XN000022-1993-11-22 — Page 8

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1993

ΤΟ

ON TOP OF THESE, A FURTHER $100 MILLION HAS BEEN ALLOCATED THE OLI TO SET UP A DEVELOPMENT FUND TO COVER THE COST OF DEVELOPING COURSES WHICH MUST ACHIEVE INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED STANDARDS.

MR LEUNG PAID TRIBUTE TO THE STAFF OF THE INSTITUTE FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS WITHIN A SHORT SPAN OF FOUR YEARS: IT NOW HAS A STUDENT ENROLMENT OF 15,000 AS WELL AS FIVE SCHOOLS OFFERING 17 DEGREE PROGRAMMES IN ARTS, SOCIAL SCIENCES,

ADMINISTRATION, AND SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.

BUSINESS

AND SINCE APRIL THIS YEAR, IT HAS ALSO BECOME SELF-FINANCING.

HE OBSERVED THAT THE DEDICATION OF THE OLI TO PRODUCE HIGH QUALITY COURSES OF INTERNATIONALLY COMPARABLE STANDARDS MEAN'T THAT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS MUST BE SPENT TO ACHIEVE, MAINTAIN AND ULTIMATELY TO CONTINUR TO IMPROVE THOSE STANDARDS.

SUCH COURSES ARE INDEED EXPENSIVE то DEVELOP INEVITABLY EXERTS AN UPWARD PRESSURE ON THE FEES.

AND THIS

"NEVERTHELESS, THE OLI MUST BE JUDGED BOTH ON THE QUALITY OF ITS EDUCATION AND ITS ABILITY TO PROVIDE THAT QUALITY AT FEES WHICH THE ORDINARY MAN IN THE STREET CONSIDERS REASONABLE," SAID MR LEUNG.

**THIS IS A CHALLENGE WHICH REQUIRES IMAGINATIVE APPROACHES ΤΟ COST SAVING IN THE PREPARATION AND DELIVERY OF COURSE MATERIAL, AND IN THE ACHIEVEMENT OF ECONOMIES OF SCALE THROUGH EFFECTIVE MARKETING AND ENROLMENT STRATEGIES.

FOR

FOR

ITS

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"GIVEN THE EVER-CHANGING PATTERNS OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND CONTINUING EDUCATION, THIS CHALLENGE WILL BE A PERMANENT FEATURE THE OLI, AS WILL OUR SEARCH FOR MEANINGFUL METHODS OF EVALUATING PERFORMANCE AS A SELF-FINANCING INSTITUTION OF TERTIARY EDUCATION НЕ ADDED.

THE SECRETARY ALSO NOTED THAT ALTHOUGH THE INSTITUTE

AUTONOMY AND FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE, ITS

ACADEMIC ACCOUNTABILITY WAS ASSURED IN A NUMBER OF WAYS:

*

+

ENJOYED PUBLIC

MEMBERS OF THE OLI COUNCIL AND VARIOUS ADVISORY COMMITTEES ARE MADE UP OF EXPERIENCED BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTIVE IN PUBLIC SERVICE, AND SENIOR PUBLIC OFFICERS;

USE

OF ANY CAPITAL GRANTS FROM THE GOVERNMENT IS STRICTLY MONITORED;

THE OLI IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO TABLE ITS ANNUAL AUDITED ACCOUNTS AND REPORT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL; AND

* THE OLI IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT IT'S THREE-YEAR

PLAN TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR ANNUAL APPROVAL.

DEVELOPMENT

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