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