| Chapter 6 | Programme Reviews and External Visiting Committee Exercises |
6.1 Overview
The University’s two major programme review processes, Programme Reviews (internal) and Visiting Committee exercises (external), are synchronized to ensure the effectiveness of both. The former focusses on the substance of T&L as stipulated in the IF; the latter on academic standards and benchmarking of those standards to external reference points. The Visiting Committee system was built on, and has replaced, the earlier External Examiners (EE)/ Visiting Examiners system. To ensure adequate external input, EE is kept for professional programmes or newly launched TPg programmes in their first three years of implementation or on a need basis.
6.2 Visiting Committee Exercises
Visiting Committees consist of local and international senior academics and practitioners with considerable leadership experience in higher education. The key objectives are: (i) to conduct a holistic review of all the activities of a Faculty; (ii) to advise the Faculty on various aspects of strategy, planning and standards, as well as education and research, with recommendations for future developments; (iii) to enable Faculties to create synergies between Departments and to encourage more interdisciplinary learning and research; and (iv) to provide an opportunity for the University to strengthen its links with external academics and practitioners from leading universities and institutions around the world. Appendix 6-1 provides details of Visiting Committee exercises.
6.3 Internal Programme Reviews
6.3.1 Undergraduate Programme Reviews
Ug programme reviews are conducted once every few years, and are performed by specific review panels appointed by the SCTL in consultation with the programmes concerned. Review panels examine the substance of T&L in every Ug programme and the University Core Requirements, and pay particular regard to the self-evaluation of the offering departments/ units, including the progress of action plans arising from the previous review cycle.
The outcomes of Ug programme reviews inform funding decisions of up to 5% of the annual teaching funding of a programme; the aim of this policy is to reward good teaching practice. An assessment panel formed under SCTL considers review results and the responses from programmes, and makes recommendations for consideration by SCTL, and then RAC.
The IF for Undergraduate Programmes (Appendix 2-15) shows the general guidelines for Ug programme reviews. Implementation details for a specific review cycle are determined by the SCTL.
6.3.2 Taught Postgraduate Programme Reviews
Review panels are appointed by the GC, upon the recommendation of the Faculty Boards. The IF for Taught Postgraduate Programmes (Appendix 2-16) shows the general guidelines for TPg programme reviews.
6.3.3 Self-financed Taught Postgraduate Programme Re-approval
All self-financed TPg programmes, including programmes offered jointly with partner institutions have a maximum validity of six years, after which re-approval for continuation of the programme will be considered from both academic and resource angles. The Committee on Re-approval of Self-financed Taught Postgraduate Programmes considers the continuation or otherwise of all programmes after such six-year period or a shorter re-approval period as the case may be. The major sets of criteria for review are:
- academic quality;
- alignment with University/ Faculty/ Division/ Department strategic goals;
- societal demand as indicated by enrolment numbers;
- provision of sustainable resources, including teaching support, normally offered by regular teaching staff, administrative support, classroom facilities, and other teaching and learning facilities;
- high quality of student intake normally demonstrated by the standing of the students’ home institutions, GPAs, and English language proficiency;
- observation of the no cross-subsidy principle; and
- financial viability evidenced by the programme budget as reviewed by the RAC.
Appendix 6-2 shows the composition and membership of the Committee; Appendix 6-3 shows details of re-approval procedures and review criteria.
6.3.4 Performance-based Quota Allocation for Research Postgraduate Programmes
Student quotas for RPg programmes are allocated annually to respective Graduate Divisions, on a competitive basis mirroring the UGC methodology:
- Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme;
- past award results of RGC funding schemes;
- results of the latest Research Assessment Exercise (RAE);
- outcome-based evaluation of RPg programmes; and
- by the expansion of Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme and/ or by past award results of RGC funding schemes.