Role models in policy learning: establishing universities of applied sciences in Hong Kong

In Hong Kong’s higher education landscape, where traditional academic pathways prevail, recent reforms seek to address skills gaps and align vocational education with industry demands through the establishment of Universities of Applied Sciences (UASs). However, the adaptation of international UAS models to Hong Kong’s unique socio-economic context remains underexplored. While policy borrowing is widely discussed in the literature, there is a notable lack of systematic approaches for selecting and adapting role models in vocational higher education, especially for regions like Hong Kong. This study addresses these gaps by proposing a theoretically grounded framework for role model identification in higher education reform. The framework integrates Busemeyer and Trampusch’s Vocational Training Systems Typology with Steiner-Khamsi’s policy borrowing model. A comparative analysis of 13 countries, with a focus on South Korea and Finland, highlights the suitability of Statist Skill Formation Systems – characterized by strong state leadership and selective industry collaboration – for Hong Kong. The findings contribute to international policy borrowing discourse and provide actionable insights for overcoming societal stigma associated with vocational education. This research emphasizes the importance of context-sensitive solutions and outlines a pathway for developing Hong Kong’s UAS system in alignment with its dynamic socio-economic landscape.