Role and Functions
The University Grants Committee (UGC) is appointed
by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Its main function is to offer independent, impartial and expert advice
to the Government on the funding and development of higher education
in Hong Kong, and to provide assurance to the Government and the
community on the standards and cost-effectiveness of the operations
and activities of the UGC-funded institutions. The UGC has no
statutory powers.
Specifically, the Committee makes detailed grant
recommendations having regard to the level of funding available,
overall student number targets as agreed with the Government, the
academic programmes as proposed by the institutions as well as their
performance against roles. The Committee also provides the
institutions with developmental and academic advice, drawing on the
expertise and experience of its members, and monitors the performance
of the institutions and promotes higher standards at a system level.
UGC Funded Institutions
There are eight higher education institutions
funded through the UGC:
City University of Hong Kong (CityU)
Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU)
Lingnan University (LU)
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
The Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd)
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)
The University of Hong Kong (HKU)
Each of the UGC-funded institutions is an
autonomous body with its own Ordinance and Governing Council. The
institutions have substantial freedom in the control of curricula and
academic standards, the selection of students, conduct of research,
staff recruitment and their terms of employment, and the internal
allocation of resources.
Terms of Reference of the UGC
The UGC is appointed by the Chief Executive of the
SAR with the following terms of reference:
(a) To keep under review in the light of the community's needs:
(i) the facilities in Hong Kong for education
in universities and such other institutions as may
from time to
time be designated by the Chief Executive of the SAR;
(ii) such plans for development of such
institutions as may be required from time to time;
(iii) the financial needs of education in such
institutions; and
(b) To advise the Government:
(i) on the application of such funds as may be
approved by the Legislature for education in such
institutions;
and
(ii) on such aspects of higher education which
the Chief Executive of the SAR may from time to
time refer to the
Committee.
UGC Members and Secretary-General
Mission Statement of
the UGC
The
UGC is the non-statutory body which advises the Government of the SAR
on the funding and strategic development of higher education in Hong
Kong. In this role, the UGC works with Institutions, the Government
and the Community to promote excellence in the higher education
sector, with a view to establishing Hong Kong as the education hub of
the region and to nurturing high quality people to promote the
economic and social development of Hong Kong. The UGC will:
(a)
oversee the deployment of funds for the strategic development of the
higher education sector;
(b)
support the continuous development of the higher education sector to
achieve greater impact and
recognition, and as a source of
innovation and ideas for the community;
(c)
give steering advice to the higher education sector from a system
perspective and facilitate institutions to
fulfill their distinctive
roles;
(d)
enhance the student experience and advance the international
competitiveness in teaching, research and
knowledge transfer by
institutions in accordance with their agreed roles;
(e)
facilitate the sustainable development of higher education to meet
the demands of the changing times;
(f) encourage deep collaboration
among institutions to develop an interlocking system to increase
international competitiveness of the sector; and
(g) safeguard quality and promote
efficiency, cost-effectiveness and accountability in the activities
of
institutions.
In carrying out the above
activities, UGC seeks to preserve institutional autonomy and
academic freedom, in the context of appropriate financial and public
accountability.
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