Future of Self-financed Sub-degrees in Hong Kong

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1 Joint Quality Review Committee Fifth Anniversary cum QEG Project Symposium Sub-degree Programmes & The New 334 Academic Structure Future of Self-financed Sub-degrees in Hong Kong Moses M C Cheng Chairman, Education Commission Senior Partner, P C Woo & Co.

2 In the fast changing world of the 21 st Century, we need to nurture our students with all-round development and life-long learning capabilities to help them meet the challenges ahead.

3 Education Commission Reform Proposal for the Education System in Hong Kong September, 2000 Education enables individuals to develop their potentials, construct knowledge and enhance personal quality Education is not only preparing qualified personnel for the society, it has a more far-reaching mission of giving everyone, regardless of social origin or family background, equitable opportunities for personal advancement No one is deprived of such opportunities for selfdevelopment and success, if only he has the ability and determination to fully exploit the learning opportunities.

4 Student life-long learning all-round development Focal point of the Reform

5 Goal Basic Education to ensure that every student attain the basic competencies, while those with greater potentials be allowed to further excel Senior Secondary & post secondary a diversified and multichannel education system will be introduced to provide more opportunities and choices

6 Multiple Exits Choice Re- entries

7 More than a decade later the reform initiatives are progressively and smoothly implemented, and students are provided multiple pathways, amongst which, the postsecondary sector offers our youngsters quality and diversified choices

8 Self-financed Sub-degrees in Hong Kong A two-pronged strategy is adopted in promoting the parallel development of publicly-funded and selffinancing post-secondary sectors. For the publicly-funded sector, it is proposed to double the number of University Grants Committeefunded senior year undergraduate places to per annum (i.e. around intakes) by phases starting from the 2012/13 academic year. This will provide meritorious sub-degree graduates with more opportunities for articulation to the last two years of an undergraduate programme under the New Academic Structure

9 The Initiative foster a flexible, diversified and multiple-entry multiple-exit education framework with greater interflow between the selffinancing and publicly-funded sectors, and between the sub-degree and degree sectors.

10 The Land Grant Scheme provides land at nominal premium for the construction of purpose-built premises. Since its launch in 2002, eight sites have been granted. Support Measures from Government The Start-up Loan Scheme was launched in 2001 with a total commitment of $7 billion. It provides loans for the development of new college premises and reprovision existing premises; and The three-year Quality Enhancement Grant Scheme, which supports projects / initiatives dedicated to enhancing the quality of teaching and learning, was launched in 2008 with a nonrecurrent commitment of $100 million As proposed by the Chief Executive in his Policy Address, a Selffinancing Post-secondary Education Fund with a total commitment of $2.5 billion for the development of self-financing post-secondary education will be set up in the second half of this year. The Fund will provide further support to selffinancing institutions on quality enhancement and quality assurance activities. The initiative will also provide scholarships to outstanding students in the self-financing postsecondary sector.

11 Diversity of Selffinancing programme Apart from 340 degree programmes offered by 15 local tertiary institutions, various local post-secondary institutions also run around 500 subdegree programmes covering different professional disciplines. there are also a wide variety of continuing education and vocational training programmes. Youngsters can choose the pathway that best suits their abilities and aspirations and develop their potential to the full. These programmes not only provide more choices and opportunities to students, many of them also closely match the need for the economic development in Hong Kong.

12 Financial Assistance to students It is the Government s policy that no eligible students will be denied access to post-secondary education because of lack of means. As for the post-secondary sector, various financial assistance schemes have been set up under the Student Financial Assistance Agency. The Financial Assistance Schemes for Post-secondary Students provides needy students pursuing full-time locallyaccredited self-financing post-secondary programmes means-tested financial assistance in the form of grant and/or loan to help them meet their tuition fees, academic expenses and living costs.

13 2001/ /

14 Looking Ahead

15 The Future : Promising The demand is great and the market is growing

16 Challenges High Costs Land ( land policy) Support from other government sectors Committed staff Parents prejudice Support from community

17 Conclusion For over ten years, we have, through the implementation of the recommendations of the Education Reform, put in place progressively a diversified and sustainable system of education which provides more choices and opportunities, lays emphasis on quality and encourages life-long learning. With the concerted efforts of the government, the post-secondary sector and various stakeholders, I am confident that self-financing sub-degree programmes will continue to play an important role in offering quality and diversified study pathways for our young generation

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