The PolyU places paramount importance on the teaching of students and the creation of a congenial environment to facilitate their quest for knowledge. 

Student Population 

The PolyU is the largest tertiary institution in Hong Kong in terms of number of students enrolled on its full-time, part-time and self-financed courses. 

In the 2000/2001 academic year, the total enrolment on programmes funded by the University Grants Committee was 16,841 by headcount, including 11,455 full-time and 5,386 part-time students. Of these, 2,377 students were enrolled at postgraduate, 8,253 at undergraduate and 6,211 at sub-degree level. 

In addition, 5,519 self-financed students were enrolled on programmes leading to PolyU awards. 

Student Services 

The Student Affairs Office offers a wide range of services to cater for the well-being of students and to enable them to achieve a higher level of academic standard and personal development. These include counselling on career and personal growth, financial assistance for students in need, and a Foundation Programme in Physical Education to encourage participation in sports. 

The Office also develops and co-ordinates a comprehensive Complementary Studies Programme to help students develop interpersonal skills and broaden their intellectual and cultural outlook. 

Health services available to full-time students include out-patient medical consultations and physical check-ups, etc., provided by the University Health Service, as well as subsidized dental care. First-line medical services provided by the University Health Service are also extended to staff members and their families. 

Graduate Employment 

With the Hong Kong economy showing signs of recovery, the University's Student Affairs Office reported encouraging graduate employment statistics in its Graduate Employment Survey. The unemployment rate of the 1999 cohort of PolyU graduates showed a marked decrease from 8 per cent in 1998 to 5.3 per cent.

The survey reviewed the employment status by 31 December 1999 of 4,079 PolyU graduates who completed their full-time studies at undergraduate, sub-degree and postgraduate levels during the summer of 1999. A total of 3,811 valid responses were received, representing a response rate of 93.4 per cent.

It is worth noting that among first-degree graduates, more than 85 per cent found full-time employment within six months of graduation. Another 4.5 per cent furthered their studies while 4.7 per cent were seeking employment. The rest were either engaged in temporary/part-time jobs or not seeking employment.

The average salary of all employed graduates stood at $11,114. More than 60 per cent of graduates received a salary between $8,000 and $11,999.

"Preferred Graduate" Development Programme 

In response to employers' demand for more "ready-to-work" graduates, the University introduced a unique summer internship programme to groom graduates preferred by employers. The number of participating companies has increased fourfold from 126 in 1997 to 524 in 2000.

Out of the 670 students who joined the Programme this year, about 370 students took up local placements and 102 students went abroad for placements in 16 countries. A group of 184 students had the chance of receiving summer training on the mainland while 14 students have been placed in Taiwan.

Partner Companies are invited to enter into an agreement for an initial period of three years, during which the PolyU will provide them with an agreed number of students in disciplines that match the needs of the companies. 

The Students' Union 

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Students' Union is an autonomous organization representing all full-time undergraduate students of the University. 

The Union's major objectives are to promote a sense of unity, freedom and democracy; to represent students in a spirit of unity and independence; to promote and safeguard the welfare, cultural, intellectual and ethical interests of members; and to cultivate a sense of belonging, responsibility and social consciousness among students. 

The Students' Union organizes a wide range of activities every year for its members. These include sports, recreational, academic and cultural functions, ranging from aquatic and athletic meets, students' festivals, orientations to Open Days for the public. 

Union representatives serve as members on a number of University committees, thus maintaining an effective link between the University Management and the student body. 

Postgraduate Association 

The PolyU Postgraduate Association represents all students registered on research and taught postgraduate courses of the University. 

The major objectives of the Association are to promote the welfare of postgraduate students, to facilitate communication among members, to establish communication channels between postgraduate students and the University Management, and to enhance links between PolyU postgraduate students and those of other institutions.