Vice-Chancellor's Report 1982-85

channel o f studen t intak e considerably . I n essence , th e Schem e wo r k s as f o l l ows. Schoo l pupil s wh o hav e take n th e Certificat e o f Educatio n Exami na t i on (th e school-leavin g examination ) ma y appl y f o r admis - sion t o th e Un i ve r s i t y an d wo u l d b e assesse d ma i n l y o n th e pe r f o rm - ance a t tha t Examination . I f th e applicatio n i s successful , th e studen t wo u l d b e offere d provisiona l acceptanc e int o th e undergraduat e course o f th e Un i ve r s i t y an d wo u l d actuall y b e admitte d t o th e freshman clas s afte r undergoin g a scholasti c assessmen t wh i c h i s non - compe t i t i ve upo n comp l e t i o n o f a one-year s i x t h - f o r m course . A f t er t ho r oug h consultatio n bo t h w i t h in an d w i t h o ut th e University, the Senat e voted t o proceed w i th th e Scheme i n 1983 ， and Counc i l gave it s endorsement . I n 198 4 abou t seve n hund r e d provisiona l acceptance offers wer e mad e f o r th e firs t time . Th e Schem e ha s p r ove d popular amon g schoo l pupil s a s they ca n n ow gaug e thei r prospect s o f being admitte d t o universit y soo n afte r leaving school , an d has also le d to a ris e i n th e qualit y o f student s seekin g admission . I a m gla d t o report tha t a second batc h o f abou t eigh t hund r e d student s accepte d t h r ough th e Schem e w i l l ente r th e Un i ve r s i t y i n th e comi n g year , tha t is, 1986 . Th e Un i ve r s i t y w i l l revie w th e entir e Schem e i n th e cours e of a fe w years , bu t i t ca n b e predicte d that , w i t h variou s technica l improvements, i t i s likel y t o remai n th e ma i n mod e o f studen t intak e i n th e foreseeabl e future . Howe v e r , a certai n numbe r o f place s w i l l continue t o b e se t asid e f o r lat e developer s wh o wo u l d b e accepte d on thei r performanc e i n competitiv e examination s take n afte r schoo l leaving. (b) Genera l Cu r r i cu l um Revie w Let m e n ow g o on t o ou r secon d ma j or initiative , namely , genera l cu r r i cu l um review . Th e undergraduat e cu r r i cu l u m o f th e Un i ve r s i t y , ever sinc e it s inceptio n i n 1963 , ha s alway s bee n a mi x t u r e o f t w o different system s ——the 'credi t un i t ' syste m an d th e 'degre e examination' system. Unde r thi s 'mixed ' syste m student s ar e require d t o tak e courses outsid e thei r area s o f specialization , althoug h thei r performance i n thes e course s affect s on l y marginall y th e clas s o f honour s awarded t o t he m o n graduation . A s th e academi c awar d doe s no t adequately reflec t th e importanc e o f thes e othe r component s o f thei r education, th e desig n an d imp l emen t a t i on o f a balanced cu r r i cu l um i n step w i t h ou r educationa l ideal s wer e d i f f i cu l t . I t wa s thi s realizatio n wh i ch p r omp t e d a n overhau l o f th e entir e four-yea r undergraduat e cu r r i cu l um structure . A specia l panel consisting o f Professo r Amb r os e Y . C . K i n g (Chairman) , Professo r D . C . Lau , D r . Kennet h Young , 3