HKMU once again secured funding from the “Enhancement and Start-up Grant Scheme for Self-financing Post-secondary Education” (ESGS) to establish a Flight Simulation Laboratory which will provide practical and industry-focused training for students studying in aviation services management.
Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) secured over HK$22 million in the latest round of the Education Bureau's “Enhancement and Start-up Grant Scheme for Self-financing Post-secondary Education” (ESGS) to establish a Flight Simulation Laboratory. This advanced facility will provide students enrolled in the Bachelor of Business Administration with Honours in Aviation Services Management programme with practical, industry-focused training, supporting the development of Hong Kong's aviation industry and addressing its talent cultivation needs.
Nurturing professional talent to consolidate Hong Kong's status as an international aviation hub
As Hong Kong's first university of applied sciences (UAS), HKMU is committed to nurturing professional talent to support key industries and the city's development. HKMU President Prof. Paul Lam Kwan-sing expressed that it is encouraging for HKMU to receive funding support from ESGS once again, as this reflects the Government's trust and recognition of the University's commitment to providing quality education and nurture talent that meet societal needs.
“Since the end of the pandemic, demand for professional manpower in the local aviation industry has remained strong,” Prof. Lam said. “HKMU's related degree programme integrates academic study with commercial pilot training and involves industry partners in its curriculum design, delivery and assessment, demonstrating the unique strengths of UASs in terms of flexibility and industry recognition.”
“This year's funding will enable us to introduce state-of-the-art equipment into our programme, enhancing our training capacity and efficiency. It will play a pivotal role in cultivating competitive, internationally qualified professionals for the aviation industry in Hong Kong and across the region, supporting national initiatives and consolidating the city's status as an international aviation hub,” he added.
Creating a realistic cockpit environment to enhance practical training
The Flight Simulation Laboratory will be equipped with an Airbus A350 flight simulator, allowing students to train in a highly realistic cockpit environment. This facility will seamlessly integrate theoretical knowledge with practical operation and prepare graduates for the dynamic challenges of the aviation industry.
The Bachelor of Business Administration with Honours in Aviation Services Management programme offers two concentrations: “Cadet Pilot” and “Management and Operations”. The Flight Simulation Laboratory will provide students from both concentrations with the opportunity to experience and familiarise themselves with the cockpit environment. Through immersive training scenarios facilitated by the laboratory, students will be able to practice multi-crew cooperation, learn how to interact with air traffic control and aircraft ground handling teams, and also enhance their critical thinking skills and emergency management capabilities.
For students in the “Cadet Pilot” concentration, the simulator will provide early exposure to a realistic cockpit environment, helping them consolidate their theoretical knowledge and build a strong foundation before undertaking overseas flying training. This will improve training efficiency and ensure they complete the required flight hours effectively.
By simulating a wide range of flight conditions, extreme weather scenarios and emergency situations, the flight simulator will enable students to master key operational skills in a controlled environment. This also significantly reduces the fuel, maintenance and operational costs associated with training on real aircraft, allowing for more training hours while minimising the carbon footprint of aviation training. Additionally, the simulator allows for more flexible and standardised curriculum design and scheduling of training.
First higher education institution with a professional-grade flight simulator
The Airbus A350 aircraft model is widely used across the Asia-Pacific region, serving 17 airlines in Hong Kong and overseas, and complies fully with Hong Kong's flight training standards. Currently in Hong Kong, Airbus A350 flight simulators are available only at professional flight training centres, including the Hong Kong Professional Airline Pilots Association, the Hong Kong Airlines Flight Training Centre and the Cathay Pacific Flight Training Centre. With the acquisition of this advanced flight simulator, HKMU will become the first higher education institution in Hong Kong to house such sophisticated training equipment.
Offered in collaboration with the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy (HKIAA), HKMU's Bachelor of Business Administration with Honours in Aviation Services Management programme aims to nurture the next generation of aviation professionals by blending theory and practice. Students in the “Cadet Pilot” concentration will gain hands-on experience through training and internships arranged by the HKIAA, equipping them with the knowledge, skills and experience to become commercial pilots. Graduates of the programme will be well-prepared for diverse career opportunities, as both commercial pilots and in areas such as positions in transportation and logistics, airport operations and management, aviation safety, and other related fields.
