City University of Hong Kong (CityU) is determined to enhance the quality of the education it provides and at the same time be accountable to taxpayers in its proposal to introduce a more open and performance-based pay review system.

The Performance-based Pay Review Scheme (the Scheme) aims to raise and reward good performance of faculty members in CityU’s three core academic activities, namely teaching and learning, research, and professional services. The specific assessment criteria and standards for each department/discipline will be established through a deliberative process as defined by faculty members within each department and benchmarked with their peers in the international community. This process ensures that the resulting system reflects the specific evaluation criteria of different disciplines and departments whilst meeting international standards.

Dr Charles Leung Ka-yui, Associate Professor of the Department of Economics and Finance, welcomed the Scheme believing it would allow more flexible allocation of resources so that the University could stay competitive in the global higher education sector. Associate Professor of the Department of Accountancy, Dr Grant Andrew Richardson, agreed that the Scheme was a good idea because staff goals could be aligned more closely with the goals of the University. “Performance evaluation becomes more transparent as people know what they need to do and what the University expects of them,” Dr Richardson added.

To ensure fairness and objectivity, the Scheme will be implemented through a three-tier mechanism. The process begins with a review by, and recommendations from, Departmental Assessment Committees, followed by consideration and endorsement by Deans /Line Managers of Colleges/Schools, and concludes with final approval by a central committee of the University. Pending approval by the Council, the Scheme, which applies to all faculty, will be implemented with effect from l July 2009. A thorough review of the Scheme will be conducted at the conclusion of each pay raise assessment cycle.

The eleven-person Working Group on the Scheme has conducted extensive consultation with faculty members, deans and heads, the Staff Association and Council members over the past months. Consequently, the Performance-based Pay Review Scheme reflects the general views and sentiments of the University. It is also recognised that regular reviews and constant refinements will be essential to bring improvements to the Scheme and ensure that it continues to meet the quality objectives of the University. “The proposal to link pay increases with performance is in line with what other top universities and research institutes in the world are doing,” remarked Dr Cheng Shuk Han, Associate Professor of the Department of Biology and Chemistry.

The Performance-based Pay Scheme is one effective means of rewarding performance where it is due. Accountability demands that public resources be used and distributed prudently and justly. CityU, together with its faculty members, is constantly seeking ways to encourage performance and improve itself in order to be accountable to the community and to live up to its high quality educational goals.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Professor Joseph Cheng (98886864 or 27887219)

Professor Rudolf Wu (9049 7414)

Professor Johnny Chan (2788 7820)

Professor Matthew Lee (6082 8788)

Mr Gabriel Chan (9080 1964)

Ms Jenny Kwan (9306 8568)

For more faculty comments on the proposed Scheme, please refer to the attachment.