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EDUCATION

and the computerisation of information on Chinese medicinal meterials. The university currently serves as a World Health Organisation Collaborating Research Centre for the study of herbs for fertility regulation, and also as a Commonwealth Science Council Liaison Centre for the cultivation and processing of medicinal plants. The Food Protein Production Research Centre conducts research into intensive aquiculture involving the use of sewage wastes through successive steps in the algae, shrimp, and fish food chain; the production of vegetable crops in sewage sludge; and the cultivation of straw mushrooms using cotton waste and used tea leaves. The Hung On To Research Centre for Machine Translation is engaged in developing a system capable of compiling a Chinese-English glossary.

Six research centres are grouped under the Institute of Social Studies and the Humani- ties. The Economic Research Centre focuses its attention on the economy of Hong Kong and of the West Pacific region. The Centre for Communication Studies continues of focus on communication concepts, patterns and principles in traditional and contemporary Chinese society, while the Social Research Centre conducts research on the Hong Kong society with reference to its social order and social problems. The centre also undertakes studies on China. The Centre for East Asian Studies is committed to research on the historical, cultural, and socio-economic changes and interactions in four areas: Japan and Korea, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and the New Territories, and China in the East Asian context. Since 1980, the centre has undertaken an oral history project, in which local and overseas residents are interviewed on the history of Hong Kong and China. The Public Affairs Research Centre engages in research projects relating to law and state building in China and the relationship between development and administration in Hong Kong. The Geographical Research Centre studies recent developments in the New Territories, environmental perception, ground water and visibility, internal migrations of the rural population of Hong Kong, and the Special Economic Zones in China.

During the 1980–1 academic year, the university was the venue for numerous interna- tional conferences and meetings. A number of these were arranged in conjunction with local organisations and some were co-sponsored by overseas bodies including the Interna- tional Association of Schools of Social Work, the Inter-University Consortium for International Social Development, the International Development Research Centre in Canada, the World Institute for Advanced Phenomenology Research and Learning and the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

Teacher Education

Teacher education, except that for technical teacher training, is provided at the Education Department's three colleges of education - Grantham, Northcote and Sir Robert Black. Since September, 1980, all three colleges have introduced a new three-year full-time course to replace the traditional two-year course. A separately-structured two-year full-time course was also started at Northcote College of Education for students who have obtained Grade E, or above, in two or more subjects in the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination. The three colleges also offer Advanced Courses of Teacher Education, in 10 subject areas, for both trained serving teachers and students who have completed an initial full-time course. Part-time in-service courses are also provided for teachers in secondary schools who seek further professional training. In September, 1981, a two-year, part-time, in-service course of training for kindergarten teachers was introduced at Grantham College of Education, and a two-year, part-time, in-service course of training for teachers of handicapped children was introduced at Sir Robert Black College of Education. In

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