On 7 November, a symposium on the theme of Pearl River Delta Higher Education Integration was held at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU). Government officials, university administrators and scholars from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao discussed the opportunities and challenges for higher educational cooperation in the mainland China. UIC Executive Vice-President Professor Kwok Siu Tong appealed to Guangdong and Hong Kong governments for more support. Even though officials from Hong Kong government affirmed UIC's educational model and achievements, they were not inclined to change the current funding policy in relation to Hong Kong students that receive higher education in the mainland.
A group photo of distinguished symposium participants
In the opening address, UIC Vice-President Prof. Zee Sze Yong pointed out difficulties for a Hong Kong higher educational institution to operate in the mainland: limited assistance from cooperation partners, curriculum design and recruitment of teachers, graduation certificates from mainland China, financial viability, and maintaining good relationship with the Chinese Communist Party. As a member of the national committee of CPPCC, Prof. Zee suggested a consultation and coordination team should be set up to help solve these problems.
Associate Vice President of Hong Kong Polytechnic University Prof. Arthur F.T. Mak shared some deliberations on the prospect of establishing a branch campus in Dongguan City, including: Hong Kong universities had not gain complete recognition from the Mainland, which brought about positioning problems; and high taxation for the school and teachers. He suggested that profits should be put back into the expansion of the school and into researches in exchange for tax-free treatments.
The Vice-President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Professor Yuk-Shan Wong, said local governments were active in the joint-establishment of educational institutions while the central government was less keen. It was difficult to persuade Hong Kong professors to teach in mainland China, and the tax imposition added to the difficulty of bringing in instruments for scientific research. He advised that the Hong Kong government loosen the restrictions on cross-border use of scientific research funds.
Associate Vice-President of HKBU Prof. TANG Tao said that HKBU spared no efforts in cultivating talents in the Pearl River Delta region. He was pleased with the progress UIC had made and with the positive feedback from UGC, and from parents and students alike. He said that UIC's experience in undergraduate education was an encouragement for HKBU to launch graduate programs in the Mainland in the future.
In response to these appeals, Deputy Secretary of the Hong Kong Education Bureau Ms. Michelle Li said that Hong Kong was trying to play a conjunctive role in the development of Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta with positive measures. Hong Kong's enrollment rate of overseas students rose from 10% to 20% and one billion HKD worth of scholarship would be provided to overseas students who intended to pursue a higher education in Hong Kong, and students from mainland China were granted longer time to stay in Hong Kong for employment after graduation.
Ms Li affirmed UIC's success as a pioneer in higher educational cooperation between Hong Kong and the Mainland. She said it was not an easy task for UIC to have made good use of the advantages of the Hong Kong educational model and made UIC an internationally recognized College with positive reviews. But as for the question of loosening the policy in relation to Hong Kong students' application of financial aids, Ms Li said she would verbally acknowledge this proposal, and promised to look into more preferential arrangements in the next round of CEPA negotiations.
Prof. Kwok maintained that if the Hong Kong SAR government and Guangdong Government recognized UIC's contribution, they should give more support and assistance. Education was a high cost investment. UIC had begun with tremendous difficulties, and long term development would only be tougher. HKBU had done its best by providing a loan of over 100 million HKD to UIC. Though it was far from adequate, UIC must forge ahead. If the Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta was to be carried out, governments should take practical measures to help UIC stride ahead.
Director of the Educational Testing and Assessment Research Centre of University of Macau (UMAC) Prof. Chang Kwok Cheung and Vice Director of the Shenzhen Propaganda Department Mr. Wu Zhong talked about UMAC's development of the Hengqin campus and future plans for higher education in Shenzhen respectively.
Written by Edgar Yuen
Translated by Huang Shanqing, Richard Xu
Media and Communication Office
