ENG-1983 — Page 118

EDUCATION

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community interests predominating. It can confer academic, including honorary, awards. With effect from November 1, 1983, the college received substantial government funding through the UPGC to finance post-advanced level courses.

The goal of the college is to enable its students to become well-balanced in academic achievement, professional competence and character development. The three-year post- advanced level courses, leading to honours diplomas, are broad-based with elements of liberal education and professional or vocational training. Students are full time, admitted mainly on the results of the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination. Demand for places is high, and for the 1983-4 academic year the ratio of applicants to places was 6:1.

There are 17 teaching departments grouped under four faculties: the Faculty of Arts (consisting of the departments of Chinese language and literature, English language and literature, and music and fine arts); the Faculty of Business (consisting of the departments of accounting, business management, economics--and secretarial management); the Faculty of Science and Engineering (consisting of the departments of biology, chemistry, civil engineering, mathematics, and physics); and the Faculty of Social Science (consisting of the departments of communication, geography, history, social work, and sociology). In addition, there are three service-teaching units - athletics, computing studies, and religion and philosophy.

The Computing Studies Unit, which was established in 1983, mounted a Computer Literacy Programme for all students and was planning to help students become proficient and effective computer users within their own disciplines. Also during the year, a Language Proficiency Programme in both English and Chinese was launched and an Education Technology Unit was set up to improve learning and teaching at the college.

The student enrolment in the post-advanced level courses at the beginning of the 1983-4 academic year totalled 2042, with a breakdown by faculty of: arts 344, business 574, science and engineering 433, and social science 691. During the year, 373 students graduated. The college helps to meet the growing demand for education by people in employment through its Division of Continuing Education (formerly the Division of Extramural Studies). The division is financially self-supporting and 24 287 students enrolled in 839 courses during the year.

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The enrolment in the Division of Basic Studies, financed by government grants administered through the Education Department, will be reduced to allow further development of the post-advanced level courses which constitute the chief element of the academic programme. At September 1983, student enrolment in the division, which offers a full-time integrated two-year programme leading to the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination or the International Baccalaureate Examination, stood at 757.

Campus development in 1983 included the completion in July of a new eight-storey library building, with construction costs borne by private donations. The library services to students and staff were much enhanced and the holdings expanded to 127 025 volumes. The college actively maintains liaison with the local universities and polytechnic, and some departments provide consultancy services on a limited scale to the Hong Kong community.

Vocational Training

Rapid progress is being made in vocational training in Hong Kong as opportunities are expanded for more people to acquire skills and knowledge in a wide and ever growing range and level of jobs. Providing better and increased opportunities for vocational training is the only effective way to meet the demand for manpower.