for expediency, she said.

First mentioned in Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s Policy Address in 2023, eligible self-financing post-secondary institutions –those that have obtained a university title – can apply to become a UAS in offering vocational education programs.

The Alliance of Universities of Applied Sciences launched in November comprises the two UAS as full members, as well as Tung Wah College and the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong as associate members.

Meanwhile, Choi said the Education Bureau plans to amend the Post Secondary Colleges Ordinance this year, to enhance the governance structure of self-finance institutions.

“Currently the self-finance institutions have a four-tier governance structure, and it’s quite complicated. If we can enhance it and make it a two-tier structure, it can help enhance the governing efficiency of the schools,” she said while emphasizing the amendment would not set a student enrollment standard for the institutions. 

(Eunice Lam)