ENG-2006 — Page 186

154 Education

Role-related Funding Scheme, the Research Assessment Exercise and the Areas of Excellence Scheme.

Each of the eight higher education institutions funded through the UGC is an autonomous statutory body with its own ordinance and governing body. They enjoy a high degree of academic and institutional autonomy, and are free to manage their own affairs within the parameters of the law. Seven of the eight institutions are universities and the remaining one is a teacher education institution. All have distinctive and complementary roles that reflect their varying origins, missions and the way they have responded to Hong Kong's complex and evolving needs. Following a review of the higher education sector, the UGC is now taking a more strategic approach by developing an interlocking yet individually different system. The entire sector is now viewed as one for both the region and the world, with each institution fulfilling a unique role based on its strengths.

The administration introduced three rounds of matching grant schemes costing $1 billion each in 2003, 2005 and 2006 respectively to broaden the funding sources of the eight UGC-funded institutions and strengthen their fund-raising capabilities. The $1 billion matching grant was allocated fully in the first scheme, which ended in 2004, and the institutions secured a total of more than $1.3 billion in private donations. The second scheme was completed in early 2006, raising $1.9 billion in private donations, and the $1 billion matching grant was also fully allocated. About $1.6 billion in private donations were secured by the institutions upon completion of the third scheme in mid-March 2007, and about $0.9 billion of matching grant was allocated.

At present, 14 500 first-year-first-degree places are available in institutions funded by the UGC, equivalent to about 18 per cent of students between the ages of 17 and 20. For the 2005-06 academic year, the UGC-funded institutions provided an additional 840 senior year undergraduate places for graduates of sub-degree programmes and people with other qualifications. A further 46 per cent in the same age group were given access to other local or overseas higher education opportunities such as sub-degree programmes and overseas university programmes. The overall post-secondary participation rate for the 17 to 20 age group increased from 33 per cent in the 2000-01 academic year to over 60 per cent in the 2006-07 academic year.

Degrees, up to doctoral level, awarded locally are widely recognised by institutions of higher learning around the world. All UGC-funded institutions have well-established quality assurance mechanisms and the academic standards of their programmes are guaranteed by, among other things, the institutions' appointment of external examiners from prominent overseas universities and colleges. The HKCAA validates courses and programmes offered by higher education institutions that are not self-accrediting.

Adult Education

The Financial Assistance Scheme for Designated Evening Adult Education Courses introduced for adult learners attending evening senior secondary courses