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The Government will implement 22 recommendations to improve sub-degree courses' quality and qualification recognition, Secretary for Education Michael Suen says.
They also include measures to enhance graduates' employability and articulation for further studies, as well as support to institutes and financial assistance for students.
Releasing the Post Secondary Education Sector Phase Two Review report today, Mr Suen said it has focused on addressing shortcomings and assuring quality for sub-degree programme's sustainable development, instead of increasing places as there is no additional demand.
He also reaffirmed the value of sub-degree qualifications - which include associate degree and higher diploma - in Hong Kong society, adding the Government will continue to take the lead in enhancing their recognition.
More than half of the proposals aim to improve course quality and transparency, while others concern facilities for teaching and learning, recognition and employability, opportunities for furthering studies and student subsidies.
Main proposals
The major measures are:
* strengthening the quality assurance process for course providers, particularly compliance of admission and exit standards;
* providing land at a nominal premium and one-off allowance and identifying vacant school premises for post-secondary education use;
* extending the maximum loan-repayment period taken out by institutions from 10 to 20 years, with the first 10 years interest-free, to ease their financial burden and enable them to devote more resources to teaching and learning quality;
* introducing a $100 million Quality Enhancement Grant Scheme for projects/initiatives that can improve students' learning, teaching methods, course quality and career guidance; and
* extending the Financial Assistance Scheme for Post-secondary Students and providing means-tested loans for living expenses to sub-degree students, similar to loans offered to those taking University Grants Committee-funded courses.
Other proposals include:
* forming a three-way liaison committee to facilitate an ongoing dialogue among the sub-degree sector's quality-assurance agencies;
* bringing forward the creation of all the committed senior-year places at intake level in universities to the 2008-09 academic year, which means places will be doubled to 1,927;
* engaging institutions in regular dialogue with employers to improve graduates' employability;
* beefing up the iPASS information portal to enhance sub-degree programme's transparency and information accessibility;
* modifying the start-up loan scheme and the land grant scheme to encourage institutions to enhance teaching and learning facilities and environment;
* facilitating the development of self-financing degree-awarding institutions and private universities; and
* reviewing the Post Secondary Colleges Ordinance.
Additional spending
Mr Suen said subject to the Legislative Council Finance Committee's approval, the additional spending on student subsidies in 2008-09 would be around $380 million. The sum will gradually rise to $880 million in the 2012-13 school year.
He added only a few course providers were found to have breached the rules. Should they fail to rectify their ways after repeated advice, they could lose the accreditation qualification.
The bureau and the Civil Service Bureau are discussing the possibility of hiring sub-degree graduates for jobs requiring university graduates. The Government will also make it clear that a sub-degree qualification is higher than matriculation.
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