Five enterprises signed an agreement of sponsorship with the College of Higher Vocational Studies on April 12. They would offer sponsorship of teaching software, project consultancy, staff training as well as possible student employment to the College's Division of Commerce by the agreement.

Representatives from five IT companies: abc Multiactive Limited, AKuP International Holding Limited, Integrated Solutions Limited (ISL), Lifewood Interactive Limited, and MYOB Hong Kong Limited, signed an agreement with Professor Richard Ho, Provost of College of Higher Vocational Studies during a ceremony held at CityU's Multi-media Conference Room. The companies also donated their flagship software products worth over HK$2million to the Division of Commerce.  

 

"Associate degrees offer an alternative route to success to people who do not flourish under conventional educational establishment," said Mr Antony Au, a Member of HKSAR Government SME Committee, who was invited to give a keynote speech inaugurating the ceremony.

 

 

 

 

 

Delivering a note of thank to Mr Au as well as to the sponsors, Professor Richard Ho raised the question, "Have universities or management schools become dinosaurs which are rather slow to respond to change in society?"

He said, "Fortunately, we have genetic engineering. And the energizers come from industry."

 

 

 

 

 

The College of Higher Vocational Studies of the City University of Hong Kong is the biggest provider of sub-degree programs in Hong Kong. The Division of Commerce is the largest teaching unit within the College. So far, the Division has established partnership with companies such as UPS, Hewlett Packard, Techland Computer Systems Limited, and Apogee Communications Limited.