HKMU once again secured funding from the “Enhancement and Start-up Grant Scheme for Self-financing Post-secondary Education” (ESGS) to establish a Flight Simulation Laboratory which will provide practical and industry-focused training for students studying in aviation services management.
Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) secured over HK$22 million in the latest round of the Education Bureau's “Enhancement and Start-up Grant Scheme for Self-financing Post-secondary Education” (ESGS) to establish a Flight Simulation Laboratory. This advanced facility will provide students enrolled in the Bachelor of Business Administration with Honours in Aviation Services Management programme with practical, industry-focused training, supporting the development of Hong Kong's aviation industry and addressing its talent cultivation needs.
Nurturing professional talent to consolidate Hong Kong's status as an international aviation hub
As Hong Kong's first university of applied sciences (UAS), HKMU is committed to nurturing professional talent to support key industries and the city's development. HKMU President Prof. Paul Lam Kwan-sing expressed that it is encouraging for HKMU to receive funding support from ESGS once again, as this reflects the Government's trust and recognition of the University's commitment to providing quality education and nurture talent that meet societal needs.
“Since the end of the pandemic, demand for professional manpower in the local aviation industry has remained strong,” Prof. Lam said. “HKMU's related degree programme integrates academic study with commercial pilot training and involves industry partners in its curriculum design, delivery and assessment, demonstrating the unique strengths of UASs in terms of flexibility and industry recognition.”
“This year's funding will enable us to introduce state-of-the-art equipment into our programme, enhancing our training capacity and efficiency. It will play a pivotal role in cultivating competitive, internationally qualified professionals for the aviation industry in Hong Kong and across the region, supporting national initiatives and consolidating the city's status as an international aviation hub,” he added.
Creating a realistic cockpit environment to enhance practical training
The Flight Simulation Laboratory will be equipped with an Airbus A350 flight simulator, allowing students to train in a highly realistic cockpit environment. This facility will seamlessly integrate theoretical knowledge with practical operation and prepare graduates for the dynamic challenges of the aviation industry.
The Bachelor of Business Administration with Honours in Aviation Services Management programme offers two concentrations: “Cadet Pilot” and “Management and Operations”. The Flight Simulation Laboratory will provide students from both concentrations with the opportunity to experience and familiarise themselves with the cockpit environment. Through immersive training scenarios facilitated by the laboratory, students will be able to practice multi-crew cooperation, learn how to interact with air traffic control and aircraft ground handling teams, and also enhance their critical thinking skills and emergency management capabilities.
For students in the “Cadet Pilot” concentration, the simulator will provide early exposure to a realistic cockpit environment, helping them consolidate their theoretical knowledge and build a strong foundation before undertaking overseas flying training. This will improve training efficiency and ensure they complete the required flight hours effectively.
By simulating a wide range of flight conditions, extreme weather scenarios and emergency situations, the flight simulator will enable students to master key operational skills in a controlled environment. This also significantly reduces the fuel, maintenance and operational costs associated with training on real aircraft, allowing for more training hours while minimising the carbon footprint of aviation training. Additionally, the simulator allows for more flexible and standardised curriculum design and scheduling of training.
First higher education institution with a professional-grade flight simulator
The Airbus A350 aircraft model is widely used across the Asia-Pacific region, serving 17 airlines in Hong Kong and overseas, and complies fully with Hong Kong's flight training standards. Currently in Hong Kong, Airbus A350 flight simulators are available only at professional flight training centres, including the Hong Kong Professional Airline Pilots Association, the Hong Kong Airlines Flight Training Centre and the Cathay Pacific Flight Training Centre. With the acquisition of this advanced flight simulator, HKMU will become the first higher education institution in Hong Kong to house such sophisticated training equipment.
Offered in collaboration with the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy (HKIAA), HKMU's Bachelor of Business Administration with Honours in Aviation Services Management programme aims to nurture the next generation of aviation professionals by blending theory and practice. Students in the “Cadet Pilot” concentration will gain hands-on experience through training and internships arranged by the HKIAA, equipping them with the knowledge, skills and experience to become commercial pilots. Graduates of the programme will be well-prepared for diverse career opportunities, as both commercial pilots and in areas such as positions in transportation and logistics, airport operations and management, aviation safety, and other related fields.
20 Nov 2025
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