Archive - Year 2001

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Way forward mapped out to develop a skilled IT workforce

July 9, 2001

Hong Kong should adopt a multi-dimensional approach with short and longer term measures, focusing on both supply and quality, to address its IT manpower issues.

These include immediate measures to meet the current shortfall, to nurture local young talents and enhance their IT capability; and longer term measures to explore with tertiary institutions and other concerned bodies sustainable solutions to develop a skilled IT workforce for the future.

These are the findings of the Task Force on IT Manpower which was set up in November last year to advise the Government on measures to strengthen IT manpower supply in Hong Kong.

The Task Force, chaired by Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting, Mrs Carrie Yau, comprises representatives of the IT industry, employers, professional bodies, industry associations, education and training institutions, as well as relevant Government departments.

In its draft report tabled at the Legislative Council Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting today (July 9), the Task Force noted that IT workers were required not only in the IT industry but in almost every other sector of the economy as well.

This has led to a shortfall that has become a global phenomenon - with an estimated global deficit of 500,000 IT-related jobs that is forecast to grow to one million by 2002 and demand may outstrip supply by as much as 20 per cent within five years, it said.

In Hong Kong, a survey by the Vocational Training Council (VTC) estimated that, as at March 2000, over 61,000 persons were engaged in IT-related work in Hong Kong. The Council forecast that the number of IT personnel would increase to 106,000 in 2004, of whom around 55 per cent should be at degree level or above.

Also, in the Report on Manpower Projection to 2005 commissioned by the Government, it was revealed that the overall demand for IT personnel in Hong Kong would grow from 50,000 in 1999 to about 98,000 in 2005, at an average annual growth rate of 11.8%.

These figures, representing an average additional demand of between 8,000 and 11,000 annually, illustrate that there is a clear need to adopt immediate and longer term measures to address the shortage of IT manpower in Hong Kong, the Task Force noted.

Recognizing the importance of developing IT human resources, the Government has been investing substantially at all levels of education and training. The five-year strategy "Information technology for Learning in a New Era" was launched in primary and secondary schools in 1998 to drive the development of IT in education. The strategy involves a capital investment of $3.2 billion and annual recurrent expenditure of over $550 million. In the tertiary sector, institutions have introduced various IT curricula at degree level or above as well as strengthening the IT infrastructure in campus. Local vocational, retraining and industry support bodies also provide a wide range of IT training at sub-degree level to sustain the development of Hong Kong's IT industry. There is also a wide range of continuing and professional education on IT for life-long learning.

Mrs Yau noted that some local universities require all their students to have basic IT knowledge. The successful completion of an IT proficiency test is a requirement for graduation. Similar arrangement applies to English which is de facto the international language for IT and the Internet. Most institutions have made it compulsory for their students to take courses in English, and to pass the corresponding tests in their studies.

The Task Force recommends a package of 13 measures to address the IT manpower needs:

(a) Immediate measures:

* Implement the scheme to admit Mainland IT professionals.

* Streamline the admission regime for overseas IT professionals.

* Expand post-secondary programme.

* Encourage world-renowned private IT training institutions to operate in Hong Kong.

* Implement an academic plan in the Cyberport to develop professional IT talent.

* Accredit IT skills below degree level.

* Encourage Hong Kong and Mainland talent overseas to work here.

(b) Nurture local young talents:

* Intensify exchange/internship programme with emphasis on IT.

* Collaborate with the industry to provide professional IT training for secondary students.

* Enhance output of university graduates in IT and related disciplines and increase IT content in both IT and non-IT disciplines.

* Promote and accept credit transfer/exemption in universities for IT-related disciplines.

* Set up corporate schools in IT field in collaboration with the industry.

* Explore the feasibility of establishing a community IT college.

Based on the high-end estimate of an annual additional demand of 11 000 IT personnel (with 55% at degree level or above) and the adoption of assumptions based on employment survey and take-up rate, the bulk of the annual increase of 6 000 at degree level or above should be able to be met by the estimated 5 000 students who would graduate from local universities from IT and related disciplines each year and who would enter into the workforce for IT-related work. For the remaining gap, it could be bridged by various means like admission of Mainland or overseas IT professionals, or local talent overseas returning to Hong Kong. However, the demand and supply situation in the market is very dynamic and we will closely monitor the position and review the effects of the implementation of the various measures recommended by the Task Force.

As for the annual increase of 5 000 below degree level, the bulk should be able to be met by the 3 000 students graduating from sub-degree courses each year. For the remaining gap, it could be bridged through the expansion of the post-secondary programme, vocational training, employee retraining and continuing and professional education.

The report concluded that if Hong Kong is to maintain its role as a leading digital city in the information economy, it must sustain its capability for future economic growth. In this regard, only a pool of skilled and competent IT talent will enable Hong Kong to enhance its overall competitiveness in the international arena.

The full copy of the Task Force's draft report is now available at the ITBB website at www.info.gov.hk/itbb. The public may make comments and suggestions on the draft report in the next two weeks (up to 23 July 2001) (Mail address: 2/F, Murray Building, Garden Road, Hong Kong; E-mail address: itbbenq@itbb.gov.hk; fax no.: (852)2511 1458). A final report will be published by the end of July. The Government will collaborate with related parties to put the recommendations of the report into action and will report progress to the Information Infrastructure Advisory Committee.

Following is the membership list of the Task Force on IT Manpower:

Mrs Carrie Yau (Chairperson)

Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting

Mr Anthony Au

Managing Director

abc Multiactive Technology Ltd.

Professor Francis Chin

Chair of Computer Science

Department of Computer Science & Information Systems

The University of Hong Kong

Professor Kan Wing Kay

Associate Professor

Department of Computer Science and Engineering

Chinese University of Hong Kong

The Hon Sin Chung Kai

Member of the Legislative Council

Mr Yip Chee Tim

Vice Principal

Pui Ching Middle School

Mr Thomas Tang

Executive Director

Hong Kong Productivity Council

Mr Ip Hong Yi

Centre Director

Information Technology Training & Development Centre

Vocational Training Council

Mr S S Kwong

Executive Director

Employees Retraining Board

Mr Peter Barrett

Member/Human Resources Committee and e-Committee

Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce

Mr Daniel Lai

President

Hong Kong Computer Society

Mr Fong Man Hung, David

Standing Committee Member

The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce

Mr C S Ng

Chairman

Information and Software Industries Association

Professor Franklin Luk

Professor

Department of Computer Science and Engineering

Chinese University of Hong Kong

Dr Yan Xu

Assistant Professor

Department of Information & Systems Management

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Prof Horace H S Ip

Professor (Chair) and Head

Department of Computer Science

City University of Hong Kong

Mr K H Lau

Director of Information Technology Services

Mr Raymond Young

Deputy Secretary for Education and Manpower

Mr Wallace Lau (Secretary)

Assistant Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting

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