ENG-1990 — Page 178

EDUCATION

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standard is on a par with those of local and international universities, all the degree courses of the college are academically accredited by the United Kingdom Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA) and with effect from July 1990 by the Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation (HKCAA). External examiners are appointed to all courses to ensure maintenance of academic standards.

The year witnessed the introduction of two new degree courses, namely, BA(Hons) in Humanities and BA(Hons) in Translation. A new option in Human Resources Manage- ment is also added to the existing BBA(Hons) course. Moreover, the Master of Philos- ophy (MPhil) programme by research has been expanded to cover not only the Science areas, but also disciplines in Arts, Business and Social Sciences.

Altogether, there are 10 undergraduate and one postgraduate degree courses offered by the college. These include: BA(Hons) (with majors in Chinese Language and Literature, English Language and Literature, Geography, History, Religious Studies, Sociology); BA(Hons) in Humanities; BA(Hons) in Music; BA(Hons) in Translation; BBA(Hons) (with options in Accountancy, Applied Economics, China Business Studies, Finance, Human Resources Management, Marketing, Office Management); BSc(Hons) in Com- bined Sciences (with majors in Applied Biology, Applied Chemistry, Applied Physics, Mathematical Science); BSc(Hons) in Computing Studies; BSocSc(Hons) in China Studies (with options in Economics, Geography, History, Sociology); BSocSc(Hons) in Communication (with options in Film and Video, Journalism, Public Relations and Advertising); BSW in Social Work, and MPhil by research.

These courses are offered through 21 academic departments grouped under three faculties and one school, namely, the Faculty of Arts (Departments of Chinese Language and Literature, English Language and Literature, Music and Fine Arts, Religion and Philosophy, and Language Centre); Faculty of Science (Departments of Biology, Chem- istry, Computing Studies, Mathematics, Physics); Faculty of Social Sciences (Departments of Communication, Education Studies, Geography, History, Social Work, Sociology), and School of Business (Departments of Accountancy and Law, Economics, Finance and Decision Sciences, Management, Marketing). All undergraduate courses require three years of full-time study, and students are admitted on the results of the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE). There is always a high demand for places, and for 1990-91, there were nine qualified applicants to every place available.

In October 1990, the total full-time student enrolment was 3301, with a breakdown of: Arts 618, Business 930, Science 732, and Social Sciences 1021. This total included 3 191 students enrolled in the undergraduate degree programme, 20 students in the MPhil programme, 23 in the Honours Diploma in Music course which will be phased out by August 1991, and 67 in the special two-year Pre-music course which prepares them to sit for the Advanced Level Examination in music. The academic staff strength stood at 242 and all of them possess higher degrees. Senior academic and administrative staff are recruited through international advertisement.

Apart from the full-time student enrolment, the college also offers 400 cultural, vocational and professional courses to some 40 000 students each year through its School of Continuing Education to meet the needs of people in employment. These courses are mostly part-time and offered in the evening at the campus and off-campus centres.

Research activities continued to grow significantly during the year, with the funding allocated as direct support to research projects reaching $3.85 million, an increase of 13