Proportion of Degree Places at Polytechnics
7
Kong the
was
The 30% limit on degree places
at Hong Polytechnic (HKP) was set in 1981, and it reflected Government's view that the Polytechnic's principal role to provide non-degree places. A similar role has since been identified for the City Polytechnic of Hong Kong (CPHK) and the 30% limit also applies. In order to provide an opportunity for balanced development at the Polytechnics, having regard to demand for the various courses they currently provide and taking into account the availability of staff and facilities for degree level work, the UPGC has recommended that the 30% limit should be raised to 40%, to include all professional diploma, first degree and postgraduate places. This will ensure that non-degree courses still constitute the major part of the Polytechnics' academic programmes, while enabling them to make more effective use of resources. As the new limit would present a short-term problem for CPHK where approved courses up to 1991 include degree places for 51% of the planned student population by that date, the UPGC has concluded that it would be disruptive to reduce the proportion to 40% at this stage. It recommended therefore that degree places at CPHK should be frozen at the 1991 total until the growth of its student population permits additional degree places within the new 40% limit. The UPGC, after considering the overall provision of technologists and technicians, has also advised that there should be no change in the 40% limit unless future projections of requirements indicate the need for re-assessment. We accept the UPGC's advice.
Higher Degrees by Research
8
In
July 1986,
having considered memorandum XCC (86) 135, this Council agreed that the HKP should be permitted to register up to 12 candidates annually for the degree of Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) by research. The case for conducting research in all the tertiary institutions is now well recognised. To facilitate
facilitate the registration of research students at the three non-university institutions, it is proposed that the UPGC should have discretion regarding the number of research students to be registered annually at HKP, CPHK and HK BC. As the number involved will be small and will count towards approved student number targets, there will be no additional financial implications.
Projected Growth at City Polytechnic of Hong Kong
9
The original projection for CPHK in the 1991-94 triennium was 8,900 fte students. We
anticipate that this number
number will
will be reached in 1992 when Phase II of
II of the
now