WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 1987
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UPGC INTERIM REPORT TABLED
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THE PRIME RESPONSIBILITY OF THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE (UPGC) IS TO ENSURE THAT THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR GRADUATES FROM THE TERTIARY SECTOR IS MET WITHOUT ANY DIMINUTION IN STANDARD AND WITH THE TAX-PAYER GETTING VALUE FOR MONEY, THE HON JOHN SWAINE SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
TABLING THE UPGC'S INTERIM REPORT FOR THE PERIOD COVERING JANUARY 1985 TO DECEMBER 1986 AS ITS CHAIRMAN, MR SWAINE POINTED OUT THAT ON PRESENT PLANNING TARGETS THE TOTAL STUDENT POPULATION FOR THE SIX TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS WOULD GROW TO 60 000 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENTS BY THE YEAR 2000.
IN THE YEAR 1986-87, THE TOTAL STUDENT POPULATION WAS 32 300 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENTS, INCLUDING 26 000 FULL-TIME AND 21 400 PART-TIME STUDENTS, HE SAID.
MR SWAINE NOTED THAT THE COST OF TERTIARY EDUCATION RAN HIGH, WITH THE RECURRENT COSTS AMOUNTING TO $1 600 MILLION FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1986.
HE ALSO OBSERVED THAT THERE WAS A NATURAL TREND ON THE PART OF THE NON-UNIVERSITY INSTITUTIONS TO MOVE TOWARDS MORE AND MORE DEGREE WORK AT THE EXPENSE OF SUB-DEGREE COURSES.
+ IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP A BALANCE BETWEEN THESE TYPES OF AWARDS AND ENSURE A SUFFICIENT SUPPLY OF COURSES AT HIGHER CERTIFICATES AND DIPLOMA LEVELS SO AS TO MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS, HE SAID.
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HE ADDED THAT NON-UNIVERSITY INSTITUTIONS ALSO HAD NATURAL ASPIRATIONS TO PROVIDE HIGHER DEGREE WORK AND THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC HAD INTRODUCED ITS FIRST PROGRAMMES FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY BY RESEARCH.
+HERE AGAIN, IT IS NECESSARY TO PROCEED WITH CARE SO AS TO ENSURE THE MAINTENANCE OF STANDARDS, HE SAID.
TURNING TO THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL, MR SWAINE SAID THE MAIN AREA OF CONCREN HAD BEEN THE QUESTION OF THE LENGTH OF COURSE LEADING TO A FIRST DEGREE.
HE POINTED OUT THERE WERE MANY FACETS TO THIS PROBLEM AND THERE WAS NO EASY SOLUTION IN SIGHT.
+ IN THE END, THE ANSWER MUST BE FOUND IN WHAT BEST SERVES THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS AND IN THE BEST ALLOCATION OF PUBLIC RESOURCES TO MEET COMPETING DEMANDS, HE SAID.
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