Desks top e-mail on scholars' wish-list

Never mind personal computers, e-mail accounts or free access to the Internet - most postgraduate students simply want their own desks to help their studies.

Most of the 1,300-plus postgraduate students registered for the first time at the University of Hong Kong from July 1997 to June last year demanded their own learning desks in a survey.

Findings showed that having a private desk was regarded by the students as the most important factor chosen from a university facility list.

Some 81 per cent of masters students and 82 per cent of doctorate students said they wanted private desks while 69 per cent and 74 per cent of masters and doctorate students chose having personal computer terminals.

Other needs ranked in order included a private study room, shared photocopier, notice-board for postgraduate matters, shared telephone, shared fax machine and shared study room.

The university's student affairs office, which conducted the survey, said the findings revealed that basic learning tools were as important as hi-tech equipment.

Assistant student affairs officer Sylvia Wong Chan Sau-wai said: 'It seems the students want a designated table for their learning.

'Research students are more keen to have their own learning tables than course-work students because they spend more time learning on campus than at home.' Few postgraduate students can have their own desks on campus, but Mrs Wong said students could learn in the university library, which had plenty.

She said they had sent the findings to departments and faculties, and hoped more desks could be offered when facilities were upgraded.