UGC welcomes CUHK and HKIEd to sign formal agreement on deep collaboration (Saturday, 9 July 2005)

The following is issued on behalf of the University Grants Committee:

The Chairman of University Grants Committee (UGC), Dr Alice Lam, today (July 9) warmly welcomed the formal agreement entered into by Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd) on development of deep collaboration.

"This is an important milestone achieved for the discussion process," Dr Lam said. "The UGC congratulates the two institutions on coming to this agreement."

Professor Lawrence Lau, the Vice Chancellor of CUHK, and Professor Paul Morris, President of HKIEd, signed an agreement today, which formally affirmed the two institutions' position to seek a closer collaboration in teacher education at various levels in the next two triennia.

"Good progress has been made by the two institutions in this discussion," Dr Lam said. "The UGC believes that the two institutions, by working together, can enhance the quality of teacher education, for the benefit of the entire educational sector. The UGC is therefore happy to support this initiative. "

The UGC has already indicated earlier that it would be happy to consider, at an appropriate time, a joint submission from CUHK and HKIEd seeking additional financial support for this initiative.

Dr Lam said that the Committee looked forward to seeing the development of deep collaboration between the two institutions bear real fruit in terms of tangible results for the academic and professional enhancement of teacher education in Hong Kong and the region.

9 July 2005