The First Six Years 1963-69

Soon after the establishment o f the research institutes at the University in 1965 ， action was initiated to set up the Graduate Council, which came into being in March 1966. The Graduate Council consists o f the Vice-Chancellor (Chairman)’ the three College Presidents, the three University Deans, the Director o f the School o f Education, the University L ibrarian , and those Professors and Readers nominated by the Vice-Chancellor. Although the Council was formed to deal p rima rily w ith matters o f policy re­ lated to graduate studies ， it was also directly responsible for the in itia l planning which enabled the Graduate School to open in academic year 1966/67. The Graduate School was composed in itia lly o f only five divisions: Chinese H istory ， Philosophy ， Chinese Language and Literature, Geography and Business Administration. This re latively small beginning is in keeping w ith a basic policy o f the Graduate Council ， which is to introduce programmes in any given discipline only when the required academic leadership is available, significant progress in research has been achieved, suit able lib ra ry and other facilities exist and the probab ility o f pro ducing a high quality product is thus reasonably assured. On this basis, the University was able in 1967/68 to introduce the Division o f Chemistry and in 1969/70 the Division o f Biology. There is generally a desire in a new institution such as The Chinese University to take fu ll advantage o f the freedom from preconceived patterns to engage in imaginative experimentation and thereby develop new approaches, particularly at the graduate level. On the other hand, a newly-established graduate school must also w in the confidence and respect o f other reputable institutions at an early date i f its degrees are to be accepted by internationally recognized universities on their own merits. The in itia l structure o f the Graduate School, therefore, was patterned along more or less conventional lines. To ensure the desired high qua lity in its gradu ates, some rigorous requirements were imposed. Candidates for a graduate degree in the Arts are required to be well conversant in the Chinese language ， as many subjects in this field are taught in Chinese. Candidates in Chinese History and Chinese Language and Literature, in addition ， must pass an English test as part o f the entrance examination, since effective bilingualism is a prerequisite for advanced studies in the field o f “ Sinology” . The interests o f future flexib ility, however, are kept in mind in establishing en trance requirements. A ll governing regulations are regarded as provisional and open to progressive modification as experience and requirements dictate. When the L ib ra ry and Science Centre are completed and the new campus is in fu ll operation ， several additional graduate d iv isions 50