4. Hallazgos de la investigación
4.3. Marco institucional y sistema de incentivos
Australia’s knowledge base and research capabilities by assisting the development of an effective research and research training system in the higher education sector. The stipend rate for 2003 is
5.12 In the absence of a clearly stated minimum requirement of academic attainments for the award of stipends (in the case of PolyU, HKUST and CityU), there is a risk that students with below average academic attainments may be awarded stipends in the form of scholarships. Audit considers that there is a need for the institutions to establish and publish clear requirements for the minimum academic attainments of students eligible for the award of stipends in the form of scholarships.
Determination of the stipend levels
5.13 The UGC requires that the institutions should set the levels of stipend with reference to actual needs of students and conduct regular reviews to ensure that stipends are pitched at reasonable levels (see para. 5.5(b) and (c) above). The CUHK has a clear policy that the value of the stipend will be subject to periodic review in the light of the cost of living. Except for the CUHK, the other institutions which offer stipends to research students do not have a stated policy on:
— the basis for setting the levels of stipend; and
— the mechanism for the regular review of the levels of stipend.
5.14 Audit considers that, in the absence of a stated policy on the administration of stipends, including the basis and mechanism for the setting and reviewing of the stipend levels, there is a risk that the stipend levels may be set at an arbitrary level.
5.15 Based on information provided by the institutions upon audit enquiries, the most common factors that are taken into account by the institutions in setting and reviewing the stipend levels are:
(a) average starting salary of university graduates;
(b) cost of living; and
(c) levels of stipend offered by other local universities.
Table 11 below shows a summary of the factors taken into account in setting and reviewing the stipend levels.
Table 11
Factors taken into account by
the UGC-funded institutions in setting and reviewing the stipend levels
Factors taken into account
Institution
Average starting salary
of University
graduates Cost of living
Levels of stipend offered by other
local universities Others
CityU
7
7
3
• Available fundingfrom the UGC • Economic situation HKBU
3
3
3
7
LU3
3
3
• University’s financial situation CUHK3
3
3
7
PolyU3
3
3
7
HKUST7
3
3
7
HKU7
7
3
7
Legend: 3 = yes 7 = noSource: Information provided by the institutions
Average starting salary of graduates
5.16 As shown in Table 11 above, four of the seven institutions which offer stipends to research students claim to have taken into account the average starting salaries of university graduates in setting and reviewing the stipend rates. Audit agrees that this is an appropriate benchmark for setting the stipend rates. This is because the average starting salaries of university graduates generally represent the level of income determined by the market, taking into account all relevant factors including the economic situation.
5.17 While all the institutions do not consider stipends as remuneration, research students are required to undertake teaching and research related work (or “training”) as a condition of the award of stipends. The level of stipends paid partly reflects the work which the students are required to undertake for the institutions. Table 12 below shows the stipend rates and the maximum number of hours of work that students are required to undertake as a condition of the receipt of stipends in the institutions.
Table 12
Stipend rates and amount of work that the recipients are required to undertake in 2002-03
Institution Monthly stipend rate
Maximum number of hours of work (or “training”)
required per month
CUHK $13,615 52 HKBU (Note) $12,250 / $12,750 / $13,250 52 LU $11,000 52 HKUST (Note) $14,500 / $15,000 / $15,500 30 PolyU $15,500 26 CityU $14,500 26 HKU $15,600 $14,900 $14,200 $13,500 21 17 13 8
Source: The institutions’ records
Note: The three levels of stipend are provided to students studying in their first year, second year and third year respectively.
5.18 It can be seen in Table 12 above that the monthly stipend rates set by the institutions are comparable (ranging from $11,000 to $15,600 in 2002-03). The average monthly stipend rate for the seven institutions which offer stipends to research students in 2002-03 was about $13,800. Audit notes that this average monthly stipend rate compares favourably with the average starting salary of Hong Kong university graduates of about $13,300 per month (as at December 2001 — Note 32). Five of the institutions (i.e. HKU, CUHK, HKUST, PolyU and CityU) offer stipend rates which are higher than the average starting salary of university graduates. Audit considers that the current stipend rates of these five institutions have exceeded such a market benchmark. Furthermore, the maximum number of hours of work that the students are required to undertake (ranging from eight hours to 52 hours per month — see Table 12 in para. 5.17 above) is much less than that for a full-time job. There is a need for all institutions to critically review their current stipend levels, having due regard to the decreasing average starting salary of university graduates in Hong Kong.
Cost of living
5.19 As shown in Table 11 above, five of the seven institutions which offer stipends to research students claim to have taken into account the cost of living factor in setting and reviewing the stipend rates. In accordance with the UGC policy on stipends, the institutions are required to set the levels of stipend with reference to the actual needs of students and to conduct regular reviews to ensure that stipends are pitched at reasonable levels (see para. 5.5(b) and (c) above). Audit considers that the cost of living is a very important factor to consider in setting and reviewing the stipend rates, because changes in the cost of living have a direct impact on the dollar value of stipend required to meet the actual needs of students. Table 13 below shows the changes in the monthly stipend rates in the institutions since 1997-98.
Note 32: This is the overall average starting monthly salary of full-time university graduates who were in