Although Hong Kong University is strongly Engineering and Science based, they are thinking hard there about the development of a Faculty of Management/Business Studies, but of course, much depends on the status and role of the Polytechnic.
I had a talk with the University Working Party on Management Studies and it is clear that the Extra Mural Department is at present engaged in some work with part-time students which could perhaps later on be better handled by the Polytechnic.
(4) I found a great keeness on all sides that the Polytechnic should
be a real investment in the future and my discussions with the Polytechnic Planning Committee and those associated with it were aimed at encouraging imagination and boldness at this planning stage.
COMMENTS ON THE FUTURE STATUS AND ROLE OF THE POLYTECHNIC
(1)
It seems to me that Hong Kong needs a high-level Polytechnic, a prime aim of which is to produce technologists and managers, including a growing number of specialists at middle management level and as technicians of a new order, who are not able to enter the graduate and under-graduate streams of the two Universities. Although the proposed Polytechnic will use as a 'building' base 2 or 3 existing Institutes, it is important now to embrace a bold concept of a high-level Further Education Institution probably of the kind now being created amongst the new Polytechnics in Great Britain where in many cases they have started as a base using the resources of existing colleges.
(2)
(3)
The Polytechnic will need to have a Management and Business Department of some calibre which can have active inter- disciplinary relationships with other Departments. Increasingly technology and the science of management are interwoven with each other and it is important that technologists and technicians. should be enabled to understand some elements of management, such as accounting, general management principles and personnel practices including industrial relations; similarly management specialists will need to have some infusion of technical knowledge e.g. computers. Nevertheless, the Management and Business Department in a small area like Hong Kong will have to have close and clearly defined relationships with the Management Faculties of both Universities and be able to inter-change teaching and research experience when necessary.
It is likely that the Polytechnic will have to deal with a fair number of short courses for up-dating purposes and to impart new techniques to experienced Managers and technologists, not only in management subjects but occasionally in technology.
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