Newsletter No. 59

C U H K NEWSLETTER Dr. Yip Hon-ming, History Dr. Yip is one of those academics who have grown with their departments. After obtaining her first degree she worked in the History Department as a full-time teaching assistant. Two years later she went on an exchange programme to the University of California to undertake graduate studies. Upon obtaining her PhD degree there she re-joined the University, first as administrative assistant at the Graduate School, and then back to teaching in the History Department. 'Thequality of teaching and curriculum now surpasses that in our days, and demands on students are stricter,' observed Dr. Yip. A major inadequacy, according to her, is the university-wide absence of a systematic evaluation process for both curriculum and teaching. 'The University should establish an independent unit to assess the quality of teaching, and to ensure a high standard in academic offerings. There must be an objective and scientific evaluation process. Particular attention should be given to external assessment,' she advocates. She also thinks that the present practice of engaging visiting examiners is an effort in the right direction. I f implemented seriously, it will be an effective measure for quality assurance. As chairperson, Dr. Yip will make it her first task to consolidate the research resources in the department. Research in history has traditionally been individual efforts, and she would like to see some large, collaborative research projects involving the contributions of many. She hopes that such projects will help to raise the standard of research and, at the same time, improve communication within the department. On the administrative side she is inclined towards an open mode of policymaking, and w i ll seek to create channels whereby students may also participate in helping the department improve. At the moment Dr. Yip is busy with preparation for the Third International Conference on the History of the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs, which will be hosted by the department next May. She is also working hard to lay the groundwork for the implementation of the one-line budget in 1995. With the launching of the new funding policy, she predicts, the workload of the department chairman will not only be much heavier, but will also involve such alien subjects as financial planning and accounting. To help ensure that the new requirements are met efficiently, she hopes that the University will promptly provide departments with sufficient technical support, and continue to consult staff members on the matter. Dr. Joseph M. Chan, Journalism and Communication Dr. Chan, who was a visiting scholar at Harvard last year, noted that his colleagues were consulted prior to his appointment and deemed it progress. He hopes that department chairmen will eventually be elected. As chairman, Dr. Chan will seek to strengthen the efficiency and independence of his staff in the day-to-day running of the department. He will also place greater emphasis on committees and ask colleagues to share his work. To Dr. Chan, having to undertake research and administration at the same time is a new challenge, and he realizes that the best way to tackle both is by constantly trying. At the moment he is planning to limit his research to the most pertinent and worthwhile issues and impose on himself a strict code of self-discipline. NO.59OCTOBER1994 12