The Social Welfare Department (SWD) invites applications, starting from today (January 17), for admission to a two-year full-time Enrolled Nurse (General) Training Programme for the welfare sector which will provide 200 places.
A spokesman for the SWD said that to alleviate the shortage of enrolled nurses in the welfare sector and enhance the quality of care services, the SWD has since 2006 organised training programmes and has continued to commission the Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) (formerly the Open University of Hong Kong) to provide training programmes for four consecutive years from 2021-22.
The Enrolled Nurse (General) Training Programme, which aims to equip graduates to become competent and caring professional nurses, is to be provided through the Higher Diploma in Nursing Studies (General Health Care) (Programme code: HDNGOSF1) organised by the HKMU. This training programme, to commence on September 5, will be conducted on the campus of the HKMU in Ho Man Tin, and the HKMU will also be responsible for the arrangement of relevant clinical practices.
On the qualifications required, the spokesman said, "Applicants must have attained the age of 18 by the time the training programme commences and have attained Level 2 or above in five subjects, including Chinese Language, English Language, Mathematics and any two other subjects in Categories A and B in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination; or have completed a Pre-Associate Degree programme, or an equivalent qualification."
The spokesman added, "To encourage youths and frontline staff currently serving the welfare sector to upgrade their skills, priority will be accorded to applicants who have successfully completed the two-year Diploma Programme and obtained the diploma under the Navigation Scheme for Young Persons in Care Services launched since 2015 (or under the First-hire-then-train Pilot Scheme from 2013 to 2016) by the SWD; or those who are currently working full-time in non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or private organisations providing elderly, rehabilitation, family and child care, youth or correctional services. Individuals who aspire to start a career as enrolled nurses in the welfare sector are also welcome."
Tuition fees will be reimbursed to the trainees in full on condition that the trainees have successfully completed the training programme and qualified to register as an enrolled nurse within two years. Trainees will also be required to sign an undertaking to ensure their employment as Enrolled Nurse (General) providing elderly, rehabilitation, family and child care, or correctional services operated by NGOs or private organisations for a continuous period of no less than two years after satisfactory completion of the training. Trainees will have to repay the tuition fees to the SWD in breach of this term.
An information seminar on the training programme will be held online at 4pm on January 25 (Tuesday). Information about the seminar and the training programme is available on the webpage of the HKMU (www.hkmu.edu.hk/nhs/tc/hdns_g_2022_r/) (Chinese version only). Applicants are required to submit their applications for the training programme via the Online Admission Application System of the HKMU (www.hkmu.edu.hk/FTUG_application). Hyperlinks are also provided on the SWD webpage (www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_whatsnew). Applications will close on March 4. For enquiries, please contact the HKMU on 3970 2958 or 3970 2955.
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