Bulletin Autumn‧Winter 2005

CUHK Deepens Collaboration wi th HKIEd New CUHK-HKIEd Programme in English Introduced he Chinese University and the Ho ng Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd) signed an agreement on deeper collaboration i n teache r education i n July 2005, w i t h the objective of i mp r o v i ng the quality of teacher education an d the p r o f e s s i ona l s t anda r ds of the t e a c h i ng profession. The first collaborative project is the launch of a joint degree programme in English studies and education. Prof. Lawrence J. Lau, vice-chancellor of CUHK and Prof. Paul Morris, president of HKIEd, represented their respective institutions to sign the agreement on 9th July. It w i l l f o rm a basis upon which collaborative projects in teacher education w i l l be considered, planned, and implemented. The c omb i n e d strengths of C U H K and HK I Ed is expected to create synergy and to cross- fertilize ideas, wh i ch w i l l improve the quality of teacher education and the teaching profession in Hong Kon g and ensure that the two institutions remain leaders in the area o f teacher education in the territory and the region. The partners agree to preserve and enhance their respective role s and traditions i n future collaborations. The aim of the partnership is academic and professional enhancement of teacher education in Ho ng Ko n g and the region. Discussion s w i l l initially focus on the 2005-8 and 2008-11 triennia, during which several levels of cooperation, other t h an a f u l l merger, w i l l be de v e l oped. The institutions w i l l continue largely w i t h their own governance and operate on their respective campuses. Ap p r o p r i a te adjustments ma y be adopted in the second triennium subject to mutual consent. As the two are aware that greater benefits may be derived f r om a higher level of synergy, discussions w i l l seek to arrive at an eventual model that w i l l benefit all stakeholders. The c u r r i c u l u m o f the j o i n t d e g r e e programme is well integrated an d customized to train professional and caring teacher s w i th a solid foundation in English language and literature, as well as strong pedagogical knowledg e and skills. Graduates of the p r og r amme are eligible for registration as qua l i f i e d English teacher s in primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong. Students of the four-year programme w i l l spend two years at each institution and w i l l have a w i de choice o f courses f r om wh i c h to choose. They w i l l also spend one semester in an English- speaking country an d practise teaching i n local schools in the last t wo years of their studies. C H I N E S E A S T R O N A U T S V I S I T CUHK A stronauts of Shenzhou VI, Fei Junlong (left) and Nie Haisheng (right), shared their experience in space w i t h over 1,000 students and academics of local tertiary institutions at Sir Run Run Shaw Ha l l on 28th N o v emb e r 2005 w h e n th e d e l e g a t i o n of China's first manned space f l i g ht mission v i s i t ed Ho ng Kong . 5 6 Chinese University Bulletin Autumn • Winter 2005