12
lines; and the introduction of schemes of assistance for tertiary
education overseas. Note was also taken of the view held by the
Polytechnic that development at this level should reflect the
likelihood that in the 1980s the Hong Kong economic situation would
be characterised by diversification of industry and the development of
new product areas; improved standards of quality and design in the face
of competition for overseas markets; new, more sophisticated manufacturing
techniques; the need for commercial, administrative and marketing skills
of a high order to be made available to industry; and the ability to
respond quickly and effectively to changing market conditions.
Conclusions of Working Group
6.16
The tentative conclusions of the Working Group were that
technical and vocational education should be expanded to meet economic
demand (when established more precisely) and that there should be a
modest expansion of general education to meet the growing social demand
for all forms of tertiary education. The view was also taken that since
an emphasis on technical and vocational education can sometimes result
in the development of "de-humanised" forms of education the curricula
of such courses should include among their objectives the development
in students of attitudes and interests going beyond the mere acquisition
this could be achieved as an integral and of technically-based skills
relevant component of such courses and should not be seen as inimical
to or hindering vocational progress in any way. The Working Group
concluded that the most appropriate areas for further exploration were
those concerned with:
*
(i) degree programmes at the Polytechnic; part-time degree
programmes as proposed in the 1978 White Paper; and the
i