Tertiary institutions' information days, covering admission information, introduction to various programmes and their requirements, will be held from September onwards. Details can be found in the following table:DateInstituteHighlightsLocation20 SeptemberHong Kong Academy for Performing ArtsAdmissions Talks, Guided Tours, Alumni Sharing SessionsCampus27 SeptemberThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityAdmissions Talks and Consultations, Exhibitions, Guided Tours, Workshops, Student and Alumni Sharing SessionsCampus4 OctoberCity University of Hong KongAdmissions Talks and Consultations, Exhibitions, Guided Tours, Student Sharing SessionsCampus4 OctoberHong Kong Baptist UniversityAdmissions Talks and Consultations, Exhibitions, Guided Tours, Workshops, Student Sharing Sessions, Mock InterviewsCampus11 OctoberThe Chinese University of Hong KongAdmissions Talks and Consultations, Exhibitions, Guided Tours, Mini Lectures, Workshops, Student Sharing SessionsCampus25 OctoberThe University of Hong KongAdmissions Talks and Consultations, Exhibitions, Guided Tours, Workshops, Student Sharing Sessions Campus25 OctoberThe Education University of Hong Kong Admissions Talks and Consultations, Guided ToursCampus1 NovemberThe Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Admissions Talks, Guided Tours, Student Sharing Sessions Campus1 NovemberLingnan UniversityAdmissions Talks and Consultations, Guided Tours, Workshops, Student Sharing Sessions Campus8 NovemberHong Kong Metropolitan UniversityAdmissions TalksCampus14 & 15 NovemberTechnological and Higher Education Institute of Hong KongProgramme Consultations, Guided ToursCampus15 NovemberHong Kong Shue Yan UniversityAdmissions Talks, Guided ToursCampus/ Online15 NovemberThe Hang Seng University of Hong KongAdmissions Talks and Consultations, Guided Tours, Exhibitions, Workshops, On-site Application and AssessmentCampus Pre-registration may be required for certain events. Please refer to the latest official announcement from respective institutions.

Starting your first job is exciting, especially when you get your first month's pay. It brings financial freedom and puts you in charge of your own money. It also gives you the chance to set financial goals and come up with a plan to achieve them.After starting your first job, it's natural to have an idea of how you want to be in 5 or 10 years. This could mean further studies, buying a property, getting married, or even starting your own business. No matter what the goal is, you will need money to realise it.Be realistic when setting goals. While short-term goals are often easy to reach, longer-term aims like getting married or buying a property can take years or even decades. The sooner you come up with a plan, the more time you have to save money to reach your goal.Your first short-term goal should be to save for an emergency cash fund. It should be enough to cover your expenses for six months. The Savings Goal Calculator on Investor and Financial Education Council website can help you estimate how much to save and for how long, in order to reach your goals.Save before spendingAfter setting savings goals, it's time to manage your income and spending. Your first job probably won't be very well paid, but it's tempting to spend. Even so, it's much better to be careful and avoid living from paycheck to paycheck. After getting your wage, put aside 10 to 20% as savings straight away. The rest can be spent as you wish. The sooner you start saving, the more money you will have due to the compound effect. This will boost your financial freedom.Most people have lots of things they want to buy but don't have enough money. Simply put: if you buy this, you can't buy that. It's important to know the difference between what you need and what you want. Think about what you will do with what you buy. Ask yourself: "Would it cause me any problem in the coming months if I don't buy it?" If the answer is no, it means you don’t really need it.Use the Money Tracker mobile app to set a monthly budget, record income and track expenses. It can also compare the budget you set with actual spending. This allows you to manage your money all the time, anywhere.More financial issues to think about1. MPF managementThe Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) is a long-term saving and investment scheme for retirement, which both you and your employer put money into. When you start work, your employer has to enrol you for the MPF scheme within 60 days. The contribution is 5% of your income for both you and your employer. Good MPF management is important, as it will affect how much money you have when you retire.2. Repay student loansIf you have a student loan, put aside part of your salary to repay it. You can set up autopay so you pay on time. Student loans are from public money. Paying on time is your obligation and a social responsibility. Also, late payments will mean surcharges and interest. This could affect your credit history. You can use "SFO E-Link" / "eWFSFAA" to check your repayment schedule and history.3. Smart use of credit cardsWhen you first get a credit card it's tempting to spend money you haven't earned yet or buy things you can't afford. Apart from spending on necessities like meals and transport, young people also like to buy trendy clothes and gadgets. But it's best to buy what you need rather than spend too much. Do not fall into the "enjoy now, pay later" trap. Repay the full amount before it's due, as interest on a credit card can be more than 30%.4. Prepare to pay taxesHong Kong has a provisional tax system. When you receive a tax return you must report your income, deductions and claim allowances. For example, you can claim tax deductions on MPF contributions. The Inland Revenue will assess your tax for this year and the next, based on what you report. Therefore, tax is for the current year, while provisional tax is for the next year. As a result, the total amount for a tax bill could be very high. You should prepare by using the Salary Tax Calculator to work out the tax due on your wage, then save based on how much you need.