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LCQ18: Non-local students enrolled in UGC-funded institutions
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     Following is a question by the Hon Ip Kin-yuen and a written reply by the Secretary for Education, Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim, in the Legislative Council today (December 5):

Question:

     Regarding the policy and statistics on admission of non-local students by the tertiary institutions funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC) (UGC-funded institutions), will the Government inform this Council:

(a) given that under the existing policy, UGC-funded institutions may admit non-local students to their degree programmes up to a level not exceeding 20% of the approved UGC-funded student number for such programmes, which comprises up to 4% within the UGC-funded number and up to 16% outside the UGC-funded number, whether it knows how UGC sets such percentages and how the UGC-funded institutions determine their actual numbers and percentages of non-local students admitted each year; whether there is any requirement on the ratio of local to non-local students admitted by the UGC-funded institutions each year for research master's and doctoral degree programmes;

(b) whether it knows, in each of the past three years, the respective numbers and percentages of local students, mainland students and students from other places admitted by each UGC-funded institution, with a breakdown by the level of study (i.e. sub-degree, degree, taught master's degree as well as research master's degree and doctoral degree levels);

(c) whether it knows, in the past three years, the respective number and percentage of non-local students over-enrolled in each UGC-funded institution; the reasons for the UGC-funded institutions' over-enrolment of non-local students; of the mechanism put in place by the authorities for monitoring the over-enrolment of non-local students by the UGC-funded institutions;

(d) whether it knows, in the past three years, the respective numbers and percentages of local students, mainland students and students from other places admitted by each UGC-funded institution in teachers' training programmes, with a breakdown by the level of study; of the respective numbers of graduates of such programmes from the Mainland and other places who are staying or working in Hong Kong; and

(e) of the respective numbers of places of full-time and part-time research master's and doctoral degree programmes in each UGC-funded institution; whether the authorities have any measure to ensure that local students applying for such programmes will be accorded priority in admission; whether it knows the respective numbers of graduates of such programmes from the Mainland and other places who are staying or working in Hong Kong?

Reply:

President,

(a) Under the existing policy, University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded institutions may admit non-local students to their sub-degree, degree and taught postgraduate programmes up to a level not exceeding 20% of the approved student number targets for these programmes. This 20% quota comprises up to 4% within the UGC-funded number and up to 16% outside the UGC-funded number. In 2008, the Administration raised the quota from 10% to 20% and maintained the 4% quota within the UGC-funded number, so that non-local students are primarily admitted by over-enrolment on top of the approved student number targets and they will not compete directly with local students. No quota restriction is imposed on the admission of non-local students in publicly-funded research post-graduate programmes by UGC-funded institutions.

     As long as UGC-funded institutions comply with the above policy, they may decide on the actual enrolment of non-local students.

(b) and (c) The enrolment of local, Mainland and other non-local students studying UGC-funded programmes by level of study from the 2009/10 academic year to 2011/12 academic year is at Annex 1.

     According to Annex 1, UGC-funded institutions have been complying with the existing policy in admitting non-local students, and there has been no over-enrolment for the past three years. UGC-funded institutions submit relevant student enrolment figures to UGC regularly for statistical purpose, and UGC review institutions' enrolment figures from time to time.

(d) The enrolment of local, Mainland and other non-local students studying UGC-funded teacher education programmes by level of study from the 2009/10 academic year to 2011/12 academic year is at Annex 2. The Administration does not maintain records of non-local graduates of such programmes who are staying or working in Hong Kong.

(e) The number of places of research postgraduate programmes of UGC-funded institutions in the 2011/12 academic year is at Annex 3. The number of publicly-funded research postgraduate places will remain at 5 595 from the 2012/13 academic year to the 2014/15 academic year. The Administration does not maintain records of non-local graduates of publicly-funded research post-graduate programmes who are staying or working in Hong Kong.

     UGC-funded institutions admit students to their research postgraduate programmes on a merit basis, taking into account students' academic results, research capability, etc., but not their places of origin. In the 2011/12 academic year, about 25% of the applications for research programmes by local students were admitted by institutions, whilst about 9% of non-local applicants were admitted. Admission of qualified non-local students to research postgraduate programmes not only diversifies the student mix, but also helps boost the level of local research programmes and enhance the effectiveness of public spending.

Ends/Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Issued at HKT 15:31

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