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| New
staffing policies
The "cocktail" approach to achieve savings and to enhance performance
at times of budget constraints was unveiled in two open forums held back-to-back
on 30 October. The approach includes, among others:
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reducing the budget allocation
for 2004-05 (5% from academic and administrative units, 8% from institutional
budgets);
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implementing an across-the-board
pay cut following the civil service practice (3% and 3% on 1 January
2004 and 2005, respectively);
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reducing the budget for
administrative units (3% for 2005-06 and 2% for 2006-07);
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initiating new salary
scales on 1 July 2004 for new appointees;
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no automatic salary increment
increments; rewards based on merits and performance, and the overall
financial health of the University; and
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launching a departure
scheme in early 2004 for staff on substantiated superannuable terms.
These measures, described
as "initial steps", are premised on a funding withdrawal for
most of CityU's taught postgraduate programmes and for 75% of its associate
degree (AD) programmes by 2008-09, and a 10% cut in overall university
funding for 2004-05. The proposals also assume a further 10% cut for the
2005-08 triennium. (http://www.jvrhmfr.xyz/cityutoday)
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| Funding
allocations 2005-08
Cuts in funding allocations
to universities in the 2005-08 triennium would not be single digit, Dr
Alice Lam, Chairman of the University Grants Committee, told
the press 22 October. Indications are that it is likely to reach 20%,
Prof David Tong, DP (Designate), told the open forums
on 30 October. Altogether, the funding cuts and withdrawals would mean
that the University could accumulate a loss of as much as HK$2,000 million
in government funding by 200809. The exact figures for the cuts 2005-08
will not be availabe until April 2004, after UGC panels visit the funded
institutions to discuss their academic development.
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| Core
Group to stay
Because the cost-saving exercise
will be a long-term process, in view of declining funding allocations
from the Government, the Management Board's Core Group, comprising Prof
David Tong, DP (Designate), Prof Y S Wong, VP(Admin)
and Prof Roderick Wong, D (FSE), will stay intact. The
Group will work closely with Deans and Heads to achieve efficiency savings
and to enhance performance over the long haul.
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| Self-financing
AD
Self-financing AD In the open
consultation forums, staff mainly questioned the rationale behind recommending
switching College staff employed on superannuable terms to contract terms
in the interim years 2004-08. Some demanded compensation or a severance
package. Mr S M Chung, Chairman of the Council Working
Group on Associate Degree programmes, promised to consider the divergent
views. In reponse to a request for a greater financial commitment from
the University, however, he pointed out that the University has to set
aside HK$130 million to pay for the protected College staff benefits in
2004-08, not to mention underwrite a HK$300 million loan for the construction
of the new College's permanent campus.
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| Minor
restructuring
After Prof David Tong,
VP (AA), has taken up the post of Deputy President on 1 December, it is
envisaged that some minor reshuffle of administrative arrangements will
be carried out. Some offices may be integrated, others given new heads.
Details will emerge in mid-November.
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Council
meeting
The forthcoming meeting, on
24 November, will be jam-packed with important issues, including the final
report on the Associate Degree programmes, university governance reform,
new staffing policies to meet fiscal constraints (see first item in this
issue). Council Chairman Mr Norman Leung's terms of office
will expire soon. A change of Council leadership is also expected after
this meeting.
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| University
spokesperson
The Management Board agreed,
in principle, to appoint a senior staff member to serve as the official
conduit of communication with the media.
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| 20th
Anniversary
1 January 2004 will mark the 20th anniversary of the institution's formal
establishment. A steering committee, comprising 17 serving and retired
staff members and chaired by President Prof H K Chang,
has met twice. It has decided that the entire year 2004 will be designated
as the "20th Anniversay Year", even though highlights of the
celebration programme will concentrate in the second half of the year.
A theme will be announced soon.
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Kudos
DynaCity Technology (HK) Ltd and SoftEnable Technology Ltd, both CityU
Enterprises companies, have been awarded the Machinery and Equipment Design
Award and the Certificate of Merit in Technology Achievement, respectively,
at the 2003 Hong Kong Industry Awards, on 27 October. The two companies
are headed by, respectively, Dr Sun Dong of MEEM and
Prof Horace Ip of CS.
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Congregation
The 18th Congregation will take place 11 to 14 November, in nine sessions.
About 6,000 students, including 160 MPhils and PhDs, will receive their
academic awards. Four honorary degrees will be conferred in the fourth
session, on 12 November.
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| Distinguished
lectures
Prof Brian Anderson of the Australian National University:
"Pulling Information Out of the Clutter", 4:30 pm, 6 November,
SCOPE Lecture Theatre. Prof Andrew Chi-Chih Yao of Princeton
University: "The Enjoyment of Computing Theory", 4:30 pm, 10
November, SCOPE Lecture Theatre.
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| Conferences
The 6th International Symposium of Japanese Studies and Japanese Language
Education, organized by the Divsion of Language Studies, 8 & 9 November.
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