Bulletin Autumn‧Winter 2001

•Pioneering Schoo l Partnership The Faculty of Education was th e first to conduct pilot projects i n the early 90s to apply education theories and research findings to improve p r i ma r y and secondary education. I n 1999, the Centre for University and School Partnership (CUSP) was set up to foster a healthy and mutually beneficia l relationship between the University and the school sector and to conduct research whose f i nd i ng s can be transferred directly to the schools for quality enhancement. The very concept of schoo l partnership was introduced to Ho ng Kong b y the Faculty of Education i n 1998. A c c e l e r a t ed S c h o o l s P r o j e c t In 1998, w i t h support from the Quality Education Fund, the Accelerated Schools Project for Quality Education (ASPQE) was started to empower 50 local p r i ma r y and secondary schools to improve themselves through the collaborative efforts of the school administration, teachers, parents, and the community, for the purpose of providing quality education. • Outdoor training activity for teachers •Encouraging students to implement what they learn In the project, research an d development proceed i n a mutually reinforcing relationship. The University and the participating schools wo rk as equal partners to design and implement measures for the improvemen t of the schools on all fronts. Fu l l - t i me school d e v e l o pme n t officers a n d researchers f o r m teams to p r o v i de consultation and development services to the schools through regula r visits. They supply the motivation, knowledge, and skills necessary for reform, they help staff understand the principles and values of ASPQE, and they assist them i n setting common goals, promoting the spirit of equal rights and responsibilities, and pu t t i ng to goo d use the talent of every member of the school. Given the success and positive reception of the ASPQE, the CUSP received furthe r support from the Quality Education Fund to implement the University and School Partnership for Quality Education and the Quality Schools Project i n 2000 and 2001 respectively. The former emphasizes curriculum improvement and quality teaching, while the latter aims at developing a system of self-improvement i n each school. The projects enable the Faculty of Education to become fully acquainted w i t h the educational scen e i n Ho n g Kong, and to plan relevant research and adjust its o w n curriculum accordingly . Currently, close to 200 schools participate i n these three partnership projects, benefiting approximately 10,000 teachers and 200,000 students. Helping to Improve the Effectiveness of Schools 17