About seven out of 10 higher education workers are opposed to moves to split universities into research and teaching-oriented institutions, a survey has found.
The Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union survey of 969 members from eight tertiary institutions, released ahead of tomorrow's University Grants Committee review, found nearly 70 per cent were against categorising universities.
Of the opponents, 82 per cent objected because they considered teaching and research inseparable. Seventy-one per cent said a policy of categorisation would polarise the higher education sector, while two-thirds feared it would hinder efforts by universities to improve standards.
Those supporting categorisation said the move would avoid overlapping of resources, bring clearer definition on work allocation and allow universities to develop their own identities.
The survey found that teaching and research staff, especially assistant professors and lecturers, tended to be more vocal in their opposition to the proposal than administrative employees.
Opposition was fiercest at Baptist University, where more than 90 per cent objected.
