Restructuring vocational education in Hong Kong

The reversion of Hong Kong to Mainland China has led to swift and major changes in the economic base, and a consequent change in the vocational education and training needed to support economic prosperity. To meet the requirements of the new environment, the Vocational Training Council is leading a restructuring of the seven technical institutes and two technical colleges of Hong Kong to become a new invigorated single organisation, the Institute of Vocational Education, with a revised structure, management culture and curriculum. Reports on interviews with the principals of the technical institutes. Explores their views on the planned changes and their approach to managing large‐scale change. Concludes that the process to date has largely avoided the destructive results of comprehensive change and has resulted in optimism for the future of vocational education in Hong Kong.