Review and preview of higher vocational education : changes in Hong Kong and international trends

Abstract

This paper is one of the 21 papers, which make an introduction on work force preparation in a global context. -- by Cataloger

This paper covers issues of overlap in higher education in terms of the overlap of education and training; vocational and academic qualifications; professional and intellectual capabilities; conceptual and practical skills; and key, core and transferable skills. It considers the development of national qualifications frameworks both in Hong Kong and internationally which set out these overlaps. Three reports on higher education in Hong Kong are discussed: Higher Education in Hong Kong (UGC, 1996); Strategic and Organisational Review of the Vocational Training Council (SQW, 1996); and Strategic Plan for 1997-2201 (CityU, 1997). The author also considers three principle points: that higher education systems are moving away from the single subject academic degree to becoming more pluralistic in provision and aspiration; that there is a commitment to establish a parity of esteem between vocational and academic qualifications. The third point considered is that the artificial dichotomy between education and training is now being superseded by the concept of lifelong learning. -- Source from VOCEDplus