MEMORANDUM
BY
Professor ERNEST HENRY STARLING
Fellow of the Royal Society
Doctor of Medicine of the University of London
Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London Jodrell Professor of Physiology and a Member of the Senate of the University of London.
In drawing up the Statutes for the University of Hongkong, the Authorities have wisely adopted a constitution similar to that which has been found to possess the necessary elasticity and powers of growth nud adaptation to changing conditions in the newer English Universities; and which has been recommended in London by the Academic Council to the Royal Commission now sitting, for adoption in the University of London itself.
According to this type of constitution, the Government of the University, theoretically in the hands of a large Court, is actually entrusted to a small Council, to which all the powers of the Court are delegated, and which consists chiefly of administrators and men of experience in the conduct of affairs, with a ninority formed by representatives of the teachers themselves.
(In most cases these latter are barred from sitting on the Finance Committee of the Council.)
In all Academic matters, the Council is guided by the advice of the expert body of Professors, the Senatus Academicus, or Senate, which thus really determines all matters affecting curricula and examinations, and makes recommendations as to the needs of depart. ments and necessary developments and changes without regarding too closely the financial aspect of any of their proposals.
The Vice-Chancellor is at the same time the administrative head of the University and the president of the professorial body-he is thus the connecting link between the academic and the administrative sides of the University,
In the opinion of the writer, the enforced presence at the Senate meetings of another person, such as the Director of Education, who is not a member of the teaching staff of the University, might seriously interfere with the freedom of deliberation of this body, and impair the value of its recommendations to the Council.
Such an official should properly be consulted on all matters affecting the education of studeuts previous to their admission to the University. He might therefore be a member of any Standing committee dealing with Matriculation or School-leaving examinations, or the inspection of schools. In purely University matters he is not qualified to pose as a member of the professorial body, and I am of opinion that his presence on the Senate might be a hindrance not only to the proper functions of this body, but also to his own work in the oversight of the Primary and Secondary education of the Colony.
On the other hand, as a Government official connected with educational matters, he is a proper person to act as one of the Government representatives on the Court of the University and even on the Executive body--the Conncil.
It must be remembered, however, that on matters affecting higher education, the only body capable of advising the Government is the University itself, ie, the Council acting in Academic matters on the recommendations of the Senate.
Hongkong, April 4th, 1911.
ERNEST H. STARLING.
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