The UGC Higher Education Review is moving in full swing. The Steering Committee, formed under the UGC to take charge of the Review, has met for three times already. With the consultancy support of PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Steering Committee has had thorough discussion on a number of issues including:

• governance of the whole higher education sector (e.g. whether the whole sector should be overseen by a single overarching body or several bodies, and its/their roles);

• the role of the UGC in the governance structure discussed above, with particular reference to Associate Degrees and community colleges; and

• the governance structures of UGC-funded institutions and whether they can meet the need of the institutions and the society as a whole.

For the coming months, the review will also look at other higher education issues including quality assurance, drive for excellence and diversity, research funding, etc.

The UGC considers it very important for the Review to take into account views and aspirations of relevant stakeholders. In this connection, Lord Sutherland has met with the Administration, the Education Commission, Chairmen of University Councils, Heads of Institutions and other related bodies, student/educators/staff organisations, to solicit their views during his visits to Hong Kong in the last three months. Lord Sutherland will maintain an active programme of meeting and talking to stakeholders before the recommendations in the report are finalised.

In addition, we have also invited the stakeholders to provide written submissions to the UGC by 31 August 2001. A full list of stakeholders being consulted is at Annex A. Also, members of the public are always welcome to write in to the UGC through the Higher Education Forum at the UGC homepage (www.ugc.edu.hk).

A draft report, to be written by Lord Sutherland, will be considered by the full UGC early next year, after which it will be submitted to the Secretary for Education and Manpower. We hope to finish the entire exercise by mid 2002.

11 May 2001

Note
-	A copy of the press release issued in May 2001, attached with the terms of reference of the Review and membership of the Steering Committee, is enclosed as Annex B.
-	Members of the press are very welcome to arrange interviews with Lord Sutherland/Secretary-General, UGC on the Higher Education Review.
-	For details, please contact Mr Jeff Leung (Deputy Secretary-General (1), UGC), at 2524 3673.

Annex A

Stakeholders Being Consulted

• All 8 UGC-funded institutions

• Other institutions

• HK Academy for Performing Arts
• Open University of Hong Kong Government
• HK Shue Yan College
• Vocational Training Council
• School of Continuing and Professional Education, CityU
• School of Continuing Studies, CUHK
• School of Continuing Education, HKBU
• School of Professional and Continuing Education, HKU
• School of Professional Education and Executive Development, PolyU
• Office of Continuing and Professional Education, HKUST
• The Lingnan Institute of Further Education, LU
• Federation of Continuing Education of Tertiary Institutions

• Student bodies

• HK Federation of Students
• Hong Kong Young Tertiary Student Association

• Education workers

• HK Professional Teachers' Union
• HK Federation of Education Worker Limited
• Federation of HK Higher Education Staff Association
• Hong Kong Education Policy Concern Organization

• Secondary education sector

• HK Subsidised Secondary Schools Council
• HK Association of Heads of Secondary Schools

• Research

• Innovation and Technology Commission
• Applied Science and technology Research Institute

• Employers

• HK General Chamber of Commerce
• The Chinese Manufacturers' Association
• Federation of Hong Kong Industries

• Other bodies

• HK Council of Academic Accreditation

Annex B

Higher Education Review

The University Grants Committee (UGC) announced today (11 May 2001) the launching of a review on higher education in Hong Kong to be completed in a year’s time.

The review is commissioned by the Education and Manpower Bureau and will cover major aspects of higher education provision, including an administrative framework for a much expanded post-secondary sector and the governance of universities.

A similar review was undertaken by the UGC in 1995 with a full report entitled "Higher Education in Hong Kong" published in 1996.

Dr Alice Lam, Chairman of UGC, said today, "The Higher Education Review will build on the 1996 report and will take into account developments in the higher education sector, including changing community aspirations, the Administration’s policy intentions to gradually but significantly increase tertiary education opportunities and relevant reform proposals recommended by the Education Commission (EC)."

The Review will be led by Lord Sutherland, a senior member of the UGC and currently Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, UK. He will be assisted by a Steering Committee, composed mainly of local UGC members who are directly involved in, or are familiar with, higher education in Hong Kong.

"Both the Administration and the UGC are very pleased to have Lord Sutherland to lead this exercise. Lord Sutherland is a respected scholar well-known in the international education community. He has extensive experience in higher education and has been a member of the UK Higher Education Funding Council for a number of years. He has also served on the UGC for seven years and has a very good understanding of the local situation" said Dr Lam.

Commenting on the upcoming Higher Education Review, Lord Sutherland said, "I am honoured to be given the responsibility. In the year to come, I shall be paying frequent visits to Hong Kong and I look forward to working closely with the Steering Committee and all interested parties on this important task."

The UGC aims to finalise the Review report in the first half of 2002.

UGC Secretariat

Terms of Reference
for
UGC Higher Education Review 2001

To review the arrangements for the provision of higher education in Hong Kong in the light of stated government objectives for the education system as a whole, with particular emphasis on -

1. Vision and role of higher education in Hong Kong.

2. Overall governance and quality assurance structure for higher education in Hong Kong including the role to be played by Government, universities and the UGC.

3. Relationships between universities and other present and potential providers of post-secondary education in Hong Kong.

4. The interface between secondary and tertiary sectors in Hong Kong.

5. Accountability and academic freedom, and the governance of universities.

6. Role and support for research in the tertiary sector.

7. Funding mechanism for higher education.

8. Other matters that are relevant to the main purpose of the review.

Higher Education Review Steering Committee