XN000022-1989-04-12 — Page 24

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1989

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"FIRSTLY, IT IMPLIES OPEN ACCESS, IN THAT

STUDENTS ARE NOT

REQUIRED то HAVE SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS TO ENROL FOR COURSES," MR BRIDGE SAID.

"SECONDLY, OPEN

METHODS: STUDENTS CAN

CHOOSE THE TIME, PACE AND

LEARNING IS NOT LIMITED IN ITS TEACHING LEARN IN A WIDE VARIETY OF WAYS AND CAN PLACE AT WHICH THEY LEARN.

"THE OPEN LEARNING INSTITUTE OF HONG KONG WILL OFFER PEOPLE IN HONG KONG A WHOLE RANGE OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR TERTIARY EDUCATION TO ADVANCE THEIR CAREERS, LEARN NEW SKILLS OR SIMPLY FOLLOW THEIR OWN INTERESTS,' HE ADDED.

MR

PROGRAMMES, THE

JUDGED BY

BRIDGE NOTED THAT GIVEN OPEN ENTRY TO ITS CREDIBILITY OF THE OLI AS AN ACADEMIC INSTITUTION MUST BE THE STANDARDS ACHIEVED BY ITS STUDENTS ON GRADUATION.

14

DESIGNED

THE OLI WILL ENSURE HIGH STANDARDS THROUGH CAREFULLY TEACHING PACKAGES, STUDENT COUNSELLING AND TUTORIAL SUPPORT, CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT AND FINAL EXAMINATIONS,' "MR BRIDGE SAID.

EXTERNAL EXAMINERS WILL OVERSEE BOTH THE CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT

AND THE FINAL EXAMINATIONS, HE SAID.

MR BRIDGE POINTED OUT THAT AS A FURTHER SAFEGUARD, THE DEGREE LEVEL PROGRAMMES то BE OFFERED BY THE OLI WOULD BE SUBJECT TO INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT TO ENSURE THAT THEY WERE UP TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS.

"THIS TASK WILL BE PERFORMED BY THE HONG KONG COUNCIL FOR ACADEMIC ACCREDITATION WHEN IT IS SET UP, WHICH IS LIKELY TO BE EARLY NEXT YEAR, HE SAID.

IT

"MEANWHILE, THE UNITED KINGDOM COUNCIL FOR NATIONAL ACADEMIC AWARDS WILL BE ASKED TO ADVISE THE OLI ON ACADEMIC STANDARDS.

WILL

OTHER

"ON THE BASIS OF THESE QUALITY ASSURANCES, THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISE DEGREES TO BE AWARDED BY THE OLI AS COMPARABLE то DEGREES AWARDED IN HONG KONG FOR THE PURPOSE OF CIVIL SERVICE APPOINTMENTS, HE ADDED.

MR BRIDGE NOTED THAT AS RECOMMENDED IN THE SECOND REPORT OF THE EDUCATION COMMISSION, THE OLI WOULD OPERATE AS A CONSORTIUM OF THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS FUNDED THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE (UPGC).

"ALL OF THESE INSTITUTIONS HAVE BEEN GIVING THE PLANNING COMMITTEE THEIR FULL SUPPORT OVER THE PAST 15 MONTHS, MR BRIDGE SAID.

++

"THEY HAVE ALSO SAID THAT THEY WILL BE HAPPY TO BECOME MEMBERS OF THE FUTURE CONSORTIUM AND, WHERE APPROPRIATE, TAKE PART IN THE FURTHER PLANNING OF OPEN LEARNING PROGRAMMES, DEVELOPING NEW COURSE MATERIALS AND MAKING AVAILABLE THEIR PHYSICAL FACILITIES, HE ADDED.

It

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