PROMOTING PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH IN HONG KONG’S HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS: Potentials, Possibilities and Policies

Peter P. YuenPublic Policy Research InstituteThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Potentials & Possibilities

University is a suitable home for public policy research Independence Possesses wide range of expertise credibility

Independence Multiple sources of funding Research Grants from research

bodies Researchers can choose their own research topics

Financial support from university Need not rely on consultancies for survival

Consultancies Applied, useful projects, but sponsor driven Can pick and choose

Expertise

Multidisciplinary approach Beyond public administration/political science Only universities have the wide range of

expertise in specific areas Health care, logistics, land use, built

environment, environmental protection, education, transport, tourism, social welfare etc

Problems UGC funding is tied mainly to

undergraduate teaching difficult for public policy research units to maintain a

critical mass Postgraduate teaching are self-

financing Difficult to support research

Research studentships in short supply

Problems

Consultancy funds are viewed as less prestigious than GRFs

Consultancy output not counted as research output

Data often not allowed to be use for journal publications