Below are some of the courses and training available leading to further qualifications or skills development.

Executive And Life Coaching

Life, career and executive coaches offer services to help clients maximize success and satisfaction in their careers, lives and companies. Well-regarded life and executive coaches include Angela Spaxman Business and Career Coaching ( www.spaxman.com.hk ; tel. 2918 0785), Lynda Aurora (tel. 2529 6380) and Charlie Lang ( www.progressu.com.hk ; tel. 9199 2019). Most coaches will offer a one-to-one free initial session. The Hong Kong Coaching Community ( www.coachinghk.org ) can provide more information on coaches working in the city and how to qualify as a coach.

Undergraduate And Postgraduate Studies

Ten tertiary institutions in Hong Kong (see Appendix One) offer undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in a range of disciplines and a variety of formats. Full- or part-time courses, a choice between distance learning or lecture-supported distance learning and the ability to complete courses online are some of the options on offer. Most programmes operated solely by local universities are taught in Cantonese supplemented with English materials, so check the language of instruction if it is not stated.

Distance learning programmes offered by British universities via the British Council ( www.britishcouncil.org.hk ) include Building Management and Services Engineering, Business and Finance, Education, Law, Nutrition Science, Procurement Management, Psychology and English Language Teaching/Applied Linguistics.

A Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Fine Arts is offered by the Art School with the RMIT in Australia at the Hong Kong Arts Centre ( http://artschool.hkac.org.hk/ ).

A complete list of courses offered by non-local institutions in Hong Kong is available from the Non-Local Higher & Professional Education Courses government website ( www.ncr.edu.hk ).

Continuing Education

Continuing education providers in Hong Kong have built their public course offerings rather haphazardly and creatively, with the result that short courses, foundation level courses, certificate and diploma level courses, and undergraduate and postgraduate courses are bedfellows across a vast spectrum of disciplines. Floral design co-exists with PRC taxation for foreigners, yoga with a master’s degree in criminal justice, introduction to the Internet with MBAs.

HKU SPACE ( www.hku.hk/space/ ; tel. 2559 9771) is the largest provider of continuing education in Hong Kong and provides a pick’n’mix assortment of short and long courses in everything from children’s writing to Chinese medicine or music. International partners include Monash University, Curtin University of Technology and the University of Greenwich. SPACE also handles the administration of and applications for the University of London’s external programmes, including the LLB, LLM and MBA in International Management. Other major providers of continuing education include the Open University of Hong Kong, City University and Polytechnic University.

Training

The British Council runs the Cambridge suite of teacher training qualifications: CELTA (Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults); CELTYL (Certificate of English Language Teaching to Young Learners) and the TEFL Diploma.

The Frederique School of Beauty and Wholistic Health (4/F, Wilson House, 19–27 Wyndham Street, Central; tel. 2522 3053) offers UK-accredited courses in international beauty therapy. The International Spa and Beauty College (10/F, Silver Fortune Plaza, 1 Wellington Street, Central; www.isbc.com.hk ; tel. 2526 8818) offers holistic and complementary diploma and certificate courses. Asia-Pacific Aromatherapy (6/F, San Kei Tower, 56–8 Yee Wo Street, Causeway Bay; www.aromatherapyapa.com ; tel. 2882 2444) offers a diploma in holistic aromatherapy as well as introductory and certificate courses.

Isofit (8/F, California Tower, 30–32 D’Aguilar Street, Central; www.isofit.com.hk ; tel. 2869 8630) teaches courses in Pilates and Gyrotonic exercise methods designed for fitness and rehabilitation professionals, whilst One Pilates Studio (21/F, Winsome House, 73 Wyndham Street; www.onepilatesstudio.com ; tel. 2147 3318) offers teacher certification programmes in Pilates.

Language Courses

There are many private language schools catering to expats who wish to learn Chinese or other foreign languages. Many advertise in the back of HK Magazine. Prices vary, so be prepared to shop around.

Several universities offer part-time day and evening courses, including the Chinese University ( www. cuhk.edu.hk /clc/ssp_regular.htm) and HKU SPACE ( http://hkuspace.hku.hk ). Cantonese is also offered by the British Council. An enjoyable alternative-style Cantonese class is offered by Happy Jellyfish Language Bureau ( jellyfi@hkstar.com ), run by Norwegian Cecilie Gamst Berg, a long-time resident. Cecilie combines learning Cantonese with becoming better acquainted with the Hong Kong pub scene and Chinese card games.

European languages courses on offer include French at the Alliance Française ( www.alliancefrancaise.com.hk , German at the Goethe Institut (tel. 2802 0088) and Italian ( www.conshongkong.esteri.it ).

General Short Courses For Self-Development

Other organizations offering courses include:

• the YWCA (http://esmd.ywca.org.hk), which offers skills development courses, including computer courses in PowerPoint, Photoshop, FrontPage, Internet and e-mail.

 

More information on classes and hobbies is provided in Chapter Twenty-One, ‘Classes’.