ENG-2010 — Page 192

146 Education

funded Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) and the self-financing the Open University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Chu Hai College of Higher Education and Hang Seng Management College. Together with providers offering locally-accredited sub-degree progammes, there are 22 post-secondary institutions in Hong Kong.

The overall post-secondary participation rate for the 17 to 20 age group has increased to over 60 per cent, more than double the level of about 30 per cent a decade ago. At the degree level, there were around 14 800 first-year-first-degree places in institutions funded by the UGC and the HKAPA in the 2010-11 school year. The same age group also enjoyed access to around 3 500 places in self-financing degree programmes. In addition, the UGC-funded institutions and the self-financing degree-awarding institutions provided around 2 000 senior year undergraduate places and 3 000 top-up degree places respectively for graduates of sub-degree programmes and students with other qualifications. Overall, around 27 per cent of the relevant age cohort enjoyed access to local degree-level education.

At the sub-degree level, there were around 26 700 self-financing intake places. These were in addition to some 8 700 publicly-funded intake places for sub-degree level courses offered by the City University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Hong Kong Institute of Education, the VTC and the HKAPA.

The UGC is a non-statutory advisory body appointed by the Chief Executive to advise the Government on the development and funding of higher education and to administer public grants to the eight higher education institutions. It also plays a major role in quality assurance and in promoting research. The committee comprises local and non-local academics, professionals and community leaders.

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.

The eight UGC-funded institutions have distinctive and complementary roles that reflect their different origins, missions and the way they have responded to Hong Kong's 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.

Locally awarded degrees up to doctoral level 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. In April 2007, the UGC set up a semi-autonomous Quality Assurance Council under its aegis to provide third-party assurance of quality. The Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) validates courses and programmes offered by higher education institutions that are not self-accrediting.