15 / 134
15
Realisation of
Dual-track VPET
Today, youth unemployment remains
a policy challenge in many parts
of the world, as is an apparent
slowing-down in upward social
mobility. Hong Kong is no exception.
By contrast, Germany, Switzerland
and Austria which have strong dual
VPET systems are in the favourable
situation of being able to maintain
their youth unemployment rates at
relatively low levels.
Dual-track VPET systems offer
an excellent approach to skills
deve l opment , as they prov i de
continuous education and training
relays for career paths. In 2014,
taking reference from such systems
being implemented in Germany and
Switzerland, we introduced the ‘Earn
and Learn’ Pilot Scheme at Higher
Diploma and Diploma levels in
collaboration with the Government
and industry.
With the aim of keeping the local
workforce dynamic, professional
and market responsive, it is our
wish to extend this Scheme to
different programme levels. We
shall also explore the possibility
of establishing a new vocational
route for secondary students under
the existing education system. A
highly permeable and flexible VPET
system not only allows graduates
to switch between pathways in their
subsequent development, but can
also help Hong Kong develop and
retain a well-trained and dedicated
workforce in a long run.
Skills on the Rise
Bringing vocational skills under the
local and international spotlight can
help raise the profile of different
types of career. During the year, we
organised two high-profile youth
skills competitions, the WorldSkills
Hong Kong Competition cum Carnival
and the Guangzhou / Hong Kong /
Macao / Chengdu Youth Skills
Competition cum Carnival.
By recogn i s i ng and reward i ng
talented people, these competitions
have helped strengthen levels of
expertise in apprenticeships, skills
and further education. They have
also proved successful in driving
home the importance of VPET in
the socio-economic development of
Hong Kong.
成功實踐雙軌體制
現今社會的向上流動明顯放緩，青
年失業問題為世界廣泛地區的施政
帶來挑戰，香港也不例外。相比之
下，德國、瑞士和奧地利憑藉強大
的雙軌職業專才教育體制，青年失
業率得以維持在較低水平。
雙軌職業專才教育體制之所以成為
發展技能的絕佳途徑，皆因此體制
為職業發展鋪設了持續進修培訓
的進階之路。參考德國和瑞士的經
驗，我們於
2014
年透過與政府及業
界的合作，為修讀高級文憑和文憑
的學生推出了「職」學創前路先導
計劃。
我們希望將此計劃擴展至不同課程
級別，以維持本地勞動力的靈活專
業，並能緊貼市場需要。我們亦將
探討在現行教育體制下，為中學生
開闢一條嶄新的職業前路，建立一
個兼備滲透和靈活特性的職業專才
教育體系，從而有助畢業生在職業
生涯中自如轉換發展方向，長遠而
言，更為香港栽培及凝聚一批訓練
有素、專注敬業的人力資源。
技能躍升
令專業技能深入本土、迎向國際，
能促進各行業的社會形象提升。為
此，過去一年，我們接連舉辦兩個
備受矚目的青年技能大賽——香港
青年技能大賽暨嘉年華，以及穗港
澳蓉青年技能競賽暨嘉年華。
這兩項大型比賽不僅嘉許競技出眾
的選手，更提升學徒訓練、技能培
訓和持續進修三大方面的專業水
準，向社會大眾成功展示職業專才
教育在香港社會經濟發展中所擔當
的重要角色。