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The “3+3+4” Academic Reform & Capital Works

A landmark milestone of Hong Kong’s education reform, the new academic structure will be implemented in the higher education sector in 2012/13. The UGC attaches paramount importance to the institutions’ preparation work particularly in tackling the enhanced support for the double cohort.

To ensure smooth migration to the four-year undergraduate programme, the Government has set aside $550 million for the eight UGC-funded institutions in the advanced recruitment and engagement of additional academic, professional and supporting staff, revamping the academic curriculum, development of the administrative and information technology systems, etc. The UGC has so far released $346 million to institutions and the remaining sum will be allocated over 2011/12.

With the support of the UGC, the eight UGC-funded institutions are progressing smoothly in a number of areas including development of the four-year curricula, construction of new academic and amenities facilities, staff recruitment and formulation of the student admission mechanism. The UGC will continue to facilitate and render full support to the institutions in their preparation work, closely monitor their progress and actively liaise with the institutions and the Government.

Academic Development

Institutions in general are making good progress in developing the four-year academic curriculum, which will comprise core, major and elective courses with an emphasis on broad-based learning, general education and exposure to both academic and non-academic skills and knowledge. Some of the new elements are being phased in during 2009-12, so as to benefit existing students enrolling on the three-year undergraduate curriculum. Feedback from these students is helpful for the institutions to revise and enhance their courses/programmes under the four-year curriculum before its actual implementation in 2012.

To oversee the institutions’ preparation in implementing the new academic structure, a dedicated “3+3+4 Group” has been formed under the UGC to examine the progress reports submitted by institutions and offer advice to the institutions in carrying out their preparatory work. Given the massive scale and significance of the exercise, the institutions have also been assessing risks (in anticipation of possible scenarios such as insufficient teaching venues and shortage of teaching staff to meet the increasing demand from the double cohort of students) that may emerge during the implementation of the new structure and devising contingency plans and fallback arrangements to tackle such risks, so as to ensure successful transition of the academic system.

Institutions do face similar challenges of transitioning into the new system, and it is in every party’s interest that their wisdom and lessons be shared on issues of common interest or concern, to avoid reinventing the wheel, as well as to ensure compatibility across the whole system. Sponsored by the UGC, institutions have been organising a series of 12 symposia to exchange ideas and share experience on “3+3+4”-related issues among themselves. So far, a total of 11 symposia have been held with topics as follows:

Institutions have also dedicated much effort in engaging and liaising with school principals, teachers, prospective
students and their parents in soliciting their views and input on the curriculum changes through various channels.
Some institutions have set up dedicated websites on “3+3+4”, while others will disseminate the required information through “information/open days” in 2011.

The UGC will continue to work closely with the UGC sector and the Government and provide necessary support to the institutions to ensure a smooth transition and implementation of “3+3+4” in the higher education sector starting September 2012.

“First Year Experience” - the “3+3+4” symposium sponsored by the UGC on “3+3+4” related issues held on 28 April 2010

Capital Works Projects for Implementation of "3+3+4"

 


Note: All images are artist’s impression

Capital Works

The implementation of the new normative four-year undergraduate programme will result in a substantial increase in overall undergraduate enrolment at the UGC-funded institutions, requiring the institutions to increase their campus space and facilities in order to provide a suitable teaching and learning environment in support of the new academic programmes. With the support of the UGC, the Legislative Council approved a total of $5.84 billion for the UGC-funded institutions to carry out 12 capital works projects as shown in the chart on the previous page to provide the required additional space and facilities.

In 2010-11, the UGC continued to work closely with institutions in taking forward the “3+3+4”-related capital works projects. Generally good progress was made for the projects. The superstructure of HKUST’s Extension to the existing Academic Building had been completed and the fitting-out works were in progress. The superstructure works of nine other projects had started, while those of the remaining two projects are scheduled for commencement in mid 2011. All the new buildings are expected to be completed by September 2012 though some are on very tight schedules with target completion dates close to the September deadline, including HKBU’s Baptist University Road Campus Development, CityU’s Academic and Administration Building and PolyU’s Phase 8 Development. The UGC is closely monitoring the progress of the projects, and will, where necessary, invite institutions to prepare detailed contingency plans to cater for potential delay of their projects.

In addition, in 2010-11 the UGC supported 22 Alterations, Additions, Repairs and Improvements proposals from institutions to carry out consequential works related to their “3+3+4” capital projects and improvement works to their existing facilities necessary for implementation of “3+3+4”. It is expected that more of such improvements proposals will be submitted by institutions in the coming years for spatial reorganization works in their existing campus to tie in with the completion of the “3+3+4” capital projects.

HKUST’s extension to the existing academic building
Copyright © 2011 University Grants Committee. All rights reserved.
Last Revision Date: 1 June 2011