Maritime and Aviation Training Fund (MATF)

The $100 million Maritime and Aviation Training Fund (MATF) approved by the Legislative Council in January 2014 came into operation on 1 April 2014. The Fund would be used over a period of five years from 2014-15 to 2018-19 to sustain and enhance existing training schemes and scholarships, as well for launching new initiatives for the maritime and aviation sectors. The aim of MATF is to build up in due course a vibrant, diversified and competitive pool of professionals and technical personnel to support Hong Kong’s future development in these sectors.

The following are the aviation-related initiatives operating under the MATF:

1. Professional Training and Examination Refund Scheme (ProTERS)

The ProTERS aims to encourage aviation in-service practitioners to take courses offered by various academic institutions, professional or trade bodies, and to take part in professional examinations, so as to raise their professional competency and help them acquire relevant professional qualifications. Under the ProTERS, eligible applicants are refunded with 80% of the fees after completing pre-approved courses or examinations, subject to a cap of HKD18,000.

2. Maritime and Aviation Internship Scheme (Aviation) (Internship Scheme (Aviation))

Through the tripartite collaboration among the Government, industries and academic institutions, the Internship Scheme (Aviation) gives the young generation early exposure to the wide spectrum of career opportunities in the aviation sector. Non-final year full-time local students studying undergraduate or sub-degree programmes offered by relevant education institutions and secondary six school leavers are eligible to apply. Under the Internship Scheme (Aviation), participating companies are reimbursed monthly honorarium paid to interns up to 75% or HKD6,000 (whichever is lower) up to three months for an internship offered.

3. Partial Tuition Refund Scheme for the Specialised Aircraft Maintenance Programme (Refund Scheme)

To encourage young people to choose specialised aircraft maintenance programmes and join the aircraft maintenance industry after graduation, the Refund Scheme provides extra financial incentive for those who have completed relevant programmes offered by the Vocational Training Council, namely the Higher Diploma in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering or the Diploma in Vocational Education (Aircraft Maintenance). Eligible applicants undertaking these programmes and joining the aircraft maintenance industry after graduation are refunded 50% of the total tuition fee, subject to a cap of HKD30,000.

4. Hong Kong Aviation Scholarship Scheme (HKASS)

To encourage continuous professional enhancement for the aviation sector, the Government will provide full scholarships, capped at about HKD100,000 each to selected students to complete aviation-related degree or higher degree programmes. Eligible applicants are required to complete the identified programme and undertake to work in the aviation sector in Hong Kong for a period of not less than twelve consecutive calendar months, within three calendar months upon graduation.

For details of the above initiatives and the corresponding arrangements, please visit MATF website at www.matf.gov.hk.