Calendar 2002–03

94 Part 3• ResearchUnits andUniversity Extensions Hong Kong Institute of Educational Research Tel.:2609 6999 Fax.:2603 6850 E-mail: hkier@cuhk.edu.hk Website :http://www.fed.cuhk.edu.hk/~hkier Funded by a generous donation from the Tin Ka Ping Foundation, the Hong Kong In stitute of Educational Research (HKI ER) was established in 1 993. It helps th e University better perform its role as a leading centre of edu cational research, a responsible institution that add resses th e needs of the teach ing profession, and an active consulting agent for internation al organizations and lo cal ed ucation al bod ies, p ublic and private. I t also helps streng then the University’s ties with local schools and overseas institution s. Projects initiated by theinstitute aimto facilitate educationalplanning, and inform policy-makers and members of the educational profession on crucial issues. HKIER serves as a research resource centr e for educational resear chers, and helps create and sustain a climate inwhich interdisciplinary research projects can flourish. Towards these ends it: • develo ps, suppor ts, and co ordinates 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 o f publications, and has established a comprehensive collection of r esearch tools and materials, and developed instructional and training materials; • organizes activities for theacademic community and theeducational profession; • offers educational developmen t programmes and consultancy services for appropriate clients; • hasformed a network of localand overseas scholars, community leaders,policy- makers, and teachers to support HKIER’s endeavours. Centre for Research and Development of Putonghua Education Tel.:2609 6749 Fax.:2603 7542 E-mail: pth@fed.cuhk.edu.hk Website :http://www.fed.cuhk.edu.hk/~pth Th e Centre for Resear ch and Development of Pu ton ghua Ed ucatio n was established in September 1998. With thesupport of theState LanguageandWriting 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; • co nd uctin g puton gh ua tr ain in g pro gr ammes f or memb ers o f v ar io us professions; • providing ‘putonghua diagnosis’ services for the community-at-large; • conducting academic research;