Mainland postgrads to boost STEM education in HK

Ayra Wang

People with postgraduate degrees from the University of Hong Kong and Chinese University are qualified to teach in the mainland as the two institutions have been included in the country's excellent primary and secondary school teacher training plan.

The Ministry of Education announced on Tuesday that some 11 mainland universities and two Hong Kong universities were selected as the second pilot group under the plan, which aims to cultivate postgraduate-level teachers in developing courses such as artificial intelligence and STEM education.

The ministry said the plan also aims to enhance cross-university exchanges between the mainland and the SAR.

"The plan encourages mainland students to study and teach local students in Hong Kong while Hong Kong students can also be qualified to teach in the mainland without having to undergo further examinations," it said.

This marks the first time Hong Kong universities have been included in the national teacher training program, which was launched last year.

In response to media inquiries, CUHK said it would collaborate with its Shenzhen campus to offer a specialized two-year master's program specifically for the plan.

The first cohort of students are expected to enroll in the 2025/26 school year and the university will start to accept applications at the end of this year or early next year.

"Students enrolled in the program will take courses at Hong Kong and Shenzhen campuses and have teaching practicum in schools in Guangdong," the university said.

"After successfully completing the program, graduates will be eligible to obtain teacher qualification with a waiver for examinations in the mainland."

The Education Bureau welcomed the new policy, saying that it would "support the two universities as part of the plan to cultivate more educational professionals for the country and Hong Kong."

It also said mainland students under the plan would be awarded locally recognized teaching qualifications by the universities "in principle" after completing their study and internship.

It added that mainland students can apply to become registered teachers with valid visas here if they are not permanent residents.

Chu Kwok-keung, who represents the education sector in the Legislative Council, hopes the plan will promote exchanges between teachers in the SAR and mainland and help them learn from each other's successful experiences.

Chu also said the plan will have a small impact on the local education job market due to its limited quotas and the decline in the local school-age population.