For discussion FCR(96-97)65
on 1 November 1996

ITEM FOR FINANCE COMMITTEE

CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND
HEAD 708 - CAPITAL SUBVENTIONS AND MAJOR SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Capital Subventions
Tertiary/other New Subhead "Basic teaching equipment for the Hong Kong Institute of Education"

Members are invited to approve the creation of a new subhead with a commitment of $90 million for basic teaching equipment for the Hong Kong Institute of Education.

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PROBLEM
PROPOSAL
JUSTIFICATION

Computer Environment and Equipment
Equipment for Education Technology Facilities
Teaching (Non-Computer) and Sports Equipment for Academic Departments
Re-use of existing furniture and equipment
Advice of the University Grants Committee (UGC)
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Consultation
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Basic Teaching Equipment for the Hong Kong Institute of Education

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PROBLEM

The Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd) needs to purchase and install basic teaching equipment for its new campus in Tai Po.

PROPOSAL

2. We propose to create a new subhead with a commitment of
$90 million for the HKIEd to purchase and install basic teaching equipment for its new campus.

JUSTIFICATION

3. Members approved in December 1994 a project estimate of $2,094 million for the development of a new campus for the HKIEd in Tai Po to enable the Institute to run its courses under one roof instead of in ten small and scattered campuses as at present [FCR(94-95)87]. Members approved in December 1995 the revised estimate of $2,312 million for the project to allow for inflation [FCR(95-96)92]. When seeking approval of the project estimate in December 1994, we informed Members that we would seek funding approval of the basic teaching equipment when the Institute had worked out its requirements.

4. The HKIEd has now established the need to purchase and install the following categories of basic teaching equipment -

1. Computer environment and equipment;
2. Equipment for education technology facilities; and
3. Teaching (non-computer) and sports equipment for academic departments.

Computer Environment and Equipment

5. The HKIEd has advised that, at its establishment in 1994, the Institute inherited extremely limited computing facilities from the former Colleges of Education. Although in the past two years the Institute has improved the computing facilities in the dispersed campuses, much of the need for computing equipment must integrate with the construction and setting up of the Tai Po campus where the Institute will have the opportunity to develop an up-to-date computing environment from scratch. The proposed computing environment will consist of a network system with multi-media capabilities that integrate text, sound, graphics, and video. An interactive multi-media system is the tool most appropriate for teacher education. It enhances interaction, expands learning opportunities, enlivens educational materials and makes learning more interesting. The Institute can easily scale up the applications in future to match the needs of the Institute and technological development. This will obviate the need for re-engineering the environment within a few years to cope with new demand of the Institute.

Equipment for Education Technology Facilities

6. The HKIEd has to have comprehensive and up-to-date education technology facilities for both teaching and learning purposes. The facilities will serve students of initial teacher education courses (pre-service students), students of professional upgrading courses (all serving teachers), and lecturing staff. The proposed education technology facilities include, for instance, audio cassette recorders, amplifiers, wireless microphones, heavy duty video camera recorders, slide duplicators and projectors, cameras and lens and flashes, audio mixers, headphones, video cassette recorders, CD-ROM recorders, multi-media non-linear editors, contact printers, digital offset printers, colour copiers, projection screens, etc.

Teaching (Non-Computer) and Sports Equipment for Academic Departments

7. We also need to provide discipline-specific teaching (non-computer) and sports equipment for the 12 academic departments under the Institute’s four academic Boards of Studies, namely Language in Education, Educational Studies, Mathematics, Science and Technology, and Social and Business Studies, to meet their specific needs. The equipment includes, for example, language teaching and learning equipment in the language laboratories in the Departments of Chinese and English, teaching equipment in the chemistry, biology, physics, primary science and integrated science laboratories, and equipment for the Department of Physical Education in areas such as aquatic, athletics, ball games and gymnastics.

Re-use of existing furniture and equipment

8. The HKIEd has pledged that it will transfer, where appropriate, all re-usable and serviceable teaching and non-teaching equipment at its existing campuses to the new Tai Po campus. The HKIEd inherited in 1994 from the former Colleges of Education and the Institute of Language in Education an inventory of furniture, teaching equipment, office furniture and stationery at a total book value of $40 million. Most of these items are well over 15 years old and have reached the end of their serviceable life. The HKIEd has actually written off a large quantity of them, and expects that only about 5% will still be serviceable by the time the Institute moves to its new campus. The Institute has also purchased, since its establishment in 1994, facilities and equipment in the order of some $65 million. It expects to be able to transfer over 95% worth of these items to the new campus. The rest are mainly equipment related to fitting out works and network cabling.

Advice of the University Grants Committee (UGC)

9. The Governor designated the HKIEd as an institution under the terms of reference of the UGC on 1 July 1996. The UGC accordingly offers advice to the Administration on the academic development and funding requirements of the Institute. Having examined the list of basic teaching equipment submitted by the HKIEd, the UGC has agreed to the list of items, taking into account the mix of subjects that the Institute will teach, the size of its academic and administrative staff, the current technological environment in which graduates of the HKIEd will work, the planned number of students and the design of the new HKIEd campus.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

10. HKIEd estimates that the basic teaching equipment will cost
$90 million, as follows -

A breakdown of the cost and facilities for each category of the equipment is at the Enclosure.

11. The cashflow requirements for the proposal will be as follows -

12. All the teaching equipment will be ready for use upon the opening of the HKIEd new campus in September 1997. HKIEd estimates to settle 68% of the payment by then. The cashflow requirement thereafter is basically to meet the balance.

13. There will be additional recurrent expenditure of $5 million a year, mainly for the running cost, such as maintenance for the computer equipment, which the Institute will absorb within its recurrent grants.

Consultation

14. The Legislative Council Panel on Education had no objection to the proposal when the Secretary for Education and Manpower consulted it at its meeting on 18 October 1996.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

15. We established the HKIEd in September 1994 under the Hong Kong Institute of Education Ordinance. The HKIEd plans to complete its main campus in Tai Po in mid-1997 for intake of students in September 1997.

16. In December 1995, Members approved a revised estimate of $2,312 million for the project which does not cover the basic teaching equipment required.

Education and Manpower Branch
October 1996

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Enclosure to FCR(96-97)65

Basic Teaching Equipment for the Hong Kong Institute of Education

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