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according to community needs and it has been concluded that the premature adoption of degree awards at the higher levels might tend to inhibit the development of
the institution towards a properly balance structure
which meets the need for diversification in higher
technical education.
III. ECONOMIC ASPECT
14. The economic background to this project is the growing dependence of Hong Kong's economy on technologic- ally-based industries requiring large inputs of manpower with technical education and associated training. Unfortunately, no recent study exists of the demand of Hong Kong's industry for high-level manpower. Recognis-
;
ing the deficiency in information the Folytechnic Flann- ing Committee appointed a number of Advisory Panels, each responsible for assessing how many students should be taught, to what levels, and in what subjects, in a particular area of study. These panels attempted to
obtain first-hand information from industry, the government, and the professions on likely future demand for the types of manpower with which they were concerned. Courses proposed by the Fanels were then graded in des- cending order of priority as:- (a) those now included in the Technical College curriculum which meet an established demand from employers and students alike; (b) those courses not presently taught at HTC but which are justifiable and can be planned and organised with locally available expertise; (c) those courses which are controversial or would require foreign expertise, and which should not be proceeded with until further
information is available.
This ordering of priorities
has been accepted by the Polytechnic authorities.
15.
Procedures for academic planning include a formal process of continual discussion with representatives
of industry, commerce, professional bodies and employers in order to try to ensure that Hong Kong's changing need: are met. A further safeguard is the Polytechnic's commitment supported by the UGC to run
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