(Information source: Investor and Financial Education Council)

The Meaning of WorkWork holds different meanings and values for each individual, but one thing is certain: beyond making a living, there are other important factors that drive us to work hard. To find a job that suits you, you must understand the value of work, recognise your career orientation, and gain insight into the world of work.Life Planning InformationNext up: should I work or further study? Life Planning Information Website of the Education Bureau provides detailed information about both options and will help you make the right decision.Support Services on Employment and Self-employmentIf you decide to join the workforce, you may be puzzled or come across certain dilemmas. You can visit the "Youth Employment Start" for more personal advisory and support services on employment and self-employment. Available services include Career Assessment, Mock Interview Workshop, as well as free business workstation and design corner for young entrepreneurs. You can now try the on-line simplified version of the Career Assessment, as well as register on-line as a preliminary member, apply for activities and make reservation on part of the services of "Youth Employment Start".

When planning for further study or career, you may have some popular industries in mind and look for related courses, for example, finance; real estate and construction services industry; hotel and catering; information and communication technology; retail; recreation, sports, cultural and creative industries, etc. Do you know what courses or training programmes are available for a particular industry? Below are some websites that may help...Industries and Jobs - Education Bureau'sLife Planning Information WebsiteCareers Exploration - Talent.gov.hk More details about the programmes are available from respective institutions. For a comprehensive list of institutions / organisations providing local post-secondary education and other education programmes, please refer to the Education Bureau (EDB)'s thematic website.   Still not sure about your career path? Browse the websites listed below to explore more about different jobs and careers, and get to know more about yourself!VTC Occupation DictionaryJOB & VASK of CLAP@JCDiscover@Jobtionaryof Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups 

Creating Your Own Career PathMany people wish to have a healthy body, and a balanced diet is a crucial part of it. Each individual’s health condition is different. What is the best dietary plan for you? A dietitian should have an answer!Dietitians would tailor-make dietary plans based on individual health conditions and dietary habits. They will also help clients understand the nutritional value of different food, so as to enable them to sustain their healthy dietary habits in the long run. Dietitians indeed provide nutrition and dietetic services in various sectors. Some dietitians specialise in providing clinical services to patients with chronic diseases, such as formulating a “3 Low, 1 High” dietary plan for diabetic patients, so that the intake of carbohydrates at each meal could be quantified. This would help stabilise patients’ blood glucose level, thus managing their medical conditions more effectively. In conjunction with doctor’s medical treatment, dietitians always play an important role to further improve patients’ health conditions through daily nutrition plans.Apart from dietitians, many organisations nowadays create assistant job positions related to nutrition and diet, such as nutrition therapist assistants. They usually help measure clients’ heights and weights; provide assistance to dietitians in designing meal plans and introduce these plans to the clients based on their healthy goals, including weight loss, fat loss or muscle strengthening, etc. Hence, nutrition therapist assistants also need to acquire basic knowledge in nutrition, such as how to calculate calories and how to ensure food safety. Career Path Planning - Dietitian and Nutrition Consultant AssistantsIf you are interested in healthy dietary habits and enjoy interacting with others, you may consider turning your personal interest into a career by becoming a dietitian or nutrition therapist assistant!To become a dietitian, you need to obtain a relevant bachelor’s degree first. Since Hong Kong has no statutory registration system for dietitians, you may first need to study a registered dietitian courses in local or overseas institutions. After completing clinical practicum and passing the professional examination, you will be registered as a foreign registered dietitian. You might wish to become an accredited dietitian in Hong Kong by applying to the Hong Kong Academy of Accredited Dietitians, an accredited healthcare professional body under the Department of Health's Accredited Registers Scheme for Healthcare Professions.For nutrition therapist assistant, the required academic qualification is relatively lower than dietitian given its assistant role.  