ENG-1973 — Page 114

62

EDUCATION

The Polytechnic offers three-year full-time courses leading to the higher diploma, two-year full-time courses leading to the technician or ordinary diploma, and one- year full-time courses leading to certificates. Part-time day-release and sandwich courses of various durations, and numerous part-time evening courses leading to the higher, ordinary or technician certificates or other qualifications in a wide range of technical and commercial subjects at professional and technician levels are also offered.

To satisfy the minimum entrance requirements to full-time courses, candidates are expected to have gained the Hong Kong Certificate of Education or an equivalent qualification. They must also satisfy any additional requirements for admission into the particular courses for which they apply.

A number of British professional institutions have granted exemptions from certain parts of their examinations to holders of Polytechnic higher diplomas. A major academic development during the year was the introduction of a one-year full-time course at the post-higher diploma level leading to the award of the Associate- ship of the Hong Kong Polytechnic, AP(HK). Five associateship courses are offered in 1973-4 in electrical, electronic, mechanical, production and structural engineering.

Short full-time and part-time courses preparing candidates for professional examinations are organised throughout the year. These include qualifications approved by the British Department of Trade and Industry for marine engineers and mates and masters. Whenever there is a need for instruction in specific subjects of current interest to local commerce and industry or to a sufficient number of individuals, the Polytechnic tries to offer short courses to meet the demand. Those in the fields of accountancy, building technology, radar operation and textile studies have proved particularly popular during the year.

Morrison Hill Technical Institute

ご

The Morrison Hill Technical Institute, established in September 1969, now consists of seven departments: commercial studies (previously known as business studies), construction, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, preliminary and general studies, and printing, as well as technical teacher and workshop instructor training. It operates craft and lower technician level courses on a full-time, block- release, part-time day-release, and part-time evening basis. Short courses in specialised technical-commercial subjects are also provided. During the 1972-3 session, a total of 92 courses were provided. Of the 12,800 students enrolled in these courses, 82 per cent attended courses with entry requirements of below Form V level, while the remaining 18 per cent attended post-secondary courses with entry requirements of at least completion of Form V or its equivalent.

As a large number of students attended on a part-time evening basis, the institute made use of 17 external evening centres on both sides of the harbour, including the New Territories, to provide part-time evening courses for more than 9,500 students.

The institute maintains close links with industry, commerce and the apprentice- ship training unit of the Labour Department to gauge local manpower requirements