XN000022-1987-08-06 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 1987

ENSURE THAT

"THE PROVISIONAL HKCAA WILL

WHEN THE STATUTORY BODY IS ESTABLISHED, IT WILL BE CAPABLE OF UNDERTAKING FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE VALIDATION PROGRAMME THEREAFTER, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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"IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE PROVISIONAL HKCAA HAS AS MUCH THE TIME AS IT NEEDS TO UNDERSTUDY THE CNAA AND TO GAIN EXPERIENCE TO FULLEST EXTENT POSSIBLE IN THE CONDUCT OF ACADEMIC ACCREDITATION, NO TARGET DATE HAS BEEN SET FOR THE FORMAL ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HKCAA. THIS WILL BE DETERMINED IN THE LIGHT OF A PROGRESS REPORT BY THE PROVISIONAL HKCAA, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

HE POINTED OUT THAT HECAA AS AN INDEPENDENT STATUTORY BODY WOULD DERIVE ITS INCOME FROM VALIDATION FEES WHICH SHOULD MEET THE COST OF RUNNING THE COUNCIL AND ITS SECRETARIAT. IF NECESSARY, THE GOVERNMENT WILL ALSO PROVIDE AN ANNUAL DISCRETIONARY GRANT, ΤΟ MEET ANY BALANCE OF THE COST OF RUNNING THE HKCAA.

"BEFORE HKCAA IS FULLY OPERATIONAL AND CAPABLE OF UNDERTAKING THE FULL PROGRAMME OF VALIDATIONS WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF THE CNAA, THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO MEET THE OPERATIONAL COSTS OF THE PROVISIONAL HKCAA, HE ADDED.

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THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT ALTHOUGH NO RADICAL CHANGE IN THE METHODOLOGY OF EXTERNAL COURSE VALIDATION WAS ENVISAGED IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE UNDER THE HKCAA, CHANGES IN THE EMPHASIS ON THE PART OF VALIDATION TEAMS, AND TO SOME OF THE PROCEDURES BY WHICH THE COURSE VALIDATION HAD OPERATED, WOULD BE MADE IN THE INTERESTS OF GREATER EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY.

"IT IS INTENDED, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT COURSE VALIDATION TEAMS WILL FOCUS MORE UPON COURSE DELIVERY AND THE INSTITUTIONS' ABILITY TO ESTABLISH AND MONITOR THEIR OWN ACADEMIC STANDARDS, AS WELL AS DETAILS OF COURSE CONTENT AND DESIGN. THESE DEVELOPMENTS REFLECT A WORLD-WIDE TREND IN THE METHODS BY WHICH PUBLIC ASSURANCE OF THE MAINTENANCE OF INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED DEGREE STANDARDS IS ACHIEVED BY WAY OF EXTERNAL PEER REVIEW," HE SAID.

THE

"IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE HKCAA WILL ENSURE THE MAINTENANCE OF HIGHEST STANDARDS AND QUALITY OF DEGREES AT THE LOCAL NON-UNIVERSITY INSTITUTIONS AND, WITHOUT SACRIFICING QUALITY, WILL HELP DEVELOP GREATER SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN HONG KONG'S HIGHER EDUCATION, AND SERVE THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL NEEDS OF HONG KONG, THE SAID.

SPOKESMAN

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