EDUCATION
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languages, translation, business management and professional development for teachers, social workers and others.
The Education Department provides courses of second chance education for adults at primary and secondary levels, and courses of personal development at post-secondary level. Less formal activities, including hobby and fitness classes, are provided in adult education and recreation centres run by the department. During the year, the government subvented 433 adult education projects organised by 74 voluntary agencies.
The British Council
The aim of the British Council in Hong Kong is to offer British skills and expertise in the key areas of science and technology, the arts and English language teaching and learning, to meet the challenge of the territory's continuing educational and economic development into the next century.
English language teaching is one of the council's major programmes in Hong Kong. Through its general and business English courses, distance learning programmes, summer schools and programmes, and teacher training courses, the English Language Centre provided learning opportunities for nearly 40 000 Hong Kong residents in 1994. In addition, the council arranged for 115 student teachers from the colleges of education to visit the United Kingdom for courses jointly funded with the Education Department.
The council works closely with the government, and higher education and other organisations to provide access to British expertise in areas such as the environment, law, planning, education, medicine, nursing and public administration. It promotes technology transfer through academic and industrial links. In October, the council organised the first joint British Council/UK Department of Trade and Industry seminar on air quality control. A joint programme of research funding with the Hong Kong Research Grants Council supported some 30 projects in 1994, while planning started for a new scholarship scheme, the Chevening Awards, which will be offered at undergraduate, postgraduate and post- experience level.
The council's library and information services are open to all Hong Kong residents and cover all aspects of British life and culture, with an emphasis on English literature and English language teaching. The collections include books, magazines, newspapers, videos, CD-ROM, music on CD and audio tapes. The library facilities are computerised and free for students of the council's English Language Centre. Others are charged a nominal annual subscription.
The Education Counselling Service provides free and impartial advice to students on educational opportunities in Britain. In 1994, 24 000 students used the service. The council organised its fourth British Education Exhibition in February, with 184 exhibitor institutions from the United Kingdom. Over 90 000 people visited the exhibition.
The council plans to open a new Distance Learning Centre in January 1995 to provide potential students in Hong Kong with a reliable and objective source of detailed information about all UK distance learning courses and awarding insitutions. The centre will provide easy access to sample course materials in order to assist candidates to make an informed choice of the course best suited to their qualifications, professional development and career requirements.