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The following is issued on behalf of the University Grants Committee:
A spokesman for the University Grants Committee (UGC) said today (September 24) that the UGC had set up the Review Group on Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd) in response to the Government's invitation for expert advice on the development blueprint put forward by the HKIEd.
The review group will report to the UGC. It will consider the HKIEd Development Blueprint in the light of the terms of reference given by the Education Bureau (Annex). Its members comprise experienced UGC members and local educators. Professor John Niland, an overseas member of UGC since 2003, will serve as the convenor. Other members include Mr Irving Koo Yee-yin (Deputy Convenor), Mrs Pamela Chan Wong-shui, Dr Robin Cheung Man-biu, Prof Wong Yuk-shan, and Mrs Stella Lau Kun Lai-kuen.
Professor Niland is a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Australia, with considerable experience in overseeing reviews in higher education there and in Asia.
"The excellence of the teaching service is critical to society, and we are conscious that the outcome of our work will bear on future generations of Hong Kong teachers and students. We will approach the review with an open mind, and will study carefully the proposals in the development blueprint. During the process, we will maintain a close dialogue with HKIEd," Professor Niland said.
The Government has asked for advice from the UGC before the end of 2008 and hence the review group and UGC will aim to complete their work before then.
Ends/Monday, September 24, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:18
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