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As with other UGC-funded institutions, the UGC has requested the HKUST to submit a progress report on the implementation of measures to address the areas for improvement identified in the TLQPR report in two years' time.

(b) Under section 15 of the HKUST Ordinance (Cap.1141), the Senate, which includes the Deans and Heads of all academic departments, is the supreme academic body of the University. Its duties include, among other things, -

(c)

(i)

(ii)

planning, developing and reviewing academic programmes; and

directing and regulating the teaching and research conducted in the University.

The supervision of curriculum design and of the quality of teaching thus fall within the responsibilities of the Senate. Under the Statutes of the HKUST, which are made under the HKUST Ordinance, the Senate is required to make recommendations to the Council on the academic aspects of any matters affecting the University and to report to the Council on academic matters referred to the Senate by the Council. The Standing Committee of the Council also receives regular reports from the President on the affairs of the University, these being mostly concerned with academic matters.

Every UGC-funded institution has its own governance structure. It includes a Council - the supreme governing and executive body, and a Senate - a body to regulate academic matters. The Councils of all UGC- funded institutions are empowered by law to exercise the powers and perform the duties of the institutions. Depending on the specific provision under respective Ordinances, the Council scrutinises the annual budget, manages and controls the affairs, purposes and functions of the institutions and reviews the instruction and teaching of the University. In this instance, the Councils are empowered to examine the TLQPR reports of the institutions and advise on measures to address areas for improvements identified in the reports. We consider that the existing Ordinances of the institutions have provided sufficient powers for their respective Councils to exercise their monitoring and supervisory functions. We do not see a need to review the statutory functions of the Councils of the institutions in this regard.