Human Resources Forum in HK Calls for PartnershipParticipants to a human resources forum Saturday were told to maintain a closer dialogue between the trainers and the industry to promote better understanding and communication.The Forum on Human Resources Development in the Financial Services Sector was hosted by the Advisory Committee on Human Resources Development set up in June 2000. Speaking from their experience, Peter Clarke, chairman of the Advisory Committee, said such partnership will keep trainers abreast with the current and future needs of the industry in the fast changing financial services landscape, so that they may better equip our graduates to prepare for the challenges ahead. He said they would look for candidates from different disciplines, not just business schools, emphasizing that having good communication and interpersonal skills, intellectual curiosity, and creativity were all essential for maintaining their competitive edge. Most firms would provide technical training for their own staff, Clarke said. Having a critical mass of articulate and robust practitioners with good analytical ability and alive to both local and international developments would enable Hong Kong to capitalize on the opportunities offered by globalization and to further our position as an international financial center, he said. Participants believed that the ability to interact with people of different cultures was an important attribute. In this regard, both exchange and internship programs were considered by the industry and the trainers to be particularly beneficial to their students. Apart from exchange programs, they opined that admission of overseas students to local universities could also offer their students with the opportunity to interact with people of different cultures. Clarke said any financial business is a competition for people. Quality human resources is the key to enhancing Hong Kong's position as a world class city, he added. The committee will consider how best to take on board the inspiring views that have been expressed, and assess the need for organizing similar forums or workshops in the future, Clarke said. |
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