Hong Kong’s largest vocational education provider, the Vocational Training Council (VTC), has announced that one of its institutes plans to apply for university of applied sciences (UAS) status in 2026 or later. The Technological and Higher Education Institute (THEi) is among four institutions that have expressed interest in becoming a UAS since the government unveiled a plan for such institutions last year. THEi will apply for programme area accreditation (PAA) status in three areas: sports and recreation, architecture and environment, and computer science and information technology. Once it obtains PAA status, it can launch relevant degree programs without external approval. THEi currently has over 2,200 full-time students and offers more than 20 professional applied science degree programs.