-3-
aim at an early distribution of posts equally between Chinese and British holders. This should not be too difficult of attainment because this is a field in which Chinese have long been interested, and in which many have had Western training.
Department of History i
Here
In one sense the Department of History will be ancillary to those of English and Chinese Languages and Literatures and of Social Sciences. In another it will have a special task of its own. again we should like to emphasize the importance of maintaining standards of work and training comparable to those characteristic of Honours Schools in the country. The primary object of undergraduate courses must be to train students in the discipline appropriate to historical study. If this is not successfully undertaken the further tasks of the Department will be impossible. In the selection of branches of History to which special attention 18 paid it would be appropriate, and indeed highly desirable, to have regard to the geographical setting of the University. Thus it is su gested that the Frofessor should be concerned with Far Eastern History. Among the other members of the Department there should be one or more whose special concern is in the History of Britain or the British Commonwealth.
Departments of thilosophy, Geography and Mathematics:
و
In the Department of Philosophy in addition to the philosophy of urope, Hindu and Buddhist philosophies would be studied with special reference to their influence on Chinese thought. Geography would obviousl be specialised to some extent along similar regional lines. It is thought that the well-known aptitude of many Chinese students in Mathematics might lead to the early development of an Honours School. In addition this Department would teach the basic mathematics required for statistical applications. The Department would have an important part in the teaching of students in the Faculties of doience and Ɛngin ering.
Fost-Graduate Departments;
16
In recommending the establishment of two specifically pɔat- graduate Departments we are not suggesting that post-graduate Courses should be limited to those provided by them. We have indeed already indicated some of the lines upon which we think that post-graduate work would be particularly desirable in the Departments which we have already instanced. The two specifically post-graduate Departments to which we wish to refer are those of Education and Social Studies.
"
The Department of Education for the time being, can, perhaps, bes be organised within the Faculty of Arts. Its function would be to train graduates of the University for work in Hong Kong; schools in the increasing numbers for which there is demand, and also graduates of Chinese Universities for work in secondary schools in China. It has been brought to our notice that the Chinese Ministry of Education is concerned that nlish should be well taught in the schools in its charge. It is a reasonable hope that chinese graduates would not only be trained in English phonetion and in a modern approach to language teaching, but would gain that appreciation of English ideas and habita of thought that would give vitality to their teaching. It will be for the Senate to consider whether the normal one y bar course for a Diploma ought not to be lengthened to two years for graduates who desire and an give the time to widen their knowledge of English literature and thought.
12
The training for other aahool subjects will of necessity depend for its effectiveness upon the aid and stimulus that will come from auch members of the Departments in the Faculties of Arts and Science a have an alert interest in teaching method in their own subjects. 13 The other post-graduate Department proposed is one in Social atudies Hong Kong graduates in Social Science would be admirably prepared for this, but it should not be confined to them.
The groups
/of