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The 1998-2001 triennium
saw significant advancement of the institutions funded by the University
Grants Committee (UGC) in different aspects. The triennium also saw the
UGC evolving itself with the aspirations of the community as a whole,
as well as the needs of the institutions in their pursuit of quality and
excellence.
Since mid-1990s, the landscape and focus of higher education in Hong Kong
have begun to change gradually, evolving to cope with and cater for new
demands arisen from the developments in Hong Kong, and new challenges
posed by Hong Kong's competitors. The higher education sector was seen
to be paying increasing emphasis to quality and to the pursuit of international
excellence, a sign of growing maturity in the provision of and approach
to higher education. This shift in focus gained momentum over the triennium
from 1998 to 2001.
In the face of these changes, the UGC played a pivotal role both in advising
the government on the long-term development of higher education in Hong
Kong, and also in assisting the UGC-funded institutions in meeting future
challenges through various new and on-going initiatives.
Towards the end of the reporting triennium, the UGC was commissioned by
the Secretary for Education and Manpower to conduct another review on
higher education in Hong Kong.
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The UGC, although not directly involved in the work of
the institutions, worked hand in hand with them in the pursuit of excellence
in the areas of teaching and learning as well as in research. In respect
of teaching, while a culture of self-improvement was embedded in the institutions,
the UGC sought to promote institutions' performance through various reviews
and funding schemes during the reporting triennium. Examples were the
conduct of the second Teaching and Learning Quality Process Review, the
continued disbursement of Teaching Development Grants and Language Enhancement
Grants, etc.
On the side of research, quality and quantity in research activities grew
hand in hand in the reporting triennium. A prosperous and deepening research
culture was developing in Hong Kong, which was partly attributed to the
continued support from the UGC and its Research Grants Council, as well
as funding from other sources. This was evidenced in the rising level
of university expenditure on research from 0.29% of the Hong Kong GDP
in the preceding triennium, to 0.39% in the reporting one.
In respect of academic planning, both the UGC and the institutions were
keenly aware of the need to ensure evolving needs of the city's society
would be effectively met. In considering institutions' academic planning
during the reporting triennium, the UGC worked with the institutions to
advance various initiatives responding to the changing need of the economy
and the community. One example was the heightened efforts in teacher education
as a result of the government's policy direction to upgrade the quality
and professionalism of teachers.
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During the reporting triennium, the UGC also responded
to the community's increasing demands for greater openness and accountability
by taking a more active role in promoting public understanding about the
higher education sector, its achievements and the role of the UGC. The
UGC took steps in the reporting triennium to reach out to its stakeholders
through different channels. Among some of its efforts was the production
of a TV documentary and a corporate video.
Going forward, the UGC will continue to encourage quality and promote
excellence of higher education in Hong Kong. As Hong Kong reinforces its
position as the world city of Asia, our higher education will continue
to prosper and compete at the level of international excellence, getting
our young fully prepared for a rapidly changing world.
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