Bulletin Spring 1976

The Lingnan Institute of Business Administration an M.B.A. thesis based on this research. The research is related to practical aspects of business in Hong Kong, and is applied rather than academic. The purpose of this emphasis is to foster a high degree of professionalism and a closer working relationship with business firms on actual current problems. To let the Hong Kong community know more about LIBA and its work, the Institute has published extracts of some of the M.B.A. theses in local journals and periodicals, such as "Export Marketing Strategies of Hong Kong's Industrial Gloves Industry" in The Hong Kong Manager. The findings of thesis research by students may be useful in solving some of Hong Kong's problems. In order to have an idea of the wide range of research topics of LIBA's students, we may take a look at the 24 M.B.A. theses of this year's candidates. In the area of marketing, their research ranges from such sophisticated commodities as computer hard ware, electronic calculators, radios, electronic digital watches, watch/clock assembly, to frozen chicken, cigarettes, beer and cosmetics. Other areas of research include management and information systems: the automation of the Hong Kong Government water billing system, and the design, evaluation and implementation of digital model for computer-based information system project management, etc. "LIBA Collection" of Books and Teaching Equipment In J u ne 1974, LIBA received a grant of US$30,000 from the Trustees of Lingnan University (New York) for the purchase of books on all aspects of economics and business administration for the University Library. These funds were expended over a period of eighteen months, during which time over 3,000 books were purchased. These books, known as the "LIBA Collection", are by far the best collection of books on management sciences in Hong Kong. In J u ne 1975, the Institute received another grant of USS 10,000 for the purchase of additional books and for subscriptions to business periodicals over a two-year period. 14 In the academic year 1975/76, LIBA made considerable progress in admitting students with higher qualifications, in strengthening second-year students' thesis research, and in developing closer working relationship with, and rendering greater service to, the local community. There is an urgent need for additional teachers in order to provide a balanced curriculum and to increase the annual student intake to meet the growing d ema nd for LIBA's graduates, and to initiate the part-time M.B.A. programme. Curriculum LIBA's faculty has designed a curriculum that truly reflects the needs of Hong Kong and constantly refined its content. The teaching methods commonly used include lectures, discussions, case analyses, seminars, gaming models, and directed research. There are frequent coordination sessions among the faculty members and constant questioning interactions with local businessmen in order to avoid irrelevance and unnecessary duplication of topics. By these means the courses taken by students at the Institute are well integrated, providing a good foundation in the early stages and specialization through electives in t he final semesters. The curriculum is divided into five major areas: Management Principles and Practices Accounting and Finance Marketing and International Business Information Systems and Analysis Master's Thesis With the addition of required core courses (e.g. computer applications in business, management information systems, and administrative theory) and a greater variety of elective courses, the curriculum has been strengthened during the years. Students' Thesis Research Each second-year student at LIBA is required to plan and carry out a research project and to write