Education chief dismisses push for final-year university internships amid AI threat

The discussion in Hong Kong involves a proposal to reform four-year bachelor's degree programs by converting the entire final year into an internship period. This suggestion was put forward by lawmaker Priscilla Leung Mei-fun, prompted by concerns over student employability and a reported decrease in entry-level job opportunities, which lawmakers linked to the growing influence of artificial intelligence.

Secretary for Education Christine Choi dismissed this reform, stating that university courses should not be altered solely to meet manpower demands or based on single indicators like labor market supply and demand data. She warned against allowing university education to become vocational training driven exclusively by short-term job market needs. This position reflects a preference for a broader educational mission over a curriculum designed purely for immediate job placement.

Choi's argument highlights a tension between the perceived need for graduates to be immediately job-ready and the traditional role of universities in providing comprehensive academic development. While the proposal sought to directly address the impact of AI on the job market, the minister's response prioritizes the foundational principles of higher education, rather than making what she views as a purely vocational adjustment. The available reporting does not detail any alternative strategies the education authorities might be considering to address the reported decline in entry-level jobs or to enhance graduate employability more broadly.