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| December 1999 Education Reform - Spice of Life By Kenneth Chow Articles from the
same section: Keeping pace with the ever-developing knowledge-based information society, lifelong learning is essential to everyone. To motivate lifelong learning, the Education Commission is reviewing the whole education system. A seminar was jointly organized by the Education Commission and the Society of Hong Kong Scholars to discuss the details for higher education. Establishing a diversity of institutions for tertiary-education is an important part of the proposals for reform by the Education Commission. Prof. Wong Yuk-shan, chairman of the Sub-group on Higher Education of the Education Commission, said, “Under the reformed structure, 18 percent of post-secondary students could enter universities, with 20 to 30 percent of them entering full-time community colleges. “The policy would allow more students to receive higher education.” Prof. Wong said that community colleges play three roles in education. First, they provide associate degree programmes for students. The universities would recognize the qualifications of these programmes. Students could then enter universities with exemptions for some courses. Second, they offer vocational courses for technical skills required in some professional fields. Finally, community colleges offer remedial courses for those who failed in achieving qualifications at the secondary level. Prof. Wong said that before the reforms are implemented, further discussions on whether community colleges should be government-funded, self-financed or a mix of these should be made. Higher education institutions will use a transferable credit unit system which would allow students to take modules across various faculties and universities. Prof. Wong said, “The system helps them to develop a broad-based knowledge in the fields of humanities, social science and natural science.” A transferable credit unit system also means that the qualifications of community colleges and continuing education institutions are recognized by universities. Having finished programmes in community colleges and continuing education institutions, students can be promoted to universities with exemptions for certain courses. Based on the transferable credit system, The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology recently signed an agreement to offer transferable courses next summer for students shared by the two. The Chinese University of Hong Kong will offer courses for students of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and vice versa. Programmes taken by students under the scheme will be recognized by their own universities. Prof. Authur K.C. Li, vice-chancellor of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, said the main objective is to provide comprehensive development of students in two universities on different grounds. Said Prof. Li: “For The Chinese University of Hong Kong, there would be no course in civil engineering provided for students. “Students interested in this field can attend courses offered by Hong Kong University of Science and Technology,” said he. Other than academic studies, attention is also focused on the university campus life of students. Prof. Wong said, “Apart from academic studies, university education also aims at developing leadership skills, a sense of commitment and social responsibilities of students.” Finally, places for postgraduate education will be increased so as to allow more students to further their studies on specific professions. Prof. Ambrose Y.C. King, pro-vice-chancellor of the Chinese University, said that Hong Kong needed experts. Said he: “For good schools in foreign countries, 85 percent of students advance their studies in post-graduate programmes.” However, in Hong Kong, 90 percent of students start working right after finishing their degree programmes. |
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