PolyU unveils management shake-up
The new head of Polytechnic University has unveiled a leadership reshuffle and a series of new measures to prepare for the launch of four-year degrees in 2012.
Four months into his tenure, president Timothy Tong Wai-cheung jointly announced the reshuffle involving the creation of two posts, to take effect in September next year, with deputy president Alexander Tzang Hing-chung.
The posts of provost and of vice-president in marketing, internationalisation and advanced executive education were created to strengthen the management of the university.
'We have formed a selection committee to look for suitable candidates,' said Professor Tong. The vice-president would be in charge of planning and overseeing all non-academic operations, he said.
Professor Tong spelled out four goals for the university. The first was to strive towards developing higher education in the Pearl River Delta.
He also wanted to expand programmes for managers and nurture student innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.
Developing more community-oriented programmes under the 2012 four-year undergraduate structure was the fourth goal.
'As an application-oriented university, we have to nurture students to make direct contributions to the society,' he said.
'We will offer new programmes under the 3+3+4 structure. Those programmes will have stronger emphasis on sustainable community development. ... We will also ask professors from different departments to suggest what new subjects to offer for the new structure. It's likely that the new subjects would be in the fields of languages, culture and general studies. Details of the plan will be ready in six months' time.'
Professor Tong said building more hostels and recruiting extra staff were among other preparations for four-year degrees.
Raising the enrolment of non-local students to the 20 per cent ceiling was a long-term goal. 'Last year, we admitted 230 mainland students,' he said, adding that this year's figures would be similar.
