Applied sciences universities must cultivate vocational professionals, says SFU president 

The universities of applied sciences (UAS) in Hong Kong should equip students with professional skills, particularly by boosting their expertise in AI and their understanding of the mainland, said president of Saint Francis University (SFU) Stephen Cheung Yan-Leung. 

Speaking on a radio program on Sunday, Cheung explained that SFU integrates its curriculum with industry developments and provides internship opportunities, in contrast to traditional tertiary education, which tends to emphasize academic research.

He pointed out that the most popular programs at SFU are related to nursing and physiotherapy, as graduates receive competitive salaries, enabling upward social mobility for students from grassroots backgrounds. 

Meanwhile, Cheung stated that the city aims to attract international and mainland enterprises amid the effort to develop the innovation and technology sector, which requires a robust talent pool.

He expressed hope that the UAS would serve as a training base to supply local talent for these businesses.

Cheung further emphasized that amid the advancement of AI, it is essential to equip students with knowledge about its application in their professions.

Additionally, he noted that students were reluctant to visit the mainland a few years ago. However, he stressed that students need to understand China’s economic and technological development by visiting mainland cities to gain firsthand experience.