The Operation Mechanism Of The Higher Education Intermediary Organization

The HKSAR Government attaches great importance to the development of education, especially pushing higher education into the world-class level. The development of Hong Kong’s higher education which led by the University of Hong Kong has won general recognition and praise in the higher education sector in Asia and the world. The reasons that why the HK’s universities and colleges can obtain such outstanding development, except by its special colonial history and direct penetration of Western culture, is directly related to the operation of its higher education system, namely the University Grants Committee of Hong Kong responsible for the eight major universities funding and accountability.In perspective of case studies, the research selects the University Grants Committee of Hong Kong (UGC) as an study example. Through methods of literature research and non-structured interviews, the author tries to explore the development of intermediary Government Grants Committee of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as an educational organization and its impact on the development of higher education from the perspective of institutions, and tell what else UGC should do to improve itself and promote the development of higher education. At the same time, it will provide more specific experience for establishing a more perfect funding system of higher education and intermediary organization.The empirical studies aim to examine several core questions:in order to play a buffer role as intermediary organization, what kinds of jobs of UGC bring the deepest impact on the institutions; what it did to help alleviate the contradictions between the institutions, government, market and society; and the contributions UGC has made to higher education in Hong Kong and its deficiencies. This thesis sorts out and analyzes the history and current situation of UGC on a macro basis. Then, on a micro basis, through interviews with the administrators and academics who take participation in the work of institutions, the aim is to analyze the three greatest impacts on the development of institutions, the change of funding mechanism, quality assurance and how to protect academic freedom and autonomy of higher education institutions, and study how UGC tries to realize its aim.Drawing from the findings of the literature review and interviews, the following main conclusions have been reached:in the process of development and function expansion, UGC has not only played its basic allocation function; but also through the introduction of Teaching and Learning Quality Process Review, research funded projects and other measures tried to promote quality assurance and academic development of higher education in Hong Kong. While coordinating the contradictions which may highlight between government regulators and institutional autonomy with its intermediary role, UGC tries to prevent the outbreak of conflict, making higher education move toward the good, healthy development direction. But it should pay more attention to guarding against the danger zone it may encounter.