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Teaching and Learning @ HKU

Academic Advising

Academic advising is a crucial element of the learning expedition for students in the first year and beyond. HKU has set up a University-wide academic advising system engaging central offices, Faculties, halls and the Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS), with the following objectives:

  1. to facilitate freshmen to make the transition from secondary to university education;
  2. to help students to set their academic and personal goals and to draw a road map for the achievement of these goals during their undergraduate study;
  3. to enable students to make informed choices in their course and programme selection so as to maximize the opportunities for learning opened up by the new curriculum structure;
  4. to provide timely guidance to students to enrich their total learning experience; and
  5. to provide coherent academic advice to students through good coordination between different offices, supporting units and Faculties in the University.

University-wide academic advising system

General Academic Advising

The Academic Advising and Scholarships Office (AASO) (http://aas.hku.hk/) is a central unit responsible for co-ordinating academic advising initiatives and training across Faculties and to assist students in understanding university requirements, course enrolment procedures and academic options.

Faculty-based Academic Advising

Each Faculty will appoint

  • an overall Academic Advising and First Year Experience (AA&FYE) Coordinator and an AA&FYE Administrator;
  • Faculty Academic Advisers (FAAs) to meet and discuss issues with new student assigned to them;
  • Temporary Academic Advisers (TAAs) who specialize on helping students, especially non-home Faculty students, to explore major/minor options;
  • Faculty Student Advisers (FSAs) who are in their second year or above to work under the guidance of the AA&FYE Coordinators.

Residence-based Academic Advising

Each hall of residence and residential college will appoint senior students in its hall as Residential Student Advisers (RSAs). They will be supervised by the wardens of their respective halls of residence. CEDARS will coordinate the implementation of the residence-based academic advising system and continue to guide students on enriching their campus and hall life, provide career education and services, and assist in students’ personal and academic development.

Web-based Academic Advising

The Academic Advising website (http://aas.hku.hk/) serves as the first point of contact for students looking for academic guidance. Students can also search for information on their programmes and curricula from the Faculty websites, and check their advisers’ contact through the Student Information System (SIS).

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