Colleges put faith in teaching talent

To set up an independent Catholic private university, Caritas Institute of Higher Education (CIHE) began offering graduate degrees last year. To affirm its status, it also changed its name from one honouring the first Chinese bishop, Francis Hsu.

Last year, CIHE launched streams in accountancy, corporate management and information systems - all under the bachelor's in business administration category. It will also be offering event, hotel and tourism management and marketing.

'We are hiring as we are expanding with new degree offerings and due to the new academic system. In the next three years, there will be more students graduating and wanting to enter post-secondary education,' says Professor Reggie Kwan, president of CIHE and its sister college, the Caritas Bianchi College of Careers (CBCC), which offers higher diplomas and associate degrees.

The two institutions consolidated administratively in 2007 under one president, but have separate deans. The two schools are spread over three campuses - in Tiu Keng Leng, in Kowloon Tong and on Caine Road - and accommodate about 3,000 students.

CIHE will likely need 10 to 30 lecturers, depending on the rate of applications, says Dr Dennis Law, CIHE's dean.

'Recruitment aims at doctoral degree holders who also have practical work experience, as well as considerable teaching experience.'