The quality of education in general, and teacher
education in particular, can only be enhanced if teachers
possess a strong sense of mission in, and the necessary attributes
for, their profession. As a major teacher education provider,
the Institute has, since 2000-01, been drawing on the support
of 360 principals in interviewing over 8,000 applicants in
the Honorary Interviewers Scheme. The Institute is particularly
grateful to have these future employers (school principals)
work in partnership with the Institute in identifying passionate
and suitable young people to become future teachers. For graduates
since 2002, the Institute has conducted annual research on
Principals' Rating on Graduate Performance. The research provides
the Institute with a better understanding of the professional
development of new teachers, and facilitates the continuous
improvement of its programmes. Thus far 1,946 principals had
been surveyed on the performance of 6,707 graduates.
With a view to providing international experience that will
broaden the global horizons of the Institute community, and
its students in particular, the Institute has also been proactive
in diversifying the student population.
In 2005-06, the Centre for International Education
(CIE) organised education exhibitions, recruitment talks and
recruitment fairs in the UK, Denmark, Tunisia, Australia,
Malaysia and Korea, and in major mainland cities like Beijing,
Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. This effort has attracted
over 450 applicants for its BEd, Postgraduate Diploma in Education
(PGDE) and Master of Education (MEd) programmes - a five-fold
increase over 2004-05. As a result, 52 mainland and non-local
students have been recruited.
The Centre is actively planning to extend its
recruitment efforts to Thailand, Japan, India, the USA and
other countries in Europe, as well as the Chinese provinces
of Shandong, Anhui, Sichuan and Zhejiang where there is a
larger number of high-quality students.
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