Federation for Self-financing Tertiary Education (FSTE), formerly known as “The Federation for Continuing Education in Tertiary Institutions” (FCE), was established in 1994. It aims to advance the quality, promote collaboration and share good practices in the self-financing tertiary education sector. 

FSTE membership comprises all publicly-funded higher education institutions and major non-profit-making institutions providing tertiary/continuing education in Hong Kong as well as 6 Individual Members.

FSTE members offer a variety of programmes, ranging from sub-degree to degree levels, in full-time and part-time modes, covering academic, vocational and professional streams, as well as transnational (also known as “non-local”) programmes.  Believing in life-long learning, FSTE members also provide a great majority of courses under Continuing Education Fund (CEF) in Hong Kong.

FSTE endeavours to:

1. Advocate the advancement of standards and academic quality of Hong Kong’s self-financing tertiary education encompassing undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications, sub-degrees, pre-tertiary programmes as well as lifelong and professional education.
2. Provide a platform for exchanging ideas, sharing information, research, and promoting good practices in learning and teaching in the context of self-financing tertiary education.
3. Foster collaboration with the Government, industries, professional bodies and other stakeholders to extend the impact of Hong Kong’s tertiary education to the neighbouring regions and beyond.