Institutional Integration Working Party meets with university student representatives
The University Grants Committee (UGC)'s Institutional Integration Working Party (IIWP) met with representatives of the Student Unions of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today (November 10). Prof John Niland, Convenor of the IIWP, said that the meeting was a proper part of the consultation process on the institutional integration issue.
Speaking after the meeting, Prof John Niland said, "We had a constructive exchange of views. I can well appreciate the issues raised ranging from fiscal position of the Administration to culture difference between the two institutions. But there may also be major opportunities better to assure that into the future the repute of the degree qualifications of graduating students should continue to be enhanced."
"Our primary objective is to see Hong Kong widely regarded as the education hub of the region. We reiterated at the meeting that the UGC had no timetable for implementing institutional integration, and that we intended to produce an Options Document for consideration by the UGC early next year".
Prof Niland stressed that the IIWP had no pre-set position and had been adopting an open mind towards the issue. He said that the Options Document to be drawn up would aim objectively and impartially to set out the pros and cons of institutional integration in Hong Kong, and how it could tie in with the developmental needs of the higher education sector taking into account the views and comments of the stakeholders and the overall situation of Hong Kong.
Subsequent to his visit in September 2003, Prof Niland returned to Hong Kong in early November for another round of meetings with the CUHK and HKUST Reference Groups, which were formed by the two institutions to assist the IIWP in the study. Both Student Unions are represented in the relevant Reference Groups, as are staff and alumni.
"The meeting with the Student Unions is useful in enhancing mutual understanding. It also reflects the transparency of our work," Prof Niland added.
Monday, November 10, 2003