Calendar 2000–01

#( Hong Kong Institute of Educational Research Tel.: 2609 6999 Fax.: 2603 6850 E-mail: hkier@cuhk.edu.hk Funded by a generous donation from the Tin Ka Ping Foundation, the Hong Kong Institute of Educational Research (HKIER) was established in 1993. It helps the University better perform its role as a leading centre of educational research, a responsible institution that addresses the needs of the teaching profession, and an active consulting agent for international organizations and local educational bodies, public and private. It also helps strengthen the University’s ties with local schools and overseas institutions. Projects initiated by the institute aim to facilitate educational planning, and inform policy-makers and members of the educational profession on crucial issues. HKIER serves as a research resource centre for educational researchers, and helps create and sustain a climate in which interdisciplinary research projects can flourish. Towards these ends it: • develops, supports, and coordinates long-term multi-disciplinary research programmes; • develops a data bank to store important data from relevant international and local projects; • publishes research findings and ideas in various forms of publications, and has established a comprehensive collection of research tools and materials, and developed instructional and training materials; • organizes activities for the academic community and the educational profession; • offers educational development programmes and consultancy services for appropriate clients; • has formed a network of local and overseas scholars, community leaders, policy- makers, and teachers to support the HKIER’s endeavours. ) * + ' Tel.: 2609 6749 Fax.: 2603 7542 E-mail: pth@fed.cuhk.edu.hk Website: http://www.fed.cuhk.edu.hk/~pth The Centre for Research and Development of Putonghua Education was established in September 1998. With the support of the State Language andWriting Commission of the People’s Republic of China, this centre aims at vigorously promoting putonghua education. Its range of activities include: • periodically conducting putonghua proficiency tests; • conducting putonghua training programmes for members of various professions; • providing ‘putonghua diagnosis’ services for the community-at-large; • conducting academic research; • organizing seminars and conferences on proficiency testing and putonghua