The Strategic Plan for 2003 to 2008 is presented at a critical time for the University and for the community it serves. The University has reached a level of relative maturity. In a number of important areas CityU research teams have earned an international reputation. Our focus on applied research is producing direct benefits for the local economy and society, and our educational role now extends from PhDs to Associate Degrees. While we are proud of our accomplishments, we recognise a need to consolidate our strengths.
The University is positioned along the axis that links professional education with applied research. We are determined to enhance this linkage and the synergies between research and education, and among disciplines and professional areas. Our position is further defined by our success in educating a wide range of students and by our increasing engagement with mainland China, especially the Pearl River Delta.
At this challenging moment for Hong Kong and the surrounding region, these strengths are of increasing relevance to the community. A clearer focus on key goals will enable us to maximise our contribution to the development of Hong Kong as one of China's great cities.
Priorities for education
Our core task is to prepare undergraduates for the fast-changing world of work. In undertaking this task we intend to give special attention to the mix of professional knowledge, technical skills, and creativity necessary for their success.
As the structure of post-secondary education changes, there is an opportunity to broaden our recruitment of young people who have missed the chance for direct entry to a bachelors degree programme after secondary school, but have demonstrated their capacity to succeed. We intend to make the best use of this opportunity.
These changes have also led the University to begin a project for the development of the College into a financially viable unit with increased autonomy providing a bridge between secondary school graduation and advanced qualifications.
Our part-time programmes are well established and valued by the community. Over the planning period we will focus on the development of high-value, advanced, professional qualifications. This goal is consistent with the desirability of increasing the number of programmes fully supported by student fees.
Maintaining and improving the quality of education is a complex task. We believe that reliable measures of performance are the foundation of sound decision making. We intend to increase the range and effectiveness of value-added measures of success in education.
Building on research excellence
The scholarship of discovery is the foundation of higher education and an important contribution we can make to the community. Having established a number of key research areas, we intend to focus available resources on priority areas of applied research, while maintaining the research profile necessary to support community development and to underpin our teaching.
We regard the nurturing of young research talent as a major contribution to society since trained researchers provide the foundation for future economic and social development. We look forward to making our full potential contribution to this effort.
With our focus on applied research the University will continue to collaborate with business partners and others to commercialise research results and to mobilise expertise for the community.
An infrastructure for research and education
The physical ambience of the University has always been a major concern. Scholarship and learning cannot thrive without the appropriate environment. In the next five years we expect to dramatically improve campus life through the completion of a major building programme.
CityU has always recognised the importance of information technologies in teaching, research, and administration. We intend to further enrich the environment for student learning by making maximum use of the opportunities created by these technologies and to bring more services to staff and students on-line and in real time.
A partnership with the community
A commitment to community goals requires close attention to value-for-money and accountability to stakeholders. Achieving these goals is linked to the review our systems for governance and planning. We will also take up the challenge of developing new sources of income without compromising publicly-funded operations.
CityU is no longer a new institution. This means that there is an opportunity to maximise understanding of the University's contributions to education and research through our work with our growing "family" of alumni, associates, and friends.
Looking forward
As Hong Kong looks forward to a future in a changing region, we intend to align ourselves with that future, as a university at the hub of a spreading regional and international network of professional education and applied research, at the service of a leading city in China with increasingly strong linkages to a knowledge-based global community.
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