Sites allocated for self-financing tertiary institution development
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     The Education Bureau (EDB) announced today (December 8) the allocation result of two sites under the Land Grant Scheme.  The two sites will be used by two post-secondary institutions for the construction of purpose-built campuses for operating self-financing full-time, locally accredited degree programmes.

     The new developments will be at the following locations:

Site                Prospective operator
---------           --------------------
Ho Man Tin          The Open University of Hong Kong
Chung Hau Street

Siu Lek Yuen        Hang Seng Management College
Kwong Sin Street

     The Government invited applications from non-profit-making educational institutions for operating locally accredited degree programmes on these sites in March 2010.  At the close of application on August 31, 2010, a total of four applications for the two sites were received.

     "On the advice of an independent selection committee, the Secretary for Education decided that The Open University of Hong Kong and Hang Seng Management College should be earmarked as the prospective operators of the two sites," a spokesman for the EDB said.

     The selection committee comprises eight non-officials (including the chairman) and one official member.  The recommendation was made after detailed examination of the applicants' education development and site development proposals.  The process was open, fair and competitive.  Only applications with the highest quality were selected.

     "The Government will allocate the two land sites at nominal premium.  This demonstrates the Government's strong commitment to support the healthy development of the self-financing sector, which will increase access to tertiary education and facilitate the diversification of the higher education sector," the spokesman added.

Ends/Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:30

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