Bulletin Spring‧Summer 1994

From the Department of Ext ramural Studies to the School of Cont inuing Studies Cont i nu i ng Education i n Hong Kong The origin of adult education i n Hong Kong can be traced back to 1902, when the YMCA first organized adult education classes for the general public. Among local institutions of higher education, the University of Hong Kong was the first to establish a department o f extramural studies (in 1956) to r un short courses for those deprived of the opportunity of formal education. The rapid growth in the local economy and the accompanying developments in primary, secondary, and tertiary education over the last 30 years have brought about a significant change in th e direction of adult education in Hong Kong. As more and more people become better educated and as more and more of the m look for opportunities of continuous self-improvement and professional growth, many other institutions of higher education have set up their own extramural units to fill this need. Development of Extramural Studies i n CUHK The Department of Extramural Studies (EMSD) of The Chinese University of Hong Kong was set up in 1965, two years after the University came into being, and is fast approaching its thirtieth anniversary. Prior to 1978, short-term non-degree courses and interest classes were offered independently by the EMSD 'outside the University walls'. After 1979, EMSD began to develop, in collaboration w i th other academic departments 'within' the University, diploma and certificate courses in various disciplines for those seeking t o upgrade their knowledge and professional qualifications. As more University faculty members become involved in both curriculum design and the teaching of such courses, and as the quality of the programmes and the standard of the graduates are closely monitored by the University, the boundary between 'extramural' and 'intramural' has become blurred. From 1988 onwards, EMSD has, on the invitation of famous universities in Australia and No r th America, diversified its services into administrative support fo r their undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes r un in Hong Kong. The EMSD has been extremely careful in the choice of overseas partners and the provision School of Continuing Studies 21