Contributors: Ms Alice Leung Kirkwood, Dr Law Ying Lun Tommy and Ms Koey Leung [Career and Leadership Centre, SDS]


In response to the economic impact of the pandemic, CityU has set aside HK$10 million for a series of special measures to support CityU students’ job landing. Spearheaded by Career and Leadership Centre (CLC) of CityU Student Development Services under the leadership of Professor Horace Ip, Vice-President (Student Affairs), “CAReer Launch Scheme” (CARLS), an innovative online job-matching platform has been devised to create work exposure opportunities for all 2020 CityU graduating students and facilitate the employers to identify talents from CityU for their companies.

As a win-win initiative, CARLS consists of a comprehensive range of student services and support for 2020 CityU graduates, including one-on-one career consultations, review on CV and cover letter, interview skills coaching and job-matching service. There is also a matching fund for employers who offer work exposure opportunities for 2020 CityU graduates, which will be provided at one-third of each graduate’s monthly salary, capped at HK$6,000 per month for a maximum of three months. This initiative encourages employers to provide CityU graduates with long- or short-term full-time employment so that graduates are given the opportunity to gain practical skills and experience in the workplace, while employers can assess the strengths and potential of CityU graduates. The aim of the initiative is to enhance employers’ confidence in hiring CityU graduates to support their businesses in the long term.

Over 2,000 sessions of one-on-one career consultations with graduating students were conducted by 15 Careers and Employability Consultants attached to CLC, Colleges and Schools. More than 16,700 industry partners, employers, alumni, and trade associations were contacted and over 1,800 job vacancies with up to HK$26,500 of monthly salary were solicited for 2020 CityU graduates. To facilitate students’ job search, our in-house online job platform, JobPlus captures the job opportunities attracted by CARLS, with over 34,600 views in four months, while job notifications via SMS are sent to graduates.

CARLS provides CityU graduates with a series of innovative, meticulously-planned and timely support in times of Covid-19 and has become a staunch backing for their job-landing journey.

CARLS has received overwhelming support from industry partners, employers, alumni, and trade associations since its launch.

Led by Professor Horace Ip, Vice-President (Student Affairs), CityU CAReer Launch Scheme (CARLS) has been launched since June 2020.

Over 2,000 sessions of one-on-one career consultations with graduating students were conducted by 15 Careers and Employability Consultants attached to CLC, Colleges and Schools.

A significant number of CityU graduates have received desirable job offers via CARLS.