LCQ9: Higher Education
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     Following is a question by the Hon Cheung Man-kwong and a written reply by the Secretary for Education, Mr Michael Suen, in the Legislative Council today (January 13):

Question:

     Regarding public aspirations for higher education and students' aspiration for further education, will the Government inform this Council if it knows:

(a) given that sub-degree graduates of various post-secondary institutions can apply for admission to the undergraduate degree programmes of University Grants Committee ("UGC")-funded institutions through non-Joint University Programmes Admissions System ("non-JUPAS"), on what existing criteria or assessment standards such institutions have based in assessing and admitting such students;

(b) whether UGC-funded institutions have adopted different assessment standards and methods in assessing admission applications from non-JUPAS graduates of funded and self-financing associate degrees and higher diploma programmes, as well as those from the community colleges of UGC-funded institutions and the colleges of non-UGC-funded institutions; if so, of the details; if not, what monitoring mechanism UGC has currently in place to ensure that admission to the funded institutions is conducted in a fair and open manner;

(c) the respective numbers of admission applications received by the various departments of each UGC-funded institution between the 2006-2007 and 2008-2009 academic years from graduates of funded and self-financing associate degrees and higher diploma programmes offered by post-secondary institutions, as well as the respective numbers of those admitted to the first year and second year of undergraduate degree programmes (set out in Table 1);

(d) whether UGC allows advanced admission by funded institutions of those Year 1 students who have not yet completed their two-year sub-degree programme to the first year or second year of their funded undergraduate degree programmes; if so, the numbers of such students who had been offered advanced admission by each institution between the 2006-2007 and 2008-2009 academic years, and the reasons for their admission; if not, what follow-up actions the authorities will take when the complaints concerned are received;

(e) whether the review on higher education conducted recently by the UGC covers post-secondary and non-UGC-funded institutions, including Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education, Chu Hoi College, Hong Kong Shue Yan University and Open University of Hong Kong; if so, the scope and specific contents of the review; if not, the reasons for that; and

(f) whether UGC will consider formulating a credit accumulation and transfer system for all graduates of sub-degree and higher diploma programmes, with a view to allowing graduates from post-secondary institutions who have completed programmes of different subvention modes and acquired different academic qualifications, when applying for non-JUPAS admission to university, to compete fairly for funded university places through a credit recognition system and assessment criteria that are clear and open; if it will, when such system will be introduced and the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

(a) and (b) The University Grants Committee (UGC) has all along, in the relevant communication with the institutions, stressed that admission of sub-degree graduates into senior year undergraduate places must be based on merit and be open in nature.  Such places must not be used as additional first-year-first-degree numbers, nor as an additional year for a student to earn a dual/double degree which should be self-financing.  Institutions are reminded to avoid any displacement effect of sub-degree graduates which might be caused by inter-institutional transfer of UGC-funded students (i.e. student A who has completed year-1 study in institution A may seek to enter institution B to pursue year-2 study).  While inter-institutional transfer of UGC-funded students into vacancies in advance years arising from attrition is not restricted, such students must not be admitted to occupy the senior year places allocated.  Articulation opportunities for sub-degree graduates to senior year places must be open to all applicants without being confined to graduates of certain institutions.

     According to the information provided by the UGC-funded institutions in the selection of students, the aim of institutions is to ensure that students have the necessary educational background that will enable them to successfully complete the programme being applied for.  The institutions would in general consider the student's academic performance (e.g. examination results in public examinations and academic results in their sub-degree studies), performance in interviews / tests / auditions, non-academic achievements, and interest and preference in the programme being applied for.  Some institutions may set additional entrance requirements on certain subjects (e.g. language) or consider the relevance of the curriculum of the sub-degree programme to the programme being applied.

     Institutions advised us that they adopt the same standards and methods in assessing admission applications from applicants of different background from different programmes and higher education institutions, however funded.

(c) The respective numbers of admission applications received by the various departments of each UGC-funded institution between the 2006/2007 and 2008/2009 academic years from graduates of funded and self-financing associate degree and higher diploma programmes offered by post-secondary institutions, as well as the respective numbers of those admitted to the first year and second year of undergraduate degree programmes are set out in Attachment 1.

(d) The numbers of students, who have not yet completed their two-year sub-degree programme, that are offered admission by each UGC-funded institution to their undergraduate degree programmes between the 2006/2007 and 2008/2009 academic years are set out in Attachment 2.  According to the information provided by the UGC-funded institutions, the admission of these students is based on merit, good academic performance (e.g. examination results in public examinations and academic results in their sub-degree studies), good performance in interviews, and other non-academic achievements.

(e) The UGC has embarked on the Higher Education Review 2010 (HER 2010) which aims to identify new issues facing Hong Kong's higher education sector and to discern world trends, with a view to recommending strategies for the future development of Hong Kong's higher education sector.  The terms of reference of the review are at Attachment 3.  HER 2010 will examine the development of the higher education sector in the context of the entire landscape of the post-secondary education, with particular emphasis on the degree awarding sector.  The Review will look at sector-wide issues, and will not review individual institutions.

(f) The UGC-funded institutions have established an arrangement to admit sub-degree graduates into their undergraduate programmes.  In general, sub-degree graduates of various institutions may be directly admitted to Year Two of a three-year programme of a UGC-funded institution, with credit exemption granted for their relevant qualifications.

     We understand that the HER 2010 will explore, among other matters, the possibility of developing a credit accumulation and transfer system as one of the possible ways to enhance mobility generally in the post secondary education sector.

Ends/Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Issued at HKT 14:45

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