A comparison of the professional and career education programmes in a Hong Kong self-financing institute and a Chinese institute

Abstract

This research study explores and compares the Professional and Career Education Programmes in a Hong Kong Self-financing Institute and a Chinese Institute. The study sought to find positive transferable characteristics of the Professional and Career programs in each territory, which could be shared by similar institutions in China and Hong Kong.

Under the impact of globalization, international cooperation and collaboration between institutions and programs becomes more and more important, particularly considering there are many shared problems and thus the potential for shared solutions. This research offers insights and information that may be valuable to postsecondary education administrators and policy makers, and promote cooperation among PCE educators in Hong Kong and China. The purpose of sharing solutions is to improve the quality of the PCE education programs in order to meet global economic needs locally and benefit postsecondary educational systems in both territories.

The study‘s findings resulted in four primary recommendations that could be adopted by both Hong Kong and Chinese case institutions: (a) create timely new programs and courses, (b) seek new funding sources and alternatives for reducing operational costs, (c) recruit qualified full-time or part-time faculty who have industry experience, and (d) add a critical thinking component in all courses. Moreover, recommendations for each of the institutions were developed.