Each year tens of thousands of Hong Kong students do not do well enough in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination to meet the minimum requirements to be considered for university admission, and this year is no exception. 

In July, over 33,266 students — 57.8 percent of those who took the exam — failed to meet the general requirements for admission to the eight publicly funded universities. What will happen to them? What are their further educational and career options?

By embracing and promoting both academic and vocational education, Hong Kong can benefit maximally from the wide range of diverse talents of our youth if they are given the opportunity to develop and flourish

Some may retake the exam in 2021 or study abroad. Many of them will focus on studying and hope to do better next time when they take another DSE exam even though they have other talents which may not immediately stand out in Hong Kong’s traditional examination-oriented education system.

Different types of intelligence are associated with different types of innate abilities. For example, people with intra and interpersonal intelligence can become successful managers, therapists, social workers, or entrepreneurs; and people with bodily kinesthetic intelligence can become successful mechanics, carpenters, or physical therapists. These professionals are in demand and needed for the continued economic growth of Hong Kong.

The good news is that Hong Kong has a comprehensive vocational training system built up over time to support school leavers with different types of intelligence. The Vocational Training Council has 13 institutions across town providing diploma courses in a wide variety of disciplines, including design, hospitality, culinary arts, information technology, mechanics, automotive engineering, aircraft maintenance, building management, community services, retail, events management, and beauty care.

However, many school leavers in Hong Kong continue to shy away from vocational education and training (VET) for two key reasons. First, there is a stigma of “academic failures” attached to VET. Due to cultural and historical reasons, people in Hong Kong prefer traditional academic disciplines, seeing VET as an inferior second choice which does not enjoy the same social status. Second, there is a perception that VET graduates may earn less than university graduates. 

To overcome these biases, VET has rebranded itself as “Vocational and Professional Education and Training” in recent years. Also, VPET graduates can articulate to bachelor’s degree programs or top-up degree programs offered by local or overseas universities. 

More importantly, the VTC is working with employers in Hong Kong to develop various “earn and learn” programs. In 2020, the VTC and the Hong Kong Retail Management Association jointly launched a new “earn and learn” program for the retail industry. If participants are employed by the same employer upon graduation, their monthly income will be not less than HK$11,000 ($1,419), which is still below most university graduates’ average monthly salaries.

The authorities are investing in school leavers with different types of intelligence and the VTC is continuing to promote the awareness and change the public’s perception of VPET in Hong Kong. Their efforts have not been in vain considering that VTC graduates are finding it easier to land their first jobs than university graduates. But the government should build on this initial success by providing more funding to the VTC to support certain targeted professions that are congruent with various development plans.

First, as Hong Kong’s reindustrialization plan and smart city initiatives are underway, the VTC can work with technology firms to train much needed specialists and technicians to design, install, operate, and maintain smart technology solutions and systems such as sensors, drones, 3D printers, internet of things, advanced robotics, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence programs, etc. Also, as these smart technologies collect data, there is a huge demand for professionals in data science and analytics. Because there is a worldwide shortage of professionals in this rapid growing industry, their salaries are likely to be higher than most graduates with traditional academic degrees.

Second, as the Hong Kong government embraces environmental sustainability and as Hong Kong residents care more about food safety and security, smart local and regional vertical farming can be a novel way to grow food in a sustainable manner within limited space. Therefore, in addition to the successful Chinese Culinary Institute (a member of the VTC), the VTC can collaborate with entrepreneurs to develop a vertical farming industry in Hong Kong and in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. By using solar and other renewable energy, and by harvesting recycled water, these farms can grow vegetables for local consumption and also integrate fish and crustacean farming to produce naturally nutrient-rich waste as fertilizer. Hong Kong can not only develop a high-tech farming industry, but also train the professionals to manage it. It is worth noting that these new industries, which can be located within or near urban centers, will also minimize carbon emissions significantly as their produce requires minimal distance to transport to consumers.

Ultimately, high-value-added industries in Hong Kong can generate well-paid respectable jobs and rewarding careers. By embracing and promoting both academic and vocational education, Hong Kong can benefit maximally from the wide range of diverse talents of our youth if they are given the opportunity to develop and flourish.

Edwin Keh is the CEO of Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel, lecturer at the Wharton School and visiting professor at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Christopher S. Tang is a university distinguished professor and Edward W. Carter chair in business administration at the UCLA Anderson School of Management.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.