ENG-1987 — Page 151

EDUCATION

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academics drawn from each of the tertiary institutions in Hong Kong, and five lay members. Its remit includes understudying and participating in the Council for National Academic Awards' validations of proposed degree courses at the non-university institu- tions in Hong Kong, and the presentation of a progress report to the government before the Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation is established as an independent body. The Provisional Council will ensure that the local body will be both able to maintain the continued internationally recognised academic standards of these degree awards, and take full academic and administrative responsibility for the entire future programme of validation and revalidation exercises in Hong Kong.

Open Education

A Planning Committee is to be set up in January 1988, for the Open Learning Institute of Hong Kong. The Open Learning Institute is being set up to offer a comprehensive range of open education courses, from sub-degree to second degree level. It will provide a second chance for those who have been unable to go on to further education after leaving school, as well as opportunities for workers and managers to up-date their qualifications and skills and for personal development.

The Planning Committee for the institute includes prominent local people with experi- ence of the needs of commerce and industry, as well as distinguished academics both from Hong Kong and overseas. The committee's terms of reference require it to recommend the appointment of the first chief executive of the institute, to draw up a detailed implementa- tion plan, to advise, in consultation with the UPGC, on the future relationship between the institute's own programme and the extra-mural or part-time courses of other institutions and to conduct surveys of demand and need.

The committee hopes to complete these tasks in time for the first students to be admitted to the institute in late 1989.

Student Finance

Full-time students attending the local tertiary institutions are eligible for grants to cover their faculty expenses, tuition fees and student union fees, together with loans to meet their living expenses. This scheme is administered by the Secretariat of the University and Polytechnic Grants Committee. Loans granted from the 1987-8 academic year are subject to an interest charge of 2.5 per cent per annum, which will commence to accrue upon the student's graduation. During the year 7 033 students received grants totalling $32.7 million and 8 556 students received loans totalling $72.9 million.

Also administered by the Secretariat of the UPGC is a joint-funding arrangement between the United Kingdom and Hong Kong governments, under the terms of which grants are made to full-time students from Hong Kong attending first degree or Higher National Diploma courses in the United Kingdom, to meet the difference between home and overseas tuition fees. However, if the total requirement exceeds the joint contribution of the two governments, then each applicant's grant will be proportionately reduced, with the balance made up by an interest-free loan, offered solely by the Hong Kong Govern- ment. During the year, grants totalling £4 million and loans totalling $2.5 million were paid to 120 institutions on behalf of 1 476 students.

Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund

In December 1986, following the sudden death of the Governor, Sir Edward Youde, the government decided to set up the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund, to centralise the