The Chief Executive announced in his Policy Address last year plans to reform the ERB, and the board has since January expanded its service targets to include the entire local labour workforce, disregarding their education level.
The board said since it expanded its coverage, about 4,000 people with a bachelor’s or a higher-level degree have applied for ERB courses, making up about 12 percent of the total number of applications it received over the first two months of the year.
Its chairman Yu Pang-chun said the ERB has been actively promoting skills-based training to help people acquire new skills.
“[The ERB] strengthens its collaboration with tertiary institutions, broadens its network of training bodies to include institutions with extensive training experience, thereby supporting trainees with different educational attainments and background to pursue lifelong learning,” he said.
The board said it will work with the Hang Seng University, the University of Hong Kong’s School of Professional and Continuing Education, and the Education University’s Institute of Professional and Vocational Education and Lifelong Learning this year.
Its executive director Byron Ng said the advanced courses may include the application of artificial intelligence models in various industries.
“With the expansion of our service targets, including the higher educated working population, more higher educated trainees can benefit from our courses, which include, of course, digital and technological courses,” he said.
The board also revealed it expects to provide about 165,000 training places in 2025-26, and that it will submit its long-term plan to the government in the fourth quarter.
