To cope with the development of a knowledge-based economy and the corresponding manpower demand, the Hong Kong government set a policy target in the year 2000 to provide 60% of senior secondary school leavers with access to post-secondary education by the 2010/2011 academic year. The resulting shortfall in the number of university places was made up through the introduction of sub-degrees or associate degrees. This sub-sector, which has been providing opportunities for more youngsters to learn and develop, is considered critical to Hong Kong’s transformation into a knowledge society.

However, a fresh debate on the quality of sub-degree education was sparked off earlier this year due to the refusal of the Nursing Council of Hong Kong earlier this year to accredit a sub-degree course on the grounds that the curriculum did not meet its requirements. In the light of this debate, lawmaker Albert Chan passed a motion calling on the administration to set up an independent committee of inquiry to look into sub degree courses, which was later given the green light.

In spite of the establishment in August 2005 of the Joint Quality Review Committee, (an independent corporate quality assurance body under the aegis of the University Grants Commission overseeing the quality assurance processes for the self-financed sub-degree programmes), various questions have been raised about these programmes from time to time. Educators have cautioned that if problems relating to sub-degree education remained unresolved before the development of Hong Kong into a regional education hub, it would give rise to increasing discontent among sub-degree students and graduates.

This paper attempts to look into the validity of the concerns regarding sub-degree education in Hong Kong in the following areas:

• Status of sub-degree education.
• Quality of sub-degree programmes.
• Recognition of sub-degree qualifications.
• Education and employment opportunities.
• Financial assistance to providers.

In response to recent criticism against the sub-sector, Secretary for Education Michael Suen on 10th April 2008 announced a government plan to implement 22 recommendations to improve the quality and qualification recognition of sub-degree courses. These include measures to enhance graduates’ employability and articulation for further studies, as well as support to institutes and financial assistance to students. This paper will also analyse the feasibility of these recommendations and explore the effectiveness of sub-degree education in Hong Kong in the current and coming years while providing insights for sub-degree education in the international context.