XN000022-1995-05-17 — Page 78

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University lecturers' lecturing hours

Following is a question by the Hon Emily Lau and a written reply by the Secretary for Education and manpower, Mr Michael Leung in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

It is learnt that a lecturer at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) was assigned to lecture for only two hours throughout the academic year 1994-95, which is a much lower figure than the previous annual average of ten-plus lecturing hours assigned to the lecturer concerned. The HKU Management has, however, given no explanation to the lecturer regarding this arrangement. In connection with this, will the Government inform this Council:

(a)

(b)

(c)

whether any lecturers teaching at the universities funded by the University Grants Committee are known to have been assigned less than five lecturing hours in 1994-95; if so, how many such lecturers there are in each university and what the reasons are;

if the answer to (a) is in the affirmative, whether such arrangements have resulted in a waste of human resources at the universities; and

who is responsible for determining the annual number of lecturing hours for university lecturers and how is it determined; and what channel of appeal is available if individual lecturers wish to raise objections?

Reply:

Mr President,

Academic staff of the University Grants Committee funded institutions are expected, under their terms of employment, to undertake a variety of duties which may include lecturing, taking tutorial/seminar sessions, taking laboratory sessions, supervising research students, supervising field work, supervising term/year research projects, research, administration, service on institutional governing and academic bodies, etc. The mix of such duties may vary from one staff member to another and is normally determined in the first instance by the Department Head in consultation with the staff member concerned.