TNAG-0177-FCO40-213-Proposed-Polytechnic-1969 — Page 101

2600224 C.S. 84

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nautical studies (e.g. Master's Certificate)

pharmacy and industrial chemistry

printing technology

textile and wool technology

There is also the need to train teachers in these and other subjects.

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The types of institution which offer vocational courses in those and related subjects, and the levels at which they are taught, vary from country to country, according, for example, to the stage of a country's development and the manner in which its educational system has evolved. In the case of Hong Kong many of the subjects listed in paragraph 7 are already covered in part by higher diploma courses at the Technical College. Hong Kong University offers bachelor degree courses in architecture and in civil, electrical and mechanical engineering; while The Chinese University of Hong Kong offers a bachelor degree course in journalism and a graduate course in business administration. In addition, both Universities have extra-mural departments which offer some related courses.

ANOT

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But, although the two Universities do already contribute to higher vocational education, their main effort is likely to continue to lie in the provision of degree courses in academic disciplines having little vocational content, and, with exceptions, not directly related to the employment needs of industry and commerce. Honourable Members will recall that in November 1968 the University Grants Committee was authorised to proceed with detailed planning on the basis of a total student enrolment in the two Universities of up to 6,000 in 1973/74. While further expansion of the Universities will probably be needed after 1973/74, it is the view of the University Grants Committee that the shortfall of vocationally oriented high level manpower can best be met by building up the output of holders of university degrees.

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The University Grants Committee considers that most of this expansion should take place outside the Universities in non-resident institutions. The Committee envisages the provision of full time. part-time and sandwich courses varying in duration from a few months to several years.

The courses would be conducted at various levels from the equivalent of School Certificate up to the level of a pass degree or professional qualification. The emphasis would be on direct teaching in preparation for entry to specific carcer fields.

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The Scale of Provision

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To sum up thus far, it is considered that there is a need to provide,outside the Universities, considerably expanded facilities for post-secondary vocational education up to the standard of a pass degree or professional qualification with particular reference to the needs of industry and commerce, and also to the requirement for teacher training in vocational subjects. However, there is no ready scientific basis on which to decide the scale of provision of such facilities, nor in the opinion of the University Grants Committee are further manpower surveys likely to provide such a basis. It is therefore necessary to arrive at the optimum scale of provision by other more pragmatic means.

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