However, nutrition therapist assistants also need to receive specialised training and there are many certificate courses available in the market offering the required knowledge and skills. In-service nutrition therapist assistants may also further their studies to pave the way to become dietitians one day! If you are interested in pursuing careers in food-and-nutrition-related fields, do check out the following course information to know more!  Courses from Talent.gov.hk related to Nutrition Course ProviderCourseLearning ModeQF LevelEmployees Retraining BoardFoundation Certificate in Chinese Dietetic Concepts (Part-time)Part-timeQF Level 1The University of Hong KongFoundation Certificate in Applied Nutrition and Nutritional SupplementsPart-timeQF Level 2The University of Hong KongFoundation Certificate in Nutrition (Weight Management)Part-timeQF Level 2Employees Retraining BoardFoundation Certificate in Nutrition Knowledge I (Understanding Nutrition) (Part-time)Part-timeQF Level 2Hong Kong Metropolitan University Li Ka Shing School of   Professional and Continuing EducationCertificate in Capacity Building Mileage Programme – Healthy Diet IPart-timeQF Level 2Hong Kong Metropolitan University Li Ka Shing School of   Professional and Continuing EducationCertificate in Capacity Building Mileage Programme – Healthy Diet IIPart-timeQF Level 2The University of Hong KongCertificate in Western and Chinese Nutritional Food TherapyPart-timeQF Level 3The Chinese University of Hong KongCertificate Programme in Chinese Medicine: NutritionPart-timeQF Level 3The University of Hong KongCertificate for Module (Gut Health and Nutrition)Part-timeQF Level 3Llegend International Training InstituteCertificate in Practical Knowledge of Nutrition in Daily LifePart-timeQF Level 3The University of Hong KongAdvanced Certificate in NutritionPart-timeQF Level 4The University of Hong KongHigher Diploma in Nutrition and Food ManagementFull-timeQF Level 4The University of Hong KongAdvanced Diploma in Practical Chinese Medicine (Chinese Medicine Nutritional Studies)Part-timeQF Level 4The University of Hong KongAdvanced Certificate in Quality Control and Food Safety ManagementPart-timeQF Level 4Vocational Training CouncilHigher Diploma in Fitness and Exercise NutritionFull-timeQF Level 4Hong Kong Baptist UniversityAssociate of Science (Nutrition and Food Management)Full-timeQF Level 4The University of Hong KongAdvanced Certificate in Food Health and Business ManagementFull-timeQF Level 4The University of Hong KongAdvanced Certificate in Clinical Nutrition and Health PromotionPart-timeQF Level 5The University of Hong KongAdvanced Certificate in Child and Adolescent NutritionPart-timeQF Level 5The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityBachelor of Science (Honours) in Food Safety and TechnologyFull-timeQF Level 5The Chinese University of Hong KongBachelor of Science Programme in Food and Nutritional SciencesFull-timeQF Level 5University of Northumbria at NewcastleBSc (Hons) Food Science and NutritionFull-time/Part-timeQF Level 5Vocational Training CouncilBachelor of Science (Honours) in Food Science and SafetyFull-timeQF Level 5The University of Hong KongAdvanced Certificate in Sport and Exercise NutritionPart-timeQF Level 5The University of Hong KongPostgraduate Certificate in Community NutritionPart-timeQF Level 6Graduate School, The Chinese University of Hong KongMaster of Philosophy in Food and Nutritional SciencesFull-time/Part-timeQF Level 6The University of Hong KongMaster of Science (Food Safety and Toxicology)Full-time/Part-timeQF Level 6The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityMaster of Science in Global Food Safety Management and Risk AnalysisFull-time/Part-timeQF Level 6The University of Hong KongMaster of Science (Food Industry: Management and Marketing)Full-timeQF Level 6Graduate School, The Chinese University of Hong KongMaster of Science in Nutrition, Food Science and TechnologyFull-time/Part-timeQF Level 6City University of Hong KongMaster of Science in Health Sciences and ManagementFull-time/Part-timeQF Level 6The University of Hong KongCertificate for Module (Nutrition and Dietary Management of Diabetes)Part-timeQF Level 6Hong Kong Metropolitan UniversityMaster of Professional Management in Food and Beverage Business (in Chinese)Full-time/Part-timeQF Level 6Graduate School, The Chinese University of Hong KongDoctor of Philosophy in Food and Nutritional SciencesFull-time/Part-timeQF Level 7*Source: Talent.gov.hk Other Useful LinksRelated career information on Talents.gov.hkRelated career information on the Life Planning Information website of the Education BureauRelated course information on the Diploma of Applied Education website of the Education Bureau (Chinese only)Search for more related programmes in the Qualifications Register 

