TNAG-1072-FCO40-1322-Policy-of-the-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-education-1981 — Page 74

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3.1

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3.4

Management, too, the programmes of study were described as having both vocational aims and being a preparation for further academic work. Members received an indication of institutions which had accepted students from the Baptist College directly into Master's programmes.

THE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME

The Business Management Programme had a wide range of aims. These were both professional and liberal and the intention was to provide a general education and also to enable students to major in 4 Concentrations: Human Resources & Organisation, Finance, Marketing & Systems Analysis and Quantitative Methods. The programmes were based on the credit system and students were able to choose between a wide range of possible options within those fields of Concentration.

However, when the Members met the staff of the Business Management Department they were very concerned to discover that in fact only a small number of staff were in post and that staff turnover was very high indeed. The result of this was that it was extremely difficult for Members to discuss with the staff the way in which they would present the particular options which were listed in the Concentration. Indeed, it became apparent before very long that the vast majority of the programmes had been written by the Head of Department and that only 2 or 3 other members of staff had had any substantial length of service with the College.

Members experienced real difficulty in trying to assess the level of the courses. A document presented by the Faculty revealed that the level of student intake as measured by 'A' level grades was significantly lower than that of the Polytechnic. Moreover they were quite unable to judge the level at which the syllabuses were taught as, save in one or two cases, there was nobody present able to speak to the courses. Subsequently a substantial list of published courses which were not being taught was presented to Members.

Members gained the impression that there was a major problem in obtaining and retaining staff in the Business Management department. They considered that staff turnover is likely to be a major obstacle to the maintenance of standards in this and other departments in the Faculty and is dependent very largely on the differential salaries which can be earned between the private and the public sector institutions. Members recognised. the commendable commitment of staff to the philosophy of the Baptist College but doubted if with realism this commitment could be relied upon to retain staff on very low salaries.