Vice-Chancellor's Report 1987-90

Vice-Chancellor's Report around the world, to produce quality graduates at the fastest rate possible and with cost-effectiveness, to cope with the different academic attainments and aspirations of a larger number of incoming students, to offer a greater number of multi- disciplinary degree programmes, and to maintain a large number of academic departments. With the new system, the University can also accept students from both Secondary Six and Seven who will normally graduate in four and three years respectively. E s t a b l i s h m e n t o f n e w R e s e a r c h I n s t i t u t e s In recognition of the importance of research to the future prosperity of Hong Kong and with generous support from the Government and the community, the University has over the last three years established a number of independently funded and separately managed research institutes in addition to the existing Institute of Chinese Studies, the Institute of Science and Technology, and the Institute of Social Studies. These new institutes aspire to become centres of excellence in their own area of speciality and to contribute to the well-being of Hong Kong through their research activities. Hong Kong Institute of Biotechnology The institute was established in June 1988 with a donation ofHK$170 million from the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club as a non-profit-making organization to promote the establishment o f a biotechnology industry in Hong Kong. The institute conducts in-house biomedical research and collaborates with local industries, the Government, and other tertiary institutions of Hong Kong on the development of biotechnology-related projects and products . Key areas of research and development include nutriti and Oriental and Western medicines. Since its inception, the institute has received several substantial research grants and signed important collaborative agreements with biotechnological institutes in China and the U.S.A. Asia-Pacific Institute of Business, CUHK The institute was established in February 1990 to promote interaction between the academic and the business communities, to assist the management in local business enterprises to meet challenges of the future, and to enhance the growth and prosperity of Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific region through various training, consultancy and research activities. The institute comprises a division of management development and a division of research. The former is responsible for management development programmes and the organization of seminars and conferences, while the latter provides advisory and consultative services, and funding for research programmes and scholarly exchanges. The institute is supported primarily by private endowments and corporate sponsorship. 7