ENG-2007 — Page 200

152 Education

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 different origins, missions and the way they have responded to Hong Kong's complex and evolving needs. The UGC is committed to taking a more strategic approach by developing an interlocking yet individually different higher education system, with each institution fulfilling a unique role based on its strengths.

The administration has launched three rounds of matching grant scheme (MGS), each costing $1 billion, since 2003 to broaden the funding sources of the eight UGC-funded institutions and to strengthen their fund-raising capabilities. As a result, the eight UGC-funded institutions have altogether secured additional resources. amounting to $7.7 billion, comprising about $2.9 billion of government matching grants and close to $4.8 billion of private donations.

At present, 14 500 first-year-first-degree places are available in institutions. funded by the UGC, or about 18 per cent of people aged between 17 and 20 in Hong Kong. For the 2007-08 academic year, the UGC-funded institutions provided a total of 1934 senior year undergraduate places for graduates of sub-degree programmes and students with other qualifications. A further 46 per cent in the same age group enjoyed access to post-secondary education through self-financing sub- degree and 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 self-accrediting status and well-established quality assurance mechanisms. The UGC set up in April 2007 a semi-autonomous Quality Assurance Council under its aegis to provide third party assurance of quality. The HKCAAVQ 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 (Secondary 4 to 7) at designated centres saw a total of 1 119 students enrolled in the 2006-07 school year.

The VTC launched in January 2007a pilot, tailor-made education programme, the Certificate in Foundation Studies, for adult learners with low education standards (below Secondary 3), in which 75 students enrolled.

Quality Education Fund

Up to the end of the 2006-07 school year, the Quality Education Fund (QEF) had provided $3.47 billion for the execution of 6 931 projects. The QEF was established