HONG KONG: More private universities needed

20 April 2008

Hong Kong needs to follow the world trend of establishing more private universities, a forum was told last week, but discussion is needed on the government’s role, reports The Standard. Principal Assistant Secretary of Education Daniel Cheng Chung-wai said in many countries it was the private sector that provided the bulk of higher education. In Japan and South Korea, for example, private higher education institutions produced about 70% of graduates each year. However, he added, quality must take precedence over quality.

"Of the 57,000 students pursuing degree programmes in Hong Kong, only 5,000 – or less than 10% – are studying in a private university or a self-financing degree programme," Cheng said. "It shows there is a big area open to private participation, especially on degree programmes." He added that the government did not have a timetable fixed for private sector participation in higher education. It took time to establish a private university, he noted, "and we do not expect this development to happen in a short period of time".
Full report on The Standard site

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