Annual Report 1995-96

supported have also increased significantly over the years. Quality A d m i n i s t r a t i o n F o l l ow i n g the government's ambitious po l i cy of e x p a n d i ng the tertiary education sector to p r o v i de undergraduate place s at local tertiary institutions to about 18 per cent o f the eligible age g r oup, the Un i v e r s i ty has experienced, over a six-year period beg i nn i ng i n 1989, a 50 per cen t increase i n undergraduate enrolment. To cope w i t h this tremendous g r o w t h i n size a nd to safeguar d the q u a l i t y of edu c a t i on as w e l l as of a dm i n i s t r a t i v e services, w e have mo v ed t owa r ds decentralization since 1991 . The one-line budge t, a performance-based f u n d i ng methodology, was implemented i n the faculties and academic departments i n 1995-96 afte r almost one and a half years of consultation and preparation. It w i l l be extended to major administrativ e units i n 1996-97. Constant reviews o f the one- l i n e b u d g e t w i l l be u n d e r t a k en to ensure p r o p er check s a n d balances as w e l l as accountability i n the use of public funds. Concurrent w i t h the introduction of the new f u n d i ng model, a new accounting syste m was i mp l eme n t ed d u r i ng the year to he lp streamline the b u d g e t i n g, accounting, a nd reporting processes. This state-of-the-art on-line system has greatly enhanced efficiency i n the day-to-day r u n n i ng o f the wh o le university. These concerted efforts reflect the University's long-term c omm i t me nt to the quality and efficiency of its services. New Incentive s To Excellence P r o v i d i ng f r e e d om a nd space for b o th teacher s a nd students to excel ma r k s the cornerstone of the University's academic strategy. I n 1995-96 the University too k various measures to r ewa rd qua l i ty performance and p r o v i de incentives for greater excellence. I n addition to the Vice-Chancellor's Discretionary Fund, extra f u n d i ng was made available on a competitive basis for such a purpose. These include the One-time Support F u n d i ng Scheme for i n i t i a t i v es that can enhance the competitiveness a nd pe r f o rman ce o f the University, and the Special F u nd for Professorial Ap p o i n t me n ts w h i c h support s efforts to recruit i n t e r na t i ona l ly r e n own ed professors to p r o v i de academic leadership. I n the first one-time support exercise, over HK$84 m i l l i o n was allocated to 15 proposal s over a three-year period. T h o u gh most o f the projects are still i n various stages o f development, they are expected to produce p r omi s i ng results i n the years t o come. A n additional HK$24 m i l l i o n was earmarked for u p g r a d i ng laboratories and other teaching and safety facilities. The Un i v e r s i ty w i l l continue to f i n d wa ys to encourage initiative and r ewa r d excellent' performance. 校長報告 Vice-Chancellor's Review 4