After a council meeting yesterday its chairman, Thomas Leung Kwok-fai, said a blueprint on the institute's future was being prepared and the council would submit an official application for a university title in a few months.

'The council is paying a lot of attention to the retitling issue,' Dr Leung said.

The institute has been pushing for a university title since it was awarded self-accrediting status in May 2004, but it has not yet received government support.

Speaking in the Legislative Council yesterday, education minister Arthur Li Kwok-cheung said the government had maintained an open attitude towards the retitling but questioned whether an institute offering courses in only one discipline should be given the title.

'If monotechnic institutions can acquire a university title, will the schools within other universities, such as the law schools or medical schools, be encouraged to become independent universities? Is such a development suitable for Hong Kong?' Professor Li said.

There was no evidence to suggest the institute had been adversely affected by the lack of the title, he added, citing the Massachusetts and California institutes of technologies in the US as examples of high-quality technical institutes.

Dr Leung said council members, senior management, staff and student representatives would meet soon to discuss the development of the blueprint. Kwong Lee Dow, a council member and formerly vice-chancellor of the University of Melbourne, would advise on the plan.

Student union head Victor Au Kin-ho said he was pleased to see a timetable for the campaign for university status, adding the council chairman had promised to meet students.

The institute's council, which is dominated by government appointees, provoked controversy last month by voting not to reappoint president Paul Morris, when his contract expires in September.

Professor Morris had previously received the backing of the institute's academic board and staff and student associations, but their representatives were barred from voting on the issue.

Staff and students have expressed concerns of a potential management vacuum if a replacement is not found in time.

Dr Leung said yesterday the council would look for a headhunter to be in charge of the 'global search' for a replacement for Professor Morris.

A shortlist of candidates would be drawn up by May or June, the council chairman said, and this would be followed by interviews. 'Hopefully we'll be able to find a new president by September.'

HARSH WORDS

'Someone said I forced four academics at the Hong Kong Institute of Education to leave. I will say it very clearly here: I completely deny all the accusations. These allegations are harmful to me.'

Arthur Li, secretary for education and manpower

Denied yesterday he had asked the institute to sack academics for being critical of the government, and denied trying to force universities to merge

Bernard Luk, vice-president for academic affairs

Posted statement on institute's intranet accusing Arthur Li of pressuring the institute to merge with Chinese University on a number of occasions since 2004, and alleging a senior government official had asked the institute to fire four academics for criticising reforms

Paul Morris, president Has claimed council's decision not to reappoint him was result of his refusal to accept a merger - something he says council chairman Thomas Leung told him last June. Accused Professor Li of working 'behind the scenes'

Victor Lai, associate professor of visual arts

Claimed education bureau's principal assistant secretary met him in 2005 after he had written a critical newspaper article and requested he inform the bureau before publishing his views

Thomas Leung, chairman of institute council

Said yesterday he had never placed unnecessary pressure on academics who were critical of government policy