What is Corporate Sustainability?In recent years, both small-and-medium-sized enterprises and large companies must have mentioned ESG. What exactly is ESG? Why is it so popular across different industries and sectors?ESG is a non-financial indicator of corporate operations, which assesses a company's overall performance in terms of environmental protection (E, Environment), social responsibility (S, Social) and corporate governance (G, Governance). Each ESG area might involve multiple aspects. For example, under social responsibility, a company should not only consider its external relations with the community, but also taking employees’ rights, as well as health and safety into their business considerations.In addition to companies’ internal assessment, ESG can also serve as a tool to evaluate business partners, including analysis of their potential growth and any long-term business opportunities arising from the collaboration. Nowadays, financial statements are no longer the only key to assess a company. It is also necessary to understand the company's ESG performance. If you are a corporate representative, it is even more important for you to perform well in various ESG aspects, otherwise you might miss out important business partnership!For those of you who are ready to join the job market, having an early understanding of ESG concepts might help you better understand the business directions and latest development of the organisations which you are going to apply for, so as to increase your competiveness in job interviews and possibly in your future career too! ESG TalentGiven the world's growing concern and rising demand on ESG, companies around the world are urging for ESG talents, with ESG consultant becoming one of the key experts in promoting corporate sustainability.Being an ESG consultant is not just about collecting ESG data and writing reports but also requires a good understanding of the business nature and unique culture of the company.  The consultant might also need to analyse the company from a macro perspective, formulate a long-term ESG strategy plan, and at the same time raise the company's ESG rating as much as possible in order to ensure the sustainable development of the company. On the other hand, ESG consultants need to pay attention to the world’s fast-changing trends while deriving business plans which could also be beneficial to the world, with a view to leading the company to step forward and achieve new milestones. These are the important values that ESG consultants could bring to the companies. Career Path Planning - ESG ConsultantIf you want to become an ESG consultant or pursuing a career related to sustainable development, apart from environmental protection-related qualifications, having a background in arts, science or business could also be beneficial to your career in some sense.  Most importantly, you need to be willing to learn new things across various disciplines! As a newbie in the job market, if you are interested in ESG-related positions, you may wish to enroll in some relevant training courses to learn more about the related knowledge and give yourself another career option! Courses from Talent.gov.hk related to Sustainable Development Course ProviderCourseLearning ModeQF LevelThe University of Hong KongCertificate in Sustainable CommunitiesPart-timeQF Level 3Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable DevelopmentCertificate in Sustainable Development Planning (Elementary)Part-timeQF Level 3The Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyBachelor of Science in Sustainable and Green FinanceFull-timeQF Level 5The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityBachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable DevelopmentFull-timeQF Level 5Lingnan UniversityBachelor of Liberal Arts (Honours) in Global Development and SustainabilityFull-timeQF Level 5Vocational Training CouncilBachelor of Science (Honours) in Green Engineering and SustainabilityFull-timePart-timeQF Level 5Hong Kong Metropolitan UniversityBachelor of Engineering with Honours in Building Services Engineering and Sustainable DevelopmentFull-timeQF Level 5The University of Hong KongCertificate for Module (Sustainability Professionals)Part-timeQF Level 6Hong Kong Metropolitan UniversityMaster of Science in Global Environmental Management for Sustainable DevelopmentFull-timePart-timeQF Level 6Hong Kong Metropolitan UniversityMaster of Science in Energy and Environmental SustainabilityFull-timePart-timeQF Level 6Hong Kong Metropolitan UniversityPostgraduate Certificate in Energy and Environmental Sustainability (Energy Management and Audits)Part-timeQF Level 6Hong Kong Metropolitan UniversityPostgraduate Certificate in Energy and Environmental Sustainability (Cleaner Production and Green Technology)Part-timeQF Level 6The Education University of Hong KongMaster of Arts in Education for Sustainability ProgrammeFull-timePart-timeQF Level 6The Education University of Hong KongCertificate in Professional Development Programme for Teachers of Liberal Studies and Science on Environmental Sustainable DevelopmentPart-timeQF Level 6Lingnan UniversityMaster of Cities and Governance (Environment and Sustainability)Full-timePart-timeQF Level 6*Source: Talent.gov.hk Other Useful LinksTalents.gov.hk Magazine: The Rise of ESGRelated career information on Talents.gov.hkRelated career information on the Life Planning Information website of the Education BureauPilot Green and Sustainable Finance Capacity Building Support SchemeESG and Green Finance on Carbon Neutral @HK webpage of the Environment and Ecology Bureau  

