高等教育在香港已有百多年歷史,香港大學於1911年創立,是香港歷史最悠久的高等院校;1963年成立的香港中文大學則是香港第二所大學。及後,在不知不覺間,香港高等教育從上世紀八十年代精英型,走到九十年代的大衆化,至今成爲一個普及型高等教育的社會,過程中除了要面對如何增加高等教育學額的難題外,也經歷了兩次學制的改革。政府1989年決定將大學第一年學額調高至18%,使香港高等教育在九十年代初擴展爲大衆型;及至2000年,特首在施政報告中建議在十年間將適齡入讀高等教育的比率增至60%,促使香港成爲普及型高等教育。這篇文章將以歷史角度回顧香港高等教育的擴展經歷,並分析在過程中出現的相關問題,及就未來香港高等教育的發展作出前瞻性的討論。
There is a long history for the higher education in Hong Kong. Hong Kong University is the first university in Hong Kong and is founded in 1911. The second university is The Chinese University in Hong Kong and is established in 1963. To review the development of higher educations in Hong Kong. The age participation rate is increased to 18% for first degree course which is an expansion of about 50% in undergraduate number in the early of 90's. It changes elitist higher education to mass-type higher education in Hong Kong. Another essential change for higher education is the Chief Executive announced to double the age participation of higher education to 60% within ten years in 2000. This paper aims to have a look in the expansion of higher education in Hong Kong historically. It also analyses the problems in the process and discusses the future development of higher education in Hong Kong.