Bulletin Autumn‧Winter 1981

New Part-Time Degree Programmes The University introduced in 1981-82 a part- time degree programme in Social Work. Preparations for similar programmes in Chinese and English, Music, and Business Administration, all scheduled to begin in 1982-83, are under way. Besides heralding a new phase in the academic development of the University, these programmes will help alleviate the acute shortage of university places in Hong Kong. The University has always been aware of the inadequacy of the present tertiary education system in meeting the increasingly heavy and complex demands and aspirations of the community. As expansion of places within the existing academic framework provides only part of the answer, provision of part-time degree studies through a number of programmes in Arts, Business Administration, and Social Science has offered itself as a means of meeting the needs of promising adults for university education. The part-time degree courses are similar on a par with full-time programmes in standard, but unlike the latter, they do not require students to take a Minor subject. The normal length of study is six years, which are divided into two parts of three years each. Each academic year consists of three terms of 13 to 14 teaching weeks, with classes meeting twice or thrice per week. Upon completion of the first part of a programme, a student will be awarded a Certificate. At this point, he may either apply for permission to take a leave of absence before resuming his studies or proceed at once to the second half of the programme. In the second part, he will be required to sit the Degree Examination, taking a total of seven or eight papers. Upon passing the examination and satisfying all other requirements, a student will be awarded a Bachelor's Degree which is identical in standing with the degree conferred upon a full-time student of the University. For admission to undergraduate part-time degree studies, an applicant should normally a. have gained in one and the same Hong Kong Higher Level Examination in 1979 or thereafter Grade E or above in Chinese Language and Literature, English Language and three other subjects; or b. possess a Matriculation Certificate of The Chinese University of 1978 or before. He should also have had at least three years' full-time working experience and be aged 23 or above by 1st September of the year in which admission is sought. There is, however, provision for exemption from these admission requirements. The part-time degree programme in Social Work is offered on a part-time day-release basis. It aims at providing an opportunity to acquire further qualifications for experienced social workers without academic training and holders of the Diploma in Social Work awarded by the Hong Kong Polytechnic or a diploma awarded by a recognized post-secondary institution. In view of the professional nature of the degree, extensive field instruction will be offered. The aim of the part-time degree programme in Chinese and English is threefold: to improve the students' practical abilities in Chinese and English; to develop an understanding of the relationships and contrasts between the two languages and the two cultures, and to offer the opportunity for training in language use related to the needs of the community. The programme will cover Chinese language and literature, English language and literature, translation and comparative and contrastive studies. The part-time degree programme in Music is introduced to meet the urgent need of music teachers in Hong Kong for adequate musical training at tertiary level. Apart from enabling these teacher s to improve their knowledge and understanding of music, and to make good any deficiencies in their earlier musical training, it will offer a comprehensive basis for the study of Chinese music to equip them for the teaching of the subject in the schools of Hong Kong. The objectives of the part-time degree programme in Business Administration are to contribute to the growth of knowledge in business and to the understanding of the concepts of administration; to provide men and women who have a good educational background and appropriate working experience with an opportunity to realize their managerial potential and to prepare them for responsible administrative and executive positions in business, governmental and other organizations. The programme will provide students with a sound basic education in business, to be strengthened by some more advanced courses in selected areas of organizational or administrative activities. For these programmes, the Government has allocated to the University separate funds in addition to the block grant for its other programmes. 16