Tung Wah College (TWC) held a spring media reception today (29 February), Professor Sally Chan, President of TWC, shared the College’s latest development and announced its graduates’ employment situation for 2023 with the media.

Average Monthly Income Shows Slightly Increase

Over 70% of TWC Graduates Earn More than HK$30,000 Monthly

TWC conducted the 2023 graduate survey on graduates’ employment situation from October to December last year. A total of 588 graduates responded to the survey, at a rate of almost 89%. According to the data collected, 81.5% of graduates secured jobs and 8.2% of graduates opted for continuing studies upon graduation. Graduates' overall average monthly salary slightly increased by about 0.4% from HK$30,286 in 2022 to HK$30,407 in 2023. The median monthly income is HK$34,091, a record high with an increase of 2.5% when compared with the corresponding figure in 2022. About 73% of graduates earned a monthly salary of more than HK$30,000; among them, 18% of graduates earned a monthly salary of more than HK$35,000.

Among all programmes, graduates of the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Radiation Therapy reported the highest average monthly salary of HK$34,500. Regarding job nature, the highest monthly average wage was found among graduates engaged in medical and health services. It is worth noting that the monthly average wage in the civil service, community and social services, education and financing and business services industries are at an all-time high in recent years.

Professor Chan said, “Although the pandemic has ended, the global aging population combined with the prevalence of chronic diseases has led the government to develop primary healthcare in recent years actively. This has increased demand for nurses and dedicated healthcare professionals in various districts. We are pleased that 86% of our graduates have joined the medical and healthcare sector. Adding such a new workforce to the understaffed medical and healthcare sector would help to alleviate the manpower pressure on public hospitals. The survey showed that 83% of graduates secured their first employment within six months, and 94% of the graduates are serving in professions related to the programmes they had completed, demonstrating that the knowledge gained from the College's programmes is practical and applicable at the workplace, which have successfully equipped young people and paved their way to join the profession of their choice after graduation.”

Launch the First Self-financing Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Medical Imaging in Hong Kong

According to the latest round of commissioned study on Healthcare Manpower Projection conducted by the University of Hong Kong in 2020, it is anticipated that the shortage of radiographers in the diagnostic stream remains significant from year 2028 onwards, and more evident than those in the therapeutic stream, due to increasing demand from both the public and private sectors. Given the manpower shortage and leveraging on the College’s successful experiences in launching the first self-financing Degree programme in Radiation Therapy in Hong Kong in 2012, TWC will launch a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Medical Imaging in the 2024/2025 academic year to meet the heavy demand for diagnostic radiographers.

TWC has received HK$26.5 million from the Education Bureau’s Enhancement and Start-up Grant Scheme for Self-financing Post-secondary Education (ESGS) to launch the new programme. The programme was accredited by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) and approved by the Chief Executive-in-Council. The College will admit 30 students for the first cohort.

The College will set up four teaching laboratories in the niche areas of X-ray digital radiography, radiation dosimetry, three-dimensional imaging, and ultrasonic imaging, aiming to nurture outstanding medical imaging practitioners. Designed according to the requirements of the Radiographers Board (RAD Board) of Hong Kong, the programme will seek accreditation from the Board, upon which graduates will qualify for registration as Part II Diagnostic Radiographers and practise in Hong Kong and overseas.

Actively Launch Applied Degree Programmes

Promoting Vocational Education

The Education Bureau recently announced the criteria for qualifying as Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS), which stipulate that self-financing post-secondary institutions must have obtained a university title and demonstrate the capabilities and experience in operating an institution that embodies the key features of UAS. TWC is preparing to apply for a university title following the “Roadmap for Becoming a Private University” released by the Government. The College is also exploring the possibility of becoming a UAS after obtaining a university title. Professor Chan stated that the College has demonstrated its ability to meet the standards for attaining university title regarding student enrolment, governance, financial sustainability, and other aspects. The College is actively preparing to obtain the programme area accreditation in two other programme areas. It expects to complete the accreditation exercise by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) within the next two years, thus fulfilling all requirements to become a private university.

Professor Chan believes that the programmes offered by the College have always embodied the critical features of a UAS, such as blending theory and practice with ample internships and substantial workplace learning, nurturing students with applied skills and knowledge to meet the urgent demand for talents in various industries. The College has experience in offering applied degree programmes and is striving to develop and provide more applied degree programmes. Following the selection of Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Applied Gerontology in the first round of the Pilot Project on Development of Applied Degree Programmes, the Bachelor of Health Information and Services Management (Honours) has been selected for the second round of the Pilot Project and has been included in the Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors (SSSDP) , which reflects the College’s ability to respond to the needs of the community with its programmes. These two applied degree programmes offer more flexible admission requirements for applicants who hold qualifications other than the HKDSE, such as those with relevant recognised qualifications under the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (“QF”) and relevant work experience. Those applicants may enroll in Year 1 or Year 3 of the programme by passing an admission test and an interview, providing flexible and diverse learning opportunities for people from all walks of life.

Actively Seeking Land for Campus Expansion

Interest Expressed for the Northern Metropolis

With the increasing number of students at the College each year, the current campus space is no longer sufficient to cope with the growing population. Therefore, the College has been exploring various feasible options for campus development. The College has also expressed its intention to the government to actively pursue the development of a comprehensive new campus at the “Northern Metropolis University Town.” The new campus will feature an East-meets-west Centre for Health, research centres, residences, laboratories, and sports facilities, to expand teaching and research space while also serving the local community and promoting community health.

In recent years, the College has actively established partnerships with institutions in the Greater Bay Area and other regions to exchange ideas on curriculum development, student exchange, and talent cultivation. With the development of student residences and more teaching facilities, it is ex  pected that the College will attract more non-local students to study and help promote Hong Kong as an international hub for Post-secondary Education.