96
EDUCATION
Electronic Engineering, a BEng(Hons) in Manufacturing Engineering, a BEng(Hons) in Mechanical Engineering, a BEng in Building Services Engineering, a BSc(Hons) in Combined Studies in Mathematics and Science, and a Bachelor of Social Work.
At present, the Hong Kong Polytechnic degree programmes are validated by the United Kingdom's Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA). The CNAA acts as an adviser to the University and Polytechnic Grants Committee 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.
Since 1981, the polytechnic has conducted a phased schedule of discontinuing its diploma and certificate level work as corresponding courses are offered in the technical institutes. This phased schedule reflects the polytechnic's move towards a greater proportion of higher level academic work.
The polytechnic also offers short full-time and extension courses. Short full-time courses are of less than one year's duration and are offered on a regular basis to meet recurrent demand. Extension courses are organised on an ad hoc and self-supporting basis at different times during the calendar year as community needs arise. Neither type of course leads to any polytechnic academic award.
In 1985, the polytechnic considered the development of open/distance education conduc- ted wholly or partially ‘off campus' on the basis of written materials and supported by tutorial sessions where appropriate. This form of programme will enable the polytechnic to provide more study opportunities for the community at large.
Since 1972, student and staff numbers have increased greatly. At the beginning of the 1985-6 academic year, there were approximately 7 540 full-time, 1 110 sandwich, 470 mixed-mode, 3310 part-time day release and 12 500 part-time evening students. In addition, 824 students were enrolled on short courses and 7452 on extension courses during the year. In June, the staff strength stood at 2 341, comprising 861 teaching, 235 senior administrative and 1 245 technical, clerical and ancillary staff.
The polytechnic campus has an area of approximately 8.8 hectares and is located in Hung Hom, Kowloon, on a site adjacent to the Cross-Harbour Tunnel. In addition, there is an off-campus Radar and Seamanship Centre and a temporary Dental Technology Building.
Campus development in 1985 saw the completion of the Phase IIB Building which provided additional lecture theatres, as well as general and specialist teaching rooms and staff accommodation. Work has commenced on the provision of a new sports pavilion and outdoor sports facilities on campus and these will be ready for use in 1986.
The polytechnic library offers a comfortable study environment for staff and students, with over 1700 seats for readers. The library has an extensive reference collection, a comprehensive standards collection, a large collection of audio-visual materials, a news- paper clippings collection and slide collection. The collection has grown to approximately 310 000 volumes, which are mainly in the scientific, engineering and business areas. Special facilities are provided for disabled students.
Staff are encouraged to offer their services to commerce and industry as consultants within their fields of expertise, and are also actively engaged in research work of direct relevance to Hong Kong. In response to support from the UPGC, the polytechnic in 1985 formulated a set of institutional policies to provide a more co-ordinated framework for an expanded programme of development of various types of research activities in the polytechnic, including fundamental research, applied research, consultancy, professional