Graduates of top vocational school spared brunt of AI impact, new chairman says

AdvertisementEducation in Hong KongHong KongSocietyGraduates of top vocational school spared brunt of AI impact, new chairman says

Jeffrey Lam explains how he will steer Vocational Training Council as job market changes rapidly and reveals plans for Northern Metropolis campus

3-MIN READ3-MIN Listen

Vivian AuPublished: 8:00am, 23 May 2026Updated: 8:28am, 23 May 2026

Graduates of Hong Kong’s largest vocational training institution have largely avoided the negative effects of AI and could reap more internship opportunities from a coming megaproject, the body’s new leader has said.

In an interview with the South China Morning Post, newly appointed Vocational Training Council (VTC) chairman Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung also vowed to review the courses to align them with emerging job opportunities.

The government earlier revealed that entry-level jobs for university graduates had plunged by 61 per cent in recent years, sparking an intense debate about the value of traditional degrees versus practical skills in an economy increasingly driven by artificial intelligence.

Advertisement

“Ninety per cent of our graduates have got a job … We have a lot of AI courses, and we can custom-make courses for different industries,” Lam, a member of the government’s key decision-making Executive Council, said.

“AI will not replace human beings. Don’t think AI will replace all the workers and management. We have to keep it up and learn from AI.”

AdvertisementSecretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han revealed last week that the number of vacancies suitable for university graduates had fallen from about 80,000 in 2022 to around 31,000 in 2025.AdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x