Chapter 9: Higher Education

At present, 14 500 places are available in institutions funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC) for first-year first-degree courses, which aims to cover about 18 per cent of the 17-20 age group. On top of this, about a further 20 per cent of the same age group have access to higher education in other forms (for example, sub-degree programmes and vocational training) or go to universities overseas. To enhance the global outlook of local students, the institutions are encouraged to enrol non-local undergraduates and taught postgraduates, up to 4 per cent of their approved targets. Furthermore, they are allowed to recruit non-local research postgraduates up to one-third of the total numbers. Degrees up to doctorate level awarded locally are widely recognised by institutions of higher learning around the world. Academic standards are guaranteed by the institutions' appointment of external examiners from prominent overseas universities and colleges. The Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation validates courses and programmes offered by the Hong Kong Institute of Education and some other non-UGC-funded institutions that are not self-accrediting.

Apart from publicly funded higher education places, tertiary institutions have also offered self-financing programmes at the sub-degree level. In 2001, about 7 000 places are provided for Form 5 and Form 7 graduates. The planning target is that about 60 per cent of the 17-20 age group will have access to higher education by 2010-11.

Hong Kong has 11 degree-awarding higher education institutions, eight of which are funded through the UGC. Seven of the eight are universities and the remaining one is a teacher education institution. Three other degree-awarding tertiary institutions are not funded by the UGC. They are the publicly funded Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) and the self-financing Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK) and Hong Kong Shue Yan College (HKSYC).

The eight higher educational institutions funded through the UGC are:

(a) City University of Hong Kong (CityU);

(b) Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU);

(d) The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK);

(e) The Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd);

(f) The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU);

(g) The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST); and

(h) The University of Hong Kong (HKU).

Each institution is an autonomous statutory body with its own ordinance and governing body. They are free to manage their own affairs within the parameters of the law. As they are largely supported by government funds, and because of the social, cultural and economic importance of higher education, the Government and the public at large have a legitimate interest in the operation of the institutions to ensure that they are providing higher education in a cost-effective manner and are serving the needs of the community. The UGC advises the Government on the development of these institutions and on their financial needs. The eight institutions 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. The UGC's aim is to develop a system of higher education that has an appropriate balance between programmes at different levels and in different areas through teaching, research and other means. (A more detailed description of the role and functions of the UGC is given later in this chapter).

CityU, established in 1984 first as the City Polytechnic of Hong Kong, was granted university status in 1994. CityU offers over 100 programmes at postgraduate, undergraduate and associate degree levels. These programmes are run by the three faculties (Business, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Science and Engineering), the School of Law, the School of Creative Media, the College of Higher Vocational Studies and the School of Continuing and Professional Education.

HKBU was founded by the Baptist Convention of Hong Kong in 1956 as the Hong Kong Baptist College. In 1983, it was incorporated through legislation as a tertiary institution capable of offering degree programmes, and became fully government-funded. It became the third tertiary institution in Hong Kong to operate fully at the degree level in 1989 and attained formal university title and status in 1994. HKBU offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes through its six faculties/schools of arts, business, Chinese medicine, communication, science and social sciences.

LU was founded in 1967 as the Lingnan College, a private college to continue the fine traditions of the former Lingnan University in Guangzhou. It became a publicly funded post-secondary college in 1979 and was upgraded to a degree-awarding institution in 1992. In 1999, Lingnan College was retitled Lingnan University on commencement of its new ordinance. It offers six degree programmes in Chinese, cultural studies, contemporary English studies, translation, business administration and social sciences, and 14 Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy programmes.

CUHK was established in 1963 by amalgamating New Asia College (founded in 1949), Chung Chi College (founded in 1951) and United College (founded in 1956). The fourth constituent college, Shaw College, was set up in 1986. As a comprehensive university, CUHK has seven faculties: the Faculties of Arts, Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Medicine, Science and Social Science which offer a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes including such professional disciplines as accountancy, architecture, Chinese medicine, hotel management, journalism and communications, nursing, pharmacy, public health and social work.

HKIEd was established in September 1994 by merging the four former Colleges of Education and the Institute of Language in Education. Since its establishment, the HKIEd has provided pre-service and in-service sub-degree teacher education courses targeted at teachers from pre-primary to secondary levels. It came under the aegis of the UGC in 1996. Starting from the 1998-99 academic year, it also offers degree and postgraduate programmes in education.

PolyU, established in 1972 as the then Hong Kong Polytechnic, attained full university status in 1994. It offers postgraduate, degree and sub-degree programmes under different modes of attendance in 29 academic departments and centres grouped under six faculties: Applied Science and Textiles, Business and Information Systems, Communication, Construction and Land Use, Engineering, and Health and Social Sciences.

Officially opened in 1991, HKUST is a research university emphasising science, technology, business and management. Its Schools of Science, Engineering and Business and Management offer bachelor, master and doctoral degree programmes while its School of Humanities and Social Science offers postgraduate programmes and provides general education for all undergraduates.

HKU is Hong Kong's oldest university. It was founded in 1911, continuing the work of the then College of Medicine which was established in 1887. It has developed into a full-scale comprehensive university, with 10 faculties/schools: Architecture, Arts, Business and Economics, Dentistry, Education, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Science and Social Sciences. HKU also puts much emphasis on research activities. It has established a Graduate School to co-ordinate research studies among faculties and to ensure quality in research education.

With a view to promoting lifelong learning, the eight UGC-funded institutions have also set up continuing and professional education units. They offer award-bearing and professional programmes, as well as short courses, on a self-financing basis.

The student enrolment, in full-time equivalent (fte) terms of the eight institutions in the 2000-01 academic year was:

The Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK), established in 1989 as the Open Learning Institute of Hong Kong, makes higher education available to all adults through a system of open access and distance education. It was granted self-accrediting status in 1996 and then university status in 1997. Since 1993-94, OUHK has become self-financing. In 2001-02, more than 26 000 students enrolled in the 65 degree and postgraduate programmes and 38 sub-degree programmes in four schools: Arts and Social Sciences, Business and Administration, Education and Languages, and Science and Technology, and its Li Ka Shing Institute of Professional and Continuing Education (LiPACE). The latter also offers around 400 short courses and professional courses for more than 15 000 students for vocational training and knowledge enhancement. Starting from 2001-02, OUHK also offers full-time Associate Degree programmes.

Hong Kong has two approved Post Secondary Colleges registered under the Post Secondary Colleges Ordinance (Cap. 320). They are:

(a) Hong Kong Shue Yan College; and

(b) Caritas Francis Hsu College.

Established in 1971, Hong Kong Shue Yan College is a private post-secondary college and it became a degree-awarding institution in 2001. It offers various programmes for 2 700 full-time students: Honours Degree programmes in Accounting, Chinese Language and Literature, and Journalism and Mass Communication; and Honours Diploma programmes in Business Administration, Counselling and Psychology, Economics, English Language and Literature, History, Sociology and Social Work. In addition, it runs joint programmes in collaboration with non-local universities.

Caritas Francis Hsu College was established in 1985 and upgraded to an approved post-secondary college in August 2001 after going through accreditation by the Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation. In 2001-02, about 1 480 full-time students enrolled in its four Higher Diploma programmes in Accounting Studies, Company Secretaryship and Administration, Computing Studies and Translation and Interpretation.