Debated in Parliament on 13 May 2013.
Ms Ellen Lee asked the Minister for Education (a) how many specialist diploma programmes are offered by our Polytechnics each year and what is the take-up rate; (b) how many specialist diploma graduates are currently employed in the industry for which they are prepared; (c) for those not employed in the industry for which they are prepared, how big is this group and what are the commonly cited reasons; (d) what factors are considered when hiring academic staff for specialist diploma programmes and what criteria have been used; and (e) whether the Polytechnics conduct regular appraisals of such staff.
Ms Ellen Lee asked the Minister for Education what is the industry feedback with regard to the quality of specialist diploma graduates and whether their skills and attitude match the employers' expectations.
Our Polytechnics currently offer about 35 specialist diplomas in clusters ranging from the health and applied sciences to business, engineering and information and digital technologies. Approximately 1,500 places have been taken up in such courses for academic year 2012.
In a recent survey conducted by Polytechnics in February and March this year to ascertain key employment outcomes of such participants, approximately six out of 10 specialist diploma graduate respondents indicated that their current employment was related to their course of study. Of those who were not employed in a relevant industry, the commonly cited reasons included greater career prospects and more lucrative job openings in other fields of work, and taking up the courses for reasons other than employment purposes, for example, personal interests and development.
A similar survey conducted with employers this year also yielded positive feedback on graduates from the part-time academic diploma and post-diploma programmes in the Polytechnics, including the specialist diploma courses. About nine in 10 employers indicated that such programmes have helped their employees to be more effective in their work and were able to handle duties beyond the technical and professional areas. More than nine in 10 employers also observed that their employees were more motivated to perform better in their work after completing their course of study.
The Polytechnics also obtain timely feedback about the quality of their graduates and programmes through platforms, such as the School and Industry Advisory Committees, as well as other informal engagements. Academic programmes are developed and refined in consultation with the Polytechnics' industry partners, employers and Government agencies. This process helps to ensure that course curricula remain in line with industry developments, skills needs and employer expectations, and Polytechnic graduates continue to enjoy good career prospects and progression opportunities.
The Polytechnics require all academic staff, including those teaching the specialist diploma programmes, to have at least a bachelor's degree, with a significant proportion holding post-graduate qualifications. Other factors are also taken into consideration when assessing the suitability of potential candidates, including relevant work experience, passion for teaching, and experience in curriculum design and classroom delivery.
Academic staff are appraised by the Polytechnics annually. These appraisals take into account assessments of classroom delivery, facilitated by classroom observations, as well as student feedback and performance. They also cover staff contributions in areas such as technical and educational research and the quality of course materials produced, which directly impact student outcomes and ensure the continued excellence of the Polytechnics.
PAPERCUTS