12.9 Million Test-Takers Enter Score Release Season: Academic Choices Shift Toward “Career Path Priority”

Hong Kong’s Vocational Training Council (VTC) Enters the Greater Bay Area to Hold Gaokao Admissions Consultation Fairs, Providing Mainland Students with Information on Studying in Hong Kong and Career Development

Shenzhen and Hong KongJune 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As the 2026 Gaokao (National College Entrance Examination) concludes, 12.9 million candidates across the country are entering the critical phase of receiving results and filling out their college application preferences. For the vast number of examinees and their parents, the release of Gaokao scores does not signify the end of choices. How to make a more suitable decision for further studies based on scores, interests, professional fields, and future development plans has become the current focus of attention.

In recent years, with the continuous upgrading of industrial structures and changes in the employment environment, more and more families, when planning their educational pathways, are no longer only focusing on a school’s reputation or traditional rankings. Instead, they place greater emphasis on the alignment between majors and industry needs, the practicality of the curriculum, internship opportunities, and career prospects after graduation. The choice of further education is gradually shifting from “school priority” to “career path priority.”

Academic Planning Increasingly Focuses on Major Prospects and Career Development

In the traditional logic of filling out college applications, the institution’s tier, its location, and the course direction were often the main considerations. Nowadays, the concerns of students and parents are becoming more diverse and pragmatic: Does the major correspond to future industry demands? Does the curriculum emphasize the cultivation of practical skills? Can students experience a real industry environment during their studies? Do they have a clear path for employment or further education after graduation?

Particularly in fields such as artificial intelligence, aviation logistics, sports and recreation, mechanical and electrical engineering, smart operations, creative design, and social services, related industries are closely linked to urban operations, industrial upgrading, and lifestyle services. The demand for applied, technical, and versatile talents continues to grow. For students, choosing a major is no longer just about selecting what to learn, but also about laying the foundation for the industry and career path they may enter in the future.

Against this backdrop, educational pathways characterized by industry connections, practical training, and career orientation are gradually attracting the attention of examinees and parents.

Vocational and Professional Education and Training Becomes a Diverse Option for Further Studies

Vocational and professional education and training (VPET) emphasizes equal importance on theoretical knowledge and practical abilities. It focuses on helping students understand industry operations early on and accumulate skills needed in the workplace through classroom learning, professional training, industry experience, and corporate internships.

Taking the Vocational Training Council (VTC) of Hong Kong as an example, its Higher Diploma programmes cover multiple fields including Business, Design, Engineering, Hotel and Tourism, Information Technology, Health and Life Sciences, as well as Childcare, Elderly and Social Services, offering diverse choices for students with different interests and career aspirations.

In terms of teaching model, VTC values both “thinking and practice.” It is equipped with various professional facilities that simulate industry scenarios, including an Aviation Centre, a Training Hotel, an Electric Vehicle Training Centre, a Digital Innovation and Technology Centre, a Virtual Production Studio, and an AI and Robotics Training Centre. This allows students to learn and train in environments close to real workplaces.

For students who wish to connect with industry development as soon as possible after graduation, such programmes not only provide opportunities for academic advancement but also help students gradually build career awareness, professional skills, and confidence in employment during their studies.

Internships and Industry Connections Become a Focus for Parents

For many families, the choice of further education ultimately comes back to a core question: Can the student find a suitable development path after graduation?

Therefore, whether a programme offers internship arrangements, has industry resources, and allows students to experience real work scenarios are becoming important indicators for evaluating educational pathways. VTC has established partnerships with over 2,500 Hong Kong enterprises and multinational corporations, providing students with cutting-edge technical training. Students enrolled in Higher Diploma programmes are required to complete no less than 100 hours of work internship or workplace experience.

Through internships, students can apply what they have learned in the classroom to real work scenarios, gain an earlier understanding of whether the profession suits them, familiarize themselves with industry operations, and accumulate experience in workplace communication, collaboration, and problem-solving. This lays the foundation for future job hunting or further studies.

For mainland students, studying vocational and professional programmes in Hong Kong also means having the opportunity to engage with the industrial environment of Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, broadening their cross-regional learning and career development horizons.

VPAS Policy Support Expands Post-Graduation Development Opportunities

It is noteworthy that the Vocational Professionals Admission Scheme (VPAS) launched by the Hong Kong SAR Government also provides forward-looking policy support for non-local students who intend to study and develop in Hong Kong.

VPAS is a pilot scheme that allows non-local students who have completed designated VTC full-time Higher Diploma programmes to apply to stay in Hong Kong after graduation to work in industries related to their studies. Starting from the 2026/27 academic year, VPAS will cover 13 industries, with a total of 34 eligible programmes.

For students and parents, this means that vocational and professional education is not just a single option for further studies, but a pathway that has the potential to connect learning, internships, employment, and long-term development. Students receive applied education in Hong Kong. After graduation, if they meet the relevant conditions, they can apply to stay in Hong Kong to take up full-time jobs related to their programmes, further accumulating industry experience.

VTC Enters the Greater Bay Area: Admissions Consultation Fairs Help Examinees Plan Their Future

To assist mainland examinees and parents in gaining a more comprehensive understanding of studying in Hong Kong, programme selection, internship arrangements, and career development pathways, the Vocational Training Council (VTC) of Hong Kong will enter the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area this summer to hold Gaokao admissions consultation fairs in Shenzhen, Huizhou, Jiangmen, and Guangzhou.

At the fairs, examinees and parents can learn about the content of different VTC programmes, admission requirements, career development directions, VPAS-related information, and arrangements for studying in Hong Kong. They will also have the opportunity to engage in face-to-face conversations with subject teachers to obtain more targeted advice on further studies.

Currently, VTC is accepting applications for its full-time Higher Diploma programmes for the 2026/27 academic year. The application deadline is July 7, 2026.

The Gaokao is an important exam, but it is not the only answer in life. As academic planning gradually shifts from “school priority” to “career path priority,” examinees have the opportunity to choose a more suitable educational path for themselves with a broader perspective, combining their interests, abilities, and future development goals.

Details of the Admissions Consultation Fairs