TNAG-2078-FCO40-2958-Hong-Kong-culture-1990 — Page 105

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thereby facilitating access for the research teams to further funds to develop their projects. Initially most institutions in Hong Kong can find some research funds from their own resources.

There is great scope here for internationalisation. Tripartite links involving British, European and Hong Kong institutions might find access to EC and industrial funds more easily. A further possibility is the development of the scheme to involve tripartite links with the PRC. The British Council already has a substantial links programme in China.

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The proposal met with almost universal approval in Hong Kong. understand matching funding may

be available from the Research Grants Council which is soon to be established in Hong Kong and which could also act as the local selection board.

The scheme needs development and adaptations to suit the needs of Hong Kong, but the team feel that it represents а great opportunity for both Hong Kong and British institutions to expand their international collaboration in research in an exciting and fruitful way.

For this scheme the British Council is looking for full matching funding from Hong Kong to ensure maximum pound-stretching and value for money. Financial support from the matching funding will cover travel and subsistence.

We noted a number of potential candidates for this scheme who are benefitting under the current academic links programme. In order to demonstrate commitment, we recommend that the British Council Hong Kong take immediate steps to see if some of them can be supported under this scheme this financial year, before the formal launch date we propose for April 1991.

4.4 STUDENT EXCHANGE SCHEME

The intention is to develop a scheme loosely analogous to ERASMUS in Europe. Undergraduate students in the second year of a three year degree, or the third of a four year degree, will spend a year away in Hong Kong or Britain as а full part of their degree programme. (The scheme could work with undergraduate/postgraduate 'exchange.) It is crucial that, as with ERASMUS, the period spent overseas is not an add-on, but counts towards their degree. An option to be considered is that the student might spend part or all of the time in industry or business instead of a university or polytechnic, although such time would need to have academic supervision.

For

There are obvious problems, such as housing, accreditation and possibly language, but nearly everyone we spoke to was enthusiastic, and felt that the problems could be overcome. example, many UK institutions send external examiners to Hong Kong, or know Hong Kong institutions well through link visits or other associations. It should not be too difficult in these cases to arrive at agreed credit transfer arrangements. Industrialists we spoke to were confident that accommodation problems could be

overcome.

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