Vplus Creative Industries

[Catherin Bergan]

1In the 2017 Policy Address, the Chief Executive addressed that Hong Kong should place more emphasis on the promotion of design and creativity both within and outside our education system. The nurturing of creativity and design thinking should begin at an early stage and design thinking should become a problem-solving capability and a new way of thinking that promotes value adding and advocates inter-disciplinary collaboration.

2. Creative industries are important economic drivers for Hong Kong. They help to enhance the innovation capacity of the economy and can be a powerhouse for future economic growth. Hong Kong has developed a leading edge in key areas of creative industries like film, design, architecture, advertising, digital entertainment and publishing and printing, etc.

4. To encourage working adults to pursue higher qualifications for career advancement, and to promote vocational and professional education and training (VPET) in Hong Kong, Vocational Training Council (VTC) has obtained funding from HKSAR to support the Vplus Creative Industries Subsidy Scheme. This scheme provides practitioners in the creative industries with tuition fee subsidy for successful application of their study of the designated part-time programmes offered by VTC.

Successful applicants will be refunded 60% of the tuition fee paid, subject to maximum of HK$36,000 per person. Applicants may apply for fee refund for more than one eligible programmes. This scheme is effective from 1 September 2019, until 31 Aug 2029.

Subsidy Amount?

Successful applicants can be reimbursed 60% of the tuition fees paid for the programme, maximum HK$36,000 per person. Applicants may apply for reimbursement for more than one eligible programmes.

Application Method

Applicants are required to submit Vplus applications based on the programme applied and selected schedule of tuition fee payment, by each Professional Diploma, Professional Certificate or Module Certificate*. The Online application form, copy of HKID Card and bank account information should be submitted within 30 days from the programme commencement date. Application result will be announced normally 2 months after the respective application deadline (i.e. 3 months after the programme commencement).

Can students apply for Vplus Creative Industries and other subsidies (e.g. CEF, ENLS, etc) for the same programme?

No. Applicants cannot apply for or receive any other form of government subsidy or financial assistance, or subsidy from employer.

When can students get the reimbursement?

Successful applicants will be reimbursed upon successful completion of the programme. Reimbursement amount will be calculated based on the actual tuition fee paid for the modules. It will be granted on a first-come-first-served basis.

*Example: for a Professional Diploma composed of 10 modules in total, applicants who choose to apply and pay tuition fees by modules are required to submit Vplus online applications for the 10 modules individually. So on and so forth.

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