Mr Philip Chok, Deputy Secretary for Education and Manpower, visited Project Springboard students at the OUHK on 17 November last year.

The government announced in late December that it would accept Project Springboard certificates as meeting the entry qualifications for appointment to government jobs requiring five passes in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE).

Students who have obtained the full Project Springboard certificate will be able to apply for jobs in about 30 civil service grades. They can also apply for other non-civil service contract jobs requiring five passes in HKCEE.

Project Springboard provides an alternative route and expanded continuing education opportunities for secondary school leavers and adult learners. The programmes are offered by the ten member institutions of the Federation for Continuing Education in Tertiary Institutions, including the OUHK. Some 4,000 students have enrolled in the programmes, which were launched in October 2000. They study full-time or part-time. The OUHK Li Ka Shing Institute of Professional and Continuing Education has 240 students.