For release 22 June 1999
HKUST TO ADD VALUES FOR GRADUATES
To meet the challenges of an increasingly competitive job market, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is boosting career education to sharpen the competitive edge of its graduating students.
At the ÔPathfinders Job Search OrientationÕ, an annual event organized by HKUSTÕs Career Center, potential employers met face-to-face with more than 120 graduating students to appraise their resumes and application forms and conduct mock interviews. The students also met with their career advisors, HKUSTÕs alumni who have volunteered to act as Honorary Advisors in Career Education Scheme.
In a new initiative, the Career Center has set up an email chat room ÔCareMailÕ where students can direct their questions to the Honorary Advisors. ÒWe invite alumni to attend our programs and share their experiences with fellow students. However, busy work schedules usually prevent them from frequent participation,Ó said Cheryl Lee, counselor at the Career Center. ÒThrough an email chat room, an on-line forum can be set up for the active and flexible exchange of ideas and advice.Ó In this pilot scheme, the first group of students to benefit will be the 120 ÒPathfindersÓ.
A further program is the third ÔBusiness Mentoring ForumÕ co-organized by the Lions Club of Metropolitan Hong Kong and the Career Center. In this program, students are able to obtain career advice from Lions Club members who are business leaders in a wide range of industries. Students have also visited factories in Panyu, Dongguan and Shenzhen to widen their exposure to business operations on the Mainland. Mr Michael M Y Suen, Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, attended the forum as the keynote speaker and urged students to be prepared for the long, hard road of career advancement.
In addition to annual orientations for the entire student body, tailormade programs have also been designed to meet the different needs of science, engineering and business students. One of these, I-Excel, is a personal advancement program designed to help science students develop management and other transferable skills to meet the challenges of their future careers. Sponsored and co-organized by National Mutual, the program provides an opportunity for students to develop their skills in communication, presentation, self-confidence and team building, as well as introducing them to the insurance industry.
Again, at the annual ÔCareer EngineeringÕ program, job-seeking engineering students were also given expert advice by their professors, alumni, young entrepreneurs and representatives from various industries.
The Business Mentoring Program was launched in April this year to nurture the academic, career and personal development of undergraduate business students by establishing one to one mentor-mentee ties with business executives. This is a joint project between HKUST and Friends Unlimited, a non-profit organization founded by a group of young professionals.
ÒThrough enhanced career education, HKUST graduates will become all round professionals equipped with the necessary skills to meet the challenges of a fast-changing world, and will gain a real understanding of the employment market,Ó said Brian Cheng, counselor at the Center.
Note to Editors:
For further information, please call Ms Jacky Tsang of the Office of University Development and Public Affairs at 2358-6306, or email [email protected].
