It gives me great pleasure to once again write this Foreword for our Annual Report, the third in my capacity as Chairman of the Council.
2010-11 has been yet another year marked by positive change and progress for HKIEd.
As we approach 2012, it is an opportune moment to review the milestones we have
achieved in transforming our Institute into an Education-focused, multidisciplinary
institution with strong research and research training capacities – a vision that is
articulated in our Strategic Plan 2009-12 and Beyond.
I am delighted to report that our Institute has been able to accomplish the major
milestones set out in the Strategic Plan, not only on schedule but in a number of
instances, well ahead of the original timelines. I would therefore like to thank everyone
in the Institute community for the tremendous efforts which have been put into
completing these challenging tasks.
Following on the successful launch of two new multidisciplinary degree programmes in
Language Studies and Global and Environmental Studies in 2010-11, we continued to
diversify and expand our programmes under the guidance of the Institute’s “Education-plus”
concept. The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Creative Arts and Culture, our latest
University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded degree programme which is complementary
to education, will be offered in 2011-12. With the introduction of our Master of
Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy programmes last year, alongside our other self-financed
programmes, the Institute is now providing a full array of degree programmes,
from undergraduate to postgraduate, and professional and research doctoral degrees.
In our transformation towards a research-active institution, the Institute’s two-pronged
approach to strengthen research and research education has achieved a number of
breakthroughs. Apart from our traditional strengths in the Education discipline, we have
now expanded our research areas into other related fields in the Humanities, Social
Sciences and Creative Arts and Culture. This has been made possible with the increased
funding support from sources such as the Research Grants Council, Education Bureau,
Quality Education Fund, Hong Kong Jockey Club, non-governmental organisations and
other external bodies. At the same time, we are also seeing an increase in the numbers
of applicants competing for admission to our postgraduate research programmes. These
successes are testimony to our enhanced capacities in research and scholarship.
In the face of competition for talent in the local higher education sector, particularly in the
run up to 2012 when the 3-3-4 academic structure* will be implemented at the university
level, the Institute has put in place measures to recruit new staff while retaining existing
colleagues. Refinements have also been made to the staff performance appraisal and
reward systems. These initiatives, I believe, will enhance the sustainability and long-term
development of our Institute as we enter the crucial next stage of our transformation.
During the year under review, the Institute’s Management has taken proactive steps
to fine-tune the pay review structure after extensive consultation with different staff
associations and committees. The new structure, which introduces performance-based
pay adjustments and special merit award components, will provide additional incentives
for staff members to make a greater contribution through the enhancement of their
skills and long-term productivity gains. New initiatives for greater career development
are also being planned at the time of writing of this report.
In terms of corporate governance, several initiatives were undertaken during the year,
including implementation of risk-rating assessments for all future Internal Audit findings
to enhance and sustain our financial management capacities. We as an Institute believe
in, and promote people-based governance, and we therefore actively implement the
UGC’s best practice package on staff grievances and appeal procedures. We also
adopted best practices in Corporate Social Responsibility as part of the Institute’s policy,
demonstrating our commitment to high standards of governance and citizenship.
Looking ahead, we will soon arrive at the critical juncture in the key milestones set out
in our Strategic Plan.
Over the last few years, our Institute community has been working with unswerving
dedication and concerted effort to not only enhance our teaching and learning, and
research and scholarship capacities; but also to shape the local education landscape
and international discourse on education. The Institute has made impressive
achievements in the current triennium, and is fully prepared for its transformation into a
University of Education.
At HKIEd, we remain strongly convinced that the key to bolstering and developing
talent is through education, long regarded as an important driver of social progress and
mobility. Hong Kong lacks natural resources and our people are our most important
asset. I firmly believe the future University will have a vital role to play in this process.
The University of Education, working in tandem with other sister universities and
institutions of higher learning, will help Hong Kong nurture its future talent and leaders,
strengthening its position as the hub for education in the region.
On this note, I am extremely gratified that the Quality Assurance Council, in its recently
released report, commended this Council for its effective leadership in moving towards
the goal of achieving university status with an Education-plus academic profile. I wish to
take this opportunity to thank Members of the Council, the staff, students and alumni,
for their dedication and hard work.
In closing, let me extend a warm welcome to new Council Members Mr Henry Tong,
Professor Joanne Chung, Professor John Lee, Professor Dennis McInerney, Mr Li Chin-wa,
Mrs Julie Ma and Mr Zero Liu. On behalf of the Institute, I would like to express our
gratitude to outgoing Council Members Mr Ivan Choy, Professor Lam Chi-chung, Mrs
Lydia Lam, Dr Ng Shun-wing, Dr So Kwok-sang, Dr Jimmy Wong and Dr Wong Ping-ho
for their invaluable services to the Institute.
* The official title of the 3-3-4 academic structure is the New Academic Structure for Senior Secondary Education
and Higher Education in Hong Kong. Under this structure, students will receive six years of secondary
education (three junior and three senior), and four years of university education.

Mr Pang Yiu-kai, SBS, JP
Chairman of the Council |