Government establishes task forces to review post-secondary education-related issues
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The Chief Executive pointed out during her question-and-answer session at the Legislative Council on July 5 this year that the Government will carry out in-depth reviews on eight key areas of education. She subsequently announced in the Policy Address that, under the principles of “Led by Professionals” and “Listening to Views Directly”, the Education Bureau will set up task forces this year to take forward reviews in various areas and invite education experts to participate in the work of the task forces. The Chief Executive also mentioned the work progress of two of the task forces, that is (i) for the review of existing research support strategy, the level of research funding and the funding allocation mechanism for the higher education sector, the University Grants Committee (UGC) was invited to set up a task force to be chaired by Professor Tsui Lap-chee; and (ii) regarding the task force for reviewing the role of self-financing post-secondary institutions and the way forward for sub-degree programmes, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung has been invited to take up the Chairmanship.
The Task Force on Review of Research Policy and Funding will holistically review the research policy and funding support strategy, with a view to ensuring quality of research, and that such research can at the same time meet the needs of and translate the research outcomes into edges for Hong Kong which are beneficial to its social and economic development. Depending on the outcome of the review, the Government will consider how resources should be provided to further support the academic and research development of the higher education sector.
The UGC has accepted the invitation and agreed to establish the Task Force. The first meeting of the Task Force will be held today. The membership is as follows:
Chairman
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Professor Tsui Lap-chee
Non-official members (5)
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Dr Sunny ChaiNgai-chiu
Mr David Foster
Professor Paul Lam Kwan-sing
Ms Nisa Leung Wing-yu
Professor Richard Wong Yue-chim
Ex-officio members (4)
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Secretary for Education or his representative
Commissioner for Innovation and Technology or her representative
Chairman of the Research Grants Council
Secretary-General of the University Grants Committee
The Task Force on Review of Self-financing Post-secondary Education will consider the overall role and function of the self-financing post-secondary education sector in serving the long term education and manpower needs of Hong Kong; and review major issues of concern pertinent to the ecology of the self-financing sector, including the role of the self-financing operation of subvented institutions vis-à-vis self-financing post-secondary institutions, and the future development of sub-degree programmes. The first meeting of the Task Force will be held in November to formulate a detailed work plan.
Members of the Task Force are appointed by the Secretary for Education. The membership is as follows:
Chairman
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Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung
Non-official members (5)
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Dr Alex Chan Siu-kun
Mr Henry Fan Hung-ling
Professor Reggie Kwan Ching-ping
Mr Tim Lui Tim-leung
Professor Julia Tao Lai Po-wah
Official members (2)
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Secretary for Education or his representative
Secretary-General of the University Grants Committee or his representative
Ends/Thursday, October 19, 2017
Issued at HKT 11:08
Issued at HKT 11:08
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