Bulletin Spring 1977

Grants Committee's policy to give graduate studies low priority, our University has done its best to improve the Graduate School's teaching strength and research facilities. And in recent years, a number of divisions have received out­ side financial assistance, an indication that the University is gaining support in its effort to expand the Graduate School. Q. What contribution could the Graduate School make towards Chinese studies, a focus of this University's research efforts? A. The centre for Chinese studies has for some years been in foreign countries. Although it is gratifying to note that the world is attaching much importance to Chinese culture, it is time for the Chinese scholars to take stock of the situation. The Chinese University of Hong Kong, since its establishment, has paid special attention to the development of Chinese studies, and more efforts should be spent in this direction. It is hoped that the teaching personnel in the fields of Chinese literature, history and philosophy of the Graduate School will be strengthened so that those divisions, together with the Institute of Chinese Studies, will become important centres for training specialists in Chinese studies. Q. Next year, the Graduate School will initiate two professional programmes, in Communi­ cations and Social Work, and introduce a 3-year part-time M.B.A. programme. Does this mean the Graduate School has shifted its emphasis to the practical fields? A. In formulating development plans for the Graduate School, the University takes into consideration the needs of the society apart from adequacy of personnel and research facilities on our own part. People with special training in communications and social work have a very important role to play in Hong Kong to-day, and senior executives in business administration are especially indispensable to the promotion of Hong Kong's economic prosperity and progress. The fact that candi dates seeking admission to the 3-year M.B.A. course this year number over 700 ， many of whom have good qualifications and rich working experience, fully reflects a real need of the local community for the new M.B.A. course. In my opinion, "social needs" should remain one of the determining factors for the initiation of new programmes. Whether a course is practical or not should be measured by how well the graduates meet the needs of society; and we shall be developing along practical lines in this sense rather than in the traditional sense of "practical subjects". Q. To what extent does the establishment of the 3-year part-time M.B.A. programme depend on donation? Have the other two received any outside support? A. The establishment of the 3-year part-time M.B.A. programme has gained the support of local business circles and up to 1976-77 a total donation of HK$4,500,000 has already been received. As for the Communications pro­ gramme, an “Aw Boon Haw Chair Professor­ ship" has been set up with a donation from Dr. Sally Aw Sian, Chairman of the Chinese Language Press Institute. Scholars who have made special contributions to communications education and research will be invited to occupy the Chair. Dr. Wilbur Schramm, known as the "Father of Communications", will be coming in August 1977 as the first Aw Boon Haw Chair Professor and, apart from teaching, will assist the Centre for Communication Studies to complete the research project on Professor Wilbur Schramm and Dr. C M. Li