ENG-1995 — Page 193

EDUCATION

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department also subvented adult education programmes organised by voluntary agencies.

The British Council

The aim of the British Council in Hong Kong is to offer British skills and expertise in the key areas of science and technology, education, training, the arts and English language teaching and learning, to assist Hong Kong's continuing educational and economic development into the next century.

English language teaching is one of the council's major programmes in Hong Kong. It collaborates increasingly with the Education Department, the HKIEd and bodies such as the Language Fund, to improve standards of English teaching and learning in the territory. Through its general and business English courses, intensive summer programmes for Chinese-medium S6 and S7 students, distance-learning programmes, summer schools and teacher training courses, the English Language Centre provided English language-learning opportunities for more than 40 000 Hong Kong residents in 1994–95. The council also arranged for 111 student teachers to visit the UK for courses jointly funded by the HKIED.

The council works closely with the government, higher education and other organisations to provide access to British expertise in areas such as the environment, law, planning, education, medicine, nursing, and public administration. In November 1995, the council will organise a major seminar and exhibition on management training funded by the UK Government. A programme of research jointly funded with the Hong Kong Research Grants Council supported some 30 joint projects in 1995. British Studies modules are to be presented to nascent Centres for European Studies at the University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Baptist University, and a series of electronic mail links will be established between schools in the UK and schools in Hong Kong.

The council's library and information services are open to all Hong Kong residents and cover aspects of contemporary British life and culture, with an emphasis on management skills and English-language teaching. The collections include books, magazines, newspapers, videos, CD-ROM, music on CD and audio tapes. The library facilities are computerised and free to students of the Council's English Language Centre. Others are charged a nominal annual subscription.

The Education Counselling Service provides free and impartial advice to students on educational opportunities available in Britain. In 1994–95, nearly 30 000 students used the service, which also organises regular exhibitions, seminars and interviews so that students can learn first-hand about studying in Britain.

The council opened a Distance Learning Centre in January 1995 to provide potential students in Hong Kong with a reliable and objective source of detailed information about UK courses and awarding institutions. It provides easy access to sample course materials in order to help candidates make an informed choice of the course best suited to their qualifications, professional development and career requirements.

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