Bulletin Vol. 6 No. 4 Jan–Feb 1970

The role of the Appointments Service is not an easy one for it serves as a match-maker and is situated right between the sources of demand and supply. If the universities are turning out graduates of an undefined quality and yet the employers insist on defined qualifications, the Appointments Service w i ll find it impossible to satisfy either of them. The gap between the two expectations is too big. Somewhere the students mus t be brought to the reckoning that a process of moulding and adjustment to bridge the gap is an indispensable process. Somehow the students must be helped to equip themselves, besides fulfilling academic requirements, w i th a knowledge of environmental relationships and a personal adjustmen t to changing conditions. It is in this direction of personal development that the Appointments Service should lend its assistance. The least it can do under the circumstances is to provide an opportunity in which the students are warned and reminded of the necessary considerations to be given to the employment problem. We propose to do so in their third year of study so that sufficient time is available for them to properly channel their thinking, to be armed with additional tools, in short, to improve themselves before graduation and induction into employment. After all, the Appointments Service is to help the students to explore and do things fo r themselves, not to have things done for them. The University Appointments Service cannot accept the responsibility of successful placement. But it should provide the opportunity. We have to invite the collaboration of community leaders, captains of trade and industry and prime movers of social and economic activities to share our task. They represent the demand side and their requirements must be understood and reconciled. I n this connection, let me say how grateful we are that over 80 of these leaders are among us at this Workshop to inspire us with their experience and guidance. Let me thank them most sincerely for the part they are going to play. I am also appreciative of the many university colleagues who are serving either as panelists or staff members. They w i ll add another phase of constructive observation. My best wishes go to the students who have voluntarily come forward not only to be impressed but to express themselves. I hope that they w i ll ask questions, intelligent questions, and participate freely and in full measure in a f o r um of study and discussion. This Workshop is being organized for their sake and for their benefit. We shall be more than happy if at the close of this exercise they have acquired a new sense of direction and a realization of what is expected of them. Before I close, I wish to acknowledge w i th very deep appreciation on behalf of The Chinese University of Hong Kong the financial contribution f r om The Asia Foundatio n which has enabled us to stage this programme in a fuller and richer manner. We are sincerely aware of the Foundation's good wishes which accompanied th e gift. Now I take great pleasure to declare open the Pre-Employment Workshop, 1970. The Programme The three-day Workshop brought together 303 students, 117 panelists representing leaders of trade, industry and public services, and university alumni. 36 administrative staff of the University were also mobilized. There were 15 individual workshops this year. A l l student participants were enrolled in one of the 6 Orientation Workshops and one of the 9 Professional Workshops. The 6 Orientation Workshops dealt w i th the following categories of career making: a) Job Application b) Appointment Interviews c) Pre-Employment Orientation d) Induction and Training The 9 Professional Workshops comprised the following fields of careers: a) Hong Kong Government Services b) Teaching in Arts c) Teaching in Science d) Social Wo rk e) Commerce f) Industries g) Trade Services h) Tourism and Hotel Management i) Mass Communications Besides the workshops, 4 plenary sessions were held on 7t h and 8th January. These included a film and f o r um session "Where Do I Go f r om Here?", a lectur e by Dr. Francis K. Pan, Director of the Appointments Service and Publications Office, on "Principles and Practices of University Recruiting", a session each of Summary Reports by Chairmen of Orientation Workshops and Summary Reports by Chairmen of Professional Workshops. Presiding over these meetings were M r . L o Po Y i u, Lecturer of Chung Chi College, M r . Tao Chen Y u , Dean of Students of New Asia College, M r . N . H. Young, Academic Registrar of United College, and Father Canice J. Egan, Lecturer of New Asia College. The Closing Ceremony The Pre-Employment Workshop was successfully concluded in the afternoon of 8th January. 一 7 —