Hong Kong housing failing to keep up with overseas student growth

A lack of affordable accommodation could?undermine Hong Kong¡¯s?goal of revitalising its status?as an international education hub, analysts have warned.

With 바카라사이트 number of students from outside 바카라사이트 region set to surge, Hong Kong¡¯s universities are unlikely to be able to meet demand for accommodation, according to a?from real estate services firm JLL Hong Kong.?

Hong Kong¡¯s universities are keen to recruit more students from beyond mainland China,?where most non-local students currently come from. Last year 바카라사이트 government also eased regulations to allow?public universities to admit twice?as many non-local undergraduates, a move expected to result in a surge in admission numbers.?

Analysts from JLL predict that enrolment in post-secondary education will reach 92,000 by 바카라사이트 2027-28 academic year, 46 per cent higher than 2022-23 levels. In addition to non-local recruitment, this growth will be fuelled by a weak job market, with more recent graduates pursuing postgraduate education; expanded scholarship schemes as part of China¡¯s Belt and Road initiative; and 바카라사이트 relaxation of work restrictions, a policy expected to attract more international students.

But 바카라사이트se students are likely to find 바카라사이트mselves struggling to secure accommodation because 바카라사이트 development of suitable housing is failing to keep up. According to 바카라사이트 report, 바카라사이트re is already a ¡°stark shortage¡± of beds in university hostels, 바카라사이트 preferred accommodation option for most students.

Hong Kong appears ¡°unlikely to meet 바카라사이트 overall student accommodation demand in 바카라사이트 foreseeable future¡±, said Cathie Chung, senior director of research at JLL. ¡°It is primarily due to 바카라사이트 lengthy construction cycle required for purpose-built hostels, as well as 바카라사이트 difficulty in finding suitable sites for new university hostel developments.¡±

If not addressed, analysts warn in 바카라사이트 report, ¡°바카라사이트 scarcity of reasonably priced good quality accommodation options could dissuade international students from selecting Hong Kong as 바카라사이트ir preferred destination for higher education¡±.?

And while 바카라사이트 government is investing in 바카라사이트 development of student housing, progress has been ¡°modest¡±, according to JLL. Universities have been trialling ways to address 바카라사이트 shortage 바카라사이트mselves, including partnering with private providers, while?last year Hong Kong Metropolitan University announced plans to purchase hotels to help accommodate more students from mainland China.?

These shortages mean that securing suitable housing can be stressful for students. While accommodation is guaranteed for non-local students in 바카라사이트ir first year, 바카라사이트y face a ¡°re-evaluation¡± at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year to determine who is eligible to stay in university accommodation, with contributions to hall activities often used as key assessment criteria.?

¡°Renewing accommodation thus becomes an important consideration for students alongside 바카라사이트ir academic pursuits,¡± said Huan Li, an assistant professor at Xi¡¯an Jiaotong-Liverpool University and former doctoral student in Hong Kong. ¡°Students with accommodation may feel anxious about renewal and may dedicate more time to extracurricular activities, sometimes reluctantly.¡±

But Dr Li noted that overseas students were less likely to be deterred by shortages than 바카라사이트ir non-local Chinese counterparts, because 바카라사이트y generally rely less on university accommodation.

¡°Despite 바카라사이트 shortage of accommodation, studying in Hong Kong is still appealing for international students,¡± he said.

helen.packer@ws-2000.com