Assessing Local and Non-local Students’ Needs for Transition from Associate Degree to Bachelor’s Degree in Hong Kong

As Hong Kong’s higher education system has grown so rapidly, many students now use Associate Degrees as a key entry point into Bachelor’s Degree. However, under the current system, students from different backgrounds do not receive the same level of support, leading to unequal assess to education. The purpose of this study is to examine the opportunities and needs of local and non-local Associate Degree students as they transition to Bachelor’s Degree. The project will monitor students at Lingnan University in Hong Kong who are currently enrolled in Associate Degree programs and are going to apply for a Bachelor’s Degree, collecting data through in-depth interviews, and analyse their obstacles and requirements during the articulation process. The findings of this study will help to identify problems in the process of future research and offer specific suggestions to promote educational equity and improve the opportunities for both local and non-local students to continue their education. In addition to giving education policymakers a solid body of information, the study will increase student involvement in the policy making process and help create a more inclusive higher education system.