EDUCATION
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The polytechnic has a total of 22 academic units which are organised into divisions and institutes/interdisciplinary units. The Division of Applied Science comprises the Depart- ments of Applied Science, Mathematical Studies, Nautical Studies, and the School of Social Work. The Division of Commerce and Design comprises the Departments of Accountancy, Business and Management Studies, Computing Studies, Institutional Management and Catering Studies, Languages, and the Swire School of Design. The Division of Construc- tion and Land Use comprises the Departments of Building and Surveying, Building Services Engineering, Civil and Structural Engineering, and the Centre of Land and Engineering Surveying. The Division of Engineering comprises the Departments of Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Mechanical and Marine Engineering, Production and Industrial Engineering, and the Industrial Centre. Other units are the Institute of Medical and Health Care, the Institute of Textiles and Clothing, and the Centre of Environmental Studies.
At present, the polytechnic offers full-time, sandwich, part-time day release, part-time evening and mixed-mode programmes of usually one to four years' duration in a variety of technical and commercial subjects. Successful completion of these courses leads to the awards of degree, associateship, professional diploma, higher diploma, diploma, post registration certificate/diploma, endorsement certificate, higher certificate, certificate, certificate of proficiency and other qualifications.
In October 1984, eight degree programmes were offered: Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Computing Studies, Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Electronic Engineering, Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering, Bachelor of Social Work, Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Combined Studies in Mathematics and Science, Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Civil Engineering, Bachelor of Arts in Design, and Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Electrical Engineering.
The Hong Kong Polytechnic will confer degree awards on students who successfully complete the degree programmes. The UK Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA) acts as an adviser to the UPGC in assessing the standard of the degree programmes to be offered by the Hong Kong Polytechnic and ensuring that it is comparable to that of degree courses offered by universities and polytechnics in the United Kingdom. During the year, degree course proposals in other academic fields, such as textile and clothing marketing, manufacturing engineering, and building services engineering, were being prepared for possible inclusion in 1985.
The polytechnic also offers short full-time courses of less than one year's duration, provided to meet recurrent demand, and extension courses organised on an ad hoc and self-supporting basis. These courses do not lead to polytechnic academic awards.
Since 1972, student and staff numbers have increased greatly. At the beginning of the 1984-5 academic year, there were 7 397 full-time, 738 sandwich, 188 mixed-mode, 3413 part-time day release and 12 816 part-time evening students. In July 1984, the staff strength stood at 2 211, comprising 796 teaching, 213 senior administrative and 1 202 technical, clerical and ancillary staff.
Campus development in 1984 saw the completion and fitting out of the new fourth floor extension to the Main Building and its occupation by the Department of Nautical Studies; and also most of the construction of the Phase IIB extension to the Tang Ping Yuan Building which when completed will provide additional teaching and staff accommodation. The polytechnic library offers a comfortable study environment for staff and students with over 1 600 seats provided for readers. The library has an extensive reference collection, a comprehensive standards collection, a large collection of non-print materials and a newspaper clippings collection. The collection has grown to approximately 300 000
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