Traditional school pathways aren’t for everyone. There are some students, for example, who simply don’t take to the typical learning route like others; but that shouldn’t stop them achieving their professional goals, or graduating to a university place. At Youth College (International), students captivated by sport, engineering and design are following an alternative pathway – and thriving. That alternative is a Vocational Baccalaureate (VB) programme from the Vocational Training Council.
Practical, hands-on learning
VB programmes, taught in English, suit students who display potential in practical subjects – from those who show promise on the sporting field, to tech-minded young people who are eager to explore robotics. The programmes offer project-based learning, allowing students to develop 21st-century skills such as design thinking.
The campus experience is exciting for students who enjoy practical learning. The college is equipped with advanced teaching facilities and the ability to access the Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) and also the Tsing Yi campus of the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE). Students are also offered a great number of physical and virtual exchange opportunities with overseas colleges and universities.
While in Hong Kong, engineering students learn via hands-on sessions with robotic arms and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC). The design students work in the design studio and experiment with the water jetcutters and 3D printers.
About the Vocational Baccalaureate (VB) programme
The VB programme at Youth College (International) offers:
- BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma equivalent to 3 A-level subjects; the BTEC qualification is widely accepted in the UK, even in the Russell Group universities.
- For English, Chinese and Maths, students take IGCSE exams.
Graduate success
Youth College (International) students graduate to a variety of opportunities once they leave the college. Some move on to further their education enrolling in degrees, some to higher diploma programmes and a portion straight into the workforce.
Graduates from the Class of 2021 are now attending universities both internationally and here in Hong Kong, including Central Saint Martins (Product Design Programme), University of Leeds (Civil Engineering Programme), Oxford Brookes University (Architecture), CityU (Mechanical Engineering) and PolyU (Environmental and Interior Design).
To apply, visit vtc.edu.hk/vb; Youth College (International) will be conducting interviews this summer, in June and July.
Find out more! Scan the QR code to watch a video about the project-based learning at the college.
This article first appeared in the Summer 2022 issue of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue.