Gaming and E-sports Rapid tapping on keyboards is one of the signature characteristics of gaming. Many people still consider that playing video games as simply a form of entertainment, and some even believe that excessive gaming can drain one's willpower. Today, gaming has however evolved into one of the new-age competitive sports! E-sports, or electronic sports, is a kind of sports that involves video games. The most well-known e-sports competitions revolve around online multiplayer games, such as shooting, fighting, car racing and strategy games. In these competitions, two or more teams will compete against each other in the game. Typically, professional e-sports players are not just ordinary players, but highly skilled individuals with exceptional mental fortitude, high levels of intelligence, advanced gaming abilities, and strong teamwork skills. Nowadays, e-sports has become a pop culture. Ranging from small-scale contest to professional league tournaments, all of which have successfully attracted respective audience. Many investors also recognise the business potential in e-sports, and sponsors actively support these events to increase their brand awareness. What was once seen as a pastime, has now gone beyond the boundaries, and grown into a new sports industry with a combination of gaming, competition and lifestyle!   E-sports Commentator, the Vibe Maker Besides professional e-sports players, the e-sports industry has given rise to various other job positions. Among them, e-sports commentators play a vital role in e-sport events, with their importance being just slightly below that of professional e-sports players! Through humorous and passionate commentary, e-sports commentators analyse game tactics, describe players' actions, and hence show the live situation to the audience beyond the distance. These commentators not only need to be eloquent but also require a deep understanding of the game at a professional-player level in order to keep up with the pace of the competition. Therefore, aspiring e-sports commentators often need to have a certain ranking as professional players or be retired professional players themselves.     Career Path Planning – Professional e-sports players/ E-sports commentator If you aspire to pursue a career in the e-sports arena as a professional player or commentator, there are numerous e-sports related training programmes available in the market that can help you lay a good foundation for your e-sport career development. Undoubtedly, you still need to make the greatest effort to gear up yourselves, in order to secure a place in the world of e-sports one day!   E-sports related Courses from Talent.gov.hk Course Provider Course Learning Mode QF Level The University of Hong Kong Foundation Certificate in eSports Science Part-time QF Level 2 The University of Hong Kong Certificate in eSports Technology (Senior Secondary Applied Learning) Full-time QF Level 3 The University of Hong Kong Diploma in eSports Science Part-time QF Level 3 School of Professional and Continuing Education, HKU Diploma in eSports Science Part-time QF Level 3 The University of Hong Kong Higher Diploma in eSports Full-time QF Level 4 The University of Hong Kong Advanced Certificate in eSports Full-time QF Level 4 Hong Kong Metropolitan University Bachelor of Business Administration with Honours in Sports and eSports Management Full-time QF Level 5 *Source: Talent.gov.hk   Other Useful Links Talents.gov.hk Magazine: e-Sports≠Gaming Sharing of ESAHK Founding Chairman on the Life Planning Information website of the Education Bureau  

Dancing from the Street to the World Stage Street Dance, originated in the 70's and 80's, is a combination of sports and street performances. By following the flow of music with unique body movements, a great variety of dancing steps is created. Beginners can also express themselves through unrestrained and free-style movements! The most common styles of street dance include “Breaking”,“Popping”and“Hip-hop” among others. Among them, the most popular one is “Breaking”! This dancing style is easy to recognise due to a series of signature moves, including headspins and rolling on the ground with one hand as a supporting point. Nowadays, street dance culture has spread all over the world. Street dancers can be found in all 18 districts of Hong Kong. Dancers would compete at any time and wherever there is a space, leading to a common phenomenon: "where there are streets, there is street dance." Many young people around the world regard street dance as their dream and are eager to go professional with their supreme dancing skills! The 2024 Paris Olympics will include one of the street dancing styles, “Breaking”, as a new sports item. Young people who are passionate about “Breaking” will then have the opportunity to battle with dancers from other countries and regions on the Olympic stage!     