Dear Director / President / Vice-Chancellor,

The RGC Review

1. I am writing to update you on the review of the Research Grants Council (RGC), which was started in December 1997, and to seek your views on some proposed changes to the RGC's Terms of Reference and the introduction of a Mission Statement for the RGC.

2. Background

   As you know, the RGC was established in 1991 under the aegis of the University Grants Committee (UGC) as the only public body providing research project funding to the UGC-funded institutions in Hong Kong. The RGC's terms of reference are set out in Annex A.

3. In December 1997, the RGC commenced a review of its past work and achievements during seven years of operation. This review was also intended to address the future direction of the Council's work in the light of the recommendations contained in the UGC's Review Report on "Higher Education in Hong Kong", published in October 1996, and the SAR Chief Executive's policy objectives with regard to higher education as set out in his Policy Address in October 1997.

4. In the meantime, the RGC review has also taken into account the recommendations made in the Consultation Document on the Review of the Education-related Executive and Advisory Bodies, issued by the Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB) in May 1998, and the various views expressed by the Chief Executive's Commission on Innovation and Technology (CIT) on university and industry collaboration in research and development. The main views of the RGC in response to the Consultation Document, and to some extent the CIT's views, were reflected in an RGC statement attached to the UGC's formal response to EMB's Consultation Document (mounted on the UGC Web "www.ugc.edu.hk").

5. Against this background, the RGC aims to complete the review of its work, role, and terms of reference by the end of this year, with a view to formulating some specific recommendations to the UGC, and then the Government in January 1999.

6. As part of the review process, the RGC held a special meeting in June 1998 to consider all the views expressed so far, and reached the following preliminary conclusions :

   1. the RGC's role is to support quality research, regardless of whether it is basic or applied research;

   2. with the establishment of more public and private funding bodies providing resources for research in applied and other specific areas, the RGC should be recognised as the main public funding body that provides research funding for academic research. However, there is a need to improve communication with other funding bodies so as to complement each other's efforts and share best practices;

   3. the RGC welcomes the initiative taken by the CIT to foster closer collaboration between industry and university research, and believes that the Commission could act as a catalyst to enhance the efforts of the various research funding agencies, including the RGC, to achieve better results in this important area of Hong Kong's development;

   4. now that a research culture has taken root in Hong Kong, and the outcomes of previously supported research projects are more readily available in good quantities and quality, the RGC should, in conjunction with the UGC and the UGC-funded institutions, adopt a more pro-active approach in publicising the various research activities and their contributions to the community;

   5. having regard to the dual support system for funding research in Hong Kong's higher education institutions (i.e. provision of staff time and infrastructure through the UGC's block grants, and marginal funding from the RGC and other research funding bodies), and the need to move towards higher quality and a greater differentiation in the use of resources, the UGC and the RGC should work more closely together, such as in the improvement of research postgraduate education and the development of Areas of Excellence particularly in research, in UGC-funded institutions.

7. At the Council meeting held in June 1998, the RGC further agreed that the Council's terms of reference should be revised to reflect these conclusions, and that they should also be expressed more fully in a "mission statement". The draft revised terms of reference and mission statement, at Annex B, were subsequently considered and endorsed by the UGC at its meeting held in August 1998. Meanwhile, the RGC also wishes to seek the views of the UGC-funded institutions, the Administration, other research funding bodies and relevant organizations on the draft revised terms of reference and mission statement before finalizing the documents at its December 1998 meeting.

8. To allow the RGC to finalize its views on the Review, I should be grateful for any comment you and your colleagues may have on the RGC's preliminary conclusions in paragraph 6 above, and the proposed revised terms of reference and mission statement in Annex B. In order that your comments can be considered by the Council at its forthcoming meeting in December 1998, I should be grateful if you would forward any comment you may have on these matters to the Secretariat on or before 3 November 1998.

9. Meanwhile, in order to give greater exposure to the research outcomes of the proposals it has funded over the years, the RGC decided in June 1998 that it should adopt a more proactive publicity and PR policy. In this connection, the RGC has already commissioned an external editor to design and edit the RGC Annual Report for 1997. The Report, which should be ready for distribution soon, would be more readable for the general public, and be able to project a more positive image of the RGC and the contributions of university research to the community. The RGC will also wish to consider, in conjunction with the UGC-funded institutions, how to achieve better co-ordination of our individual efforts in disseminating information about research and research outcomes to the public. We will also wish to consider the feasibility of producing a periodic RGC newsletter about the activities that the Council funds and their research outcomes. In the meantime, the RGC has been impressed by the tremendous efforts put in by institutions to prepare exhibition materials for RGC visits and would wish again to encourage institutions to open such displays to the public so that they can be better informed of the institutions' research activities and their achievements.

10. Please give this letter the widest circulation within your institution. The RGC would be pleased to receive views of individual staff members on the issues raised in paragraph 6 above and on the draft for the RGC's terms of reference and mission statement at Annex B by fax (2845 1596) or by e-mail (ugc@ugc.edu.hk). This letter will also be mounted in the Virtual Library of the UGC Web at "www.ugc.edu.hk".

Yours sincerely,
( Ping K Ko )
Chairman
Research Grants Council

Encl.

Annex A

Existing Terms of Reference of the RGC

1. to advise the Government, through the UGC, on the needs of the institutions of higher education in Hong Kong in the field of academic research, including the identification of priority areas, in order that a research base adequate for the maintenance of academic vigour and pertinent to the needs of Hong Kong may be developed; and

2. to invite and receive, through the institutions of higher education, applications for research grants from academic staff and for the award of studentships and post-doctoral fellowships; to approve awards and other disbursements from funds made available by the Government through the UGC for research; to monitor the implementation of such grants and to report at least annually to the Government through the UGC.

Annex B

( D R A F T )
Revised Terms of Reference of the RGC

1. To advise the Government, through the UGC, on the needs of the institutions of higher education in Hong Kong to undertake high quality basic and applied research and research training in order that a vigorous research culture pertinent to the needs of Hong Kong can be maintained and further developed; and

2. To invite and receive, through the institutions of higher education, applications for research grants and for the award of studentships and post-doctoral fellowships; to approve grants and other disbursements from funds made available by the Government through the UGC for research; to monitor the implementation of such grants and to report at least annually to the Government through the UGC.

( D R A F T )
Mission Statement for the RGC

The RGC will work together with the Government, the UGC, the higher education institutions, other public and private research funding bodies and others concerned in Hong Kong and elsewhere to ensure that high quality research, basic or applied, is supported with appropriate funding so as to maintain and further develop a vigorous research culture pertinent to the needs of Hong Kong in our higher education institutions. In particular, it will :

1. ensure that the assessment and monitoring process is independent, internationally recognised, efficient and cost-effective;

2. collaborate with other public and private research funding bodies to ensure appropriate co-ordination in the disbursement of grants, and in the sharing of expertise;

3. maintain and strengthen mechanisms to promote collaboration between the higher education institutions and the community, partnerships and effective technology transfer; and

4. publicize its work and the outcomes of research projects funded by the RGC, as well as maintain and improve communication between university researchers and the community.