A survey on "Pattern of Study in Higher Education" finds 70% of about 242,000 youths aged 15 and over who are pursuing higher education studies in and outside Hong Kong are studying locally, the University Grants Committee says.

Of the 169,000 studying locally, more than 58% are pursuing full-time studies and about 52% are at the undergraduate level. For those studying overseas, 97% are full time and over 75% are at undergraduate level.

Commissioned by the committee, the Census & Statistics Department's thematic household survey also showed during 2001-03, about 147,000 people aged 15 and over had completed higher education in and outside Hong Kong.

The committee said today the survey showed the UGC-funded sector has generally earned wide public recognition for its contribution to the higher education arena.

Meeting local manpower needs

Nearly 90% of the respondents believed the UGC-funded institutions had supported the development of Hong Kong, and more than 80% agreed their higher education provided value for money.

Conducted from June to August in 2004, the survey collected information on the higher-education studying pattern of local people in and outside Hong Kong, as well as their views on higher education being offered locally.

Findings also demonstrate the community has been grooming a significant pool of talent to meet manpower requirements of the knowledge-based economy which Hong Kong is moving into, the committee said.

The most popular fields of higher education study in Hong Kong were "Business & Management", "Engineering & Technology" and "Sciences". A similar pattern was found among students studying outside Hong Kong.

The two most popular destinations for higher education were Australia (26%) and the UK (24%). More than 35% of the students studying overseas said they did so to improve their English proficiency.

Survey findings also revealed about 46,000 youths aged 15 and over have plans to study outside Hong Kong in the next three years.

A summary of the broad survey findings published in the report is available here. The full report in print version is for sale at $63, and download version at $47.3. You can buy it online at HK Statistical Bookstore, through mail order by returning a completed order form downloaded from here or at the C&SD's Publications Unit (19/F, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai; Tel: 2582 3025).