Dancing from Stage to the Workplace If you love street dance, have you ever thought about becoming a professional dancer? After gaining ample performance experience, have you considered transitioning to a role behind the scenes, supporting other performers as a dance instructor or choreographer? Although these positions differ from traditional dancers, professional street dancers still require extensive training and long-term practice to be fully prepared to shine on stage. Becoming a street dance instructor or choreographer can be seen as a "promotion opportunity" for dancers. If you are a former street dancer, you may have the chance to become a choreographer by accumulating enough performance experience. With a solid foundation, choreographers can create dance performances and oversee the dancers’ execution. They also need execellent communication skills to collaborate with various stakeholders, ensuring an unforgettable visual feast for the audience! As the mastermind behind the scenes, a choreographer's dancing skills must reach a professional level, preferably in two or more dancing styles. They should be able to view a performance from a macro perspective and assign dancers to perform their roles well at different shows, providing memorable moments for each scene.   Career Path Planning - Professional Dancer/ Dance Instructor/ Choreographer Even if you are still new to the workplace, there is no need to worry! If you are interested in pursuing a career in the dancing industry, you can refer to the following course information to plan ahead for your upcoming training and future career!   Dance related Courses from Talent.gov.hk Course Provider Course Learning Mode QF Level The University of Hong Kong Foundation Certificate in Dance Part-time QF Level 2 The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Certificate in Taking a Chance on Dance (Senior Secondary Applied Learning) Full-time QF Level 3 The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Diploma in Dance Foundations Full-time QF Level 4 The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Professional Diploma in Dance Full-time QF Level 4 The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) in Dance Full-time QF Level 5 The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Master of Fine Arts in Dance Full-time / Part-time QF Level 6 *Source: Talent.gov.hk   Other Useful Links Dance-related careers information on the Life Planning Information website of the Education Bureau Search for Vacancies for Dancer / Dance Instructor / Choreographer on Talent.gov.hk Break dance events / courses provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department "Move Beyond" - Online programme of the Cultural Presentations Section of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department  

The Trainee Programme under the Urban Forestry Support Fund encourages employers to engage and train arboriculture and tree management graduates to become quality arborists and tree climbers to support tree management and maintenance work in Hong Kong.The “Urban Forestry Support Fund - Trainee Programme” follows the “first-hire-then-train” principle, and will provide a training allowance of about 30 per cent of agreed monthly remuneration levels to the trainees through their employers, as well as a bonus of $30,000 and $20,000 upon their acquisition of recognised arborist or tree climber professional qualifications respectively. The training periods for arborist and tree climber trainees are three years and 18 months respectively.Eligible employers are invited to participate in the Trainee Programme to take in arborist and tree climber trainees at agreed or higher remuneration levels (including the training allowances provided under the programme).  They are also required to provide structured training that meets stipulated requirements. About the Programme Monthly training allowanceArborist Trainees $4,500*    Tree Climber Trainees $5,000*Starting monthly pay point (including monthly training allowance)    Arborist Trainees $14,500*    Tree Climber Trainees $15,000*Bonus (upon completion of training and acquisition of recognised professional qualification)            Arborist Trainees $30,000    Tree Climber Trainees $20,000Training periodArborist Trainees 3 yearsTree Climber Trainees 18 months*The amounts are subject to adjustment by the Construction Industry Council upon completion of each year of training with consideration of factors including inflation.Eligibility (Employers - Applicants)- Arboriculture, tree management and landscape companies with active tree inspection and/or tree work related contract(s) for the Government or the private sector of duration not less than one year or organisations managing a substantial amount of tree assset; and- Have the following employees in the company:     (For engaging Arborist Trainees) At least 1 arborist who meets the requirement for the training tutor of Arborist Trainee    (For engaging Tree Climber Trainees) At least 1 tree climber who meets the requirement for the training tutor of Tree Climber Trainee Eligibility (Trainees - Employees)- Hong Kong residents- Graduates of local arboriculture, tree management and tree work programmes at:    (For engaging Arborist Trainees) Level 3 to Level 5 of the Qualifications Framework    (For engaging Tree Climber Trainees) Level 3 to Level 4 of the Qualifications Framework- Have not possessed any recognised professional qualifications Eligibility (Training Tutors - to be provided by employers)Training Tutors of Arborist Trainees- HKQF Level 4 or above in arboriculture related academic qualification; and- Professional qualification in arboriculture; and- Completed and passed tree risk assessment and management training course organised or recognised by the Tree Management Office; and - Received relevant occupational safey and health training relating to tree work operation; and - At least 7 years of work experience in tree care and familiar with tree risk assessment and managementTraining Tutors of Tree Climber Trainees- Received relevant occupational safey and health training relating to tree work operation; and- Completed training in tree work operations (including tree climbing (rope access), use of chainsaw and aerial rescue); and- At least 3 years of work experience in tree care and tree climbingThe programme accepts applications throughout the year. The relevant application form and training framework document can be downloaded from the website of the Construction Industry Council. Here below is the sharing of students, employers and training tutors from the Urban Forestry Support Fund - Trainee Programme. (The video is broadcasted in Cantonese)

MIT Entrepreneurship and FinTech Integrator (MEFTI) is a FinTech venture-building boot camp for MIT and Hong Kong students who are ready to make industry impact. Students from MIT and universities in Hong Kong will form teams, tackle real-world industry challenges, and build a FinTech venture pitch with a viable business model. In this intensive experience, participants will  - Learn about emerging trends across different FinTech sectors- Gain insights into how the financial services industry has been transformed- Understand how frontier technologies, including distributed ledger technology and artificial intelligence, are redefining business processes and changing the future of industries- Understand the jurisdictional advantages of Hong Kong as a leading FinTech hub from regulatory, technology and domain perspectives- Visit emerging startups and companies and interact with seasoned industry executives from the Greater Bay Area (China)- Immerse in a comprehensive entrepreneurship program and build a viable business plan and prototype to present the FinTech idea to a panel of judges and the audience Application by Hong Kong Students Application deadline: April 7, 2023 Please refer to the website of MEFTI for more details.

Cyberport Academy is commissioned by Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) and is delighted to introduce the “FinTech Self-paced Learning Webinars” programme to the public covering Blockchain, RegTech, Cybersecurity, Data economy, ESG and MORE. The programme is available for FREE and contains the Webinar series of the “Financial Practitioners FinTech Training Programme” to raise public awareness of Fintech along with the latest development and enrich the FinTech talent pool in Hong Kong.For the Programme details, please click here to visit the website of Cyberport Academy.

As the new semester begins, university students are presented with attractive credit card promotions and offers by banks which set up promotion booths on campus. Typical offers include welcome gifts, rebates and annual fee waivers, enticing freshmen to apply for their first credit card.If you make good use of your credit card wisely and pay your bills on time, it can help you to save money, earn bonus points for gift redemption, and minimise physical contact during the pandemic. However, there are also some pitfalls that you should look out for.Trap 1: Should I make minimum payment?It may seem easy to make just the monthly minimum payment on your credit card, but your debt can quickly snowball too. For example, with an outstanding balance of $20,000 and an interest rate of 35% p.a., it will take 26 years to pay off the debt if you only make a minimum payment every month, provided that there are no more transactions during the period. What’s more, interest will be charged immediately for all new transactions, existing interest-free instalments and autopay arrangements through your credit card (such as monthly insurance premiums).Trap 2: Is it easy to get a cash advance on your credit card?Many credit cards offer the option of a cash instalment plan, allowing you to convert available credit limit into cash. However, this seemingly handy service with no application and approval required generally comes with higher interest rates exceeding 30% p.a. Unlike general transactions with an interest-free payment period, cash advances will accrue interest immediately, and incur administrative fees.Trap 3: Is it easy to extend the repayment period?It is important to repay the monthly balance on time – the longer the repayment period, the more interest it will incur. This snowballing effect will not only create financial stress, but also have an impact on your credit record. A low credit score may prompt banks and financial institutions to charge a higher interest rate, or even deny your future loan applications. Besides, some companies and employers may review your credit report and score during the recruitment process. How much should I repay each month to clear credit card debt?If you have any unsettled credit card bills, you should set a clear goal and make repayment as soon as possible to save on interest. You can use the calculator on the Investor and Financial Education Council website to work out the required monthly repayment amount. Information source: