The University of Southampton and the University of Aberdeen have jointly established a global network of universities that are engaged in institution-wide curriculum innovation to share learning, identify best practice and explore practical solutions to challenges ahead. The first meeting took place at the University of Southampton on January 18-19, 2011.
Higher education experts from around the world joined the meeting and presentations were made by representatives from the UK, Australia, Brunei, the USA, and Hong Kong. At the meeting Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Amy Tsui introduced HKU’s curriculum reform work, including the Enabling Curriculum Structure under the new undergraduate curriculum, the underlying Educational Aims, the Common Core, and various examples of Experiential Learning.
At HKU, e-learning is defined as the use of all types of technologies to enhance teaching and learning in conjunction with face-to-face learning. We emphasize the centrality of learning and the use of technologies as a tool to enrich the quality of learning and open up new opportunities for learning. We believe that it is important to align our e-learning strategy with the overall strategic plan of the University and the achievement of the institutional educational aims.
The 11th of HUCOM’s joint institutional activities for sharing of knowledge and experience in preparation for the “3+3+4” reform to be held on March 4, 2011.
Vice-Presidents and representatives from China’s C9 Universities and HKU met on September 20 and 21, 2010 at the Inaugural Symposium of C9+1 Universities in China held at HKU.Learn More
The 9th of HUCOM’s joint institutional activities for sharing of knowledge and experience in preparation for the “3+3+4” reform to be held on April 28. Learn More
On March 8, 2010 Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) Professor Amy B.M. Tsui and a number of staff, including Executive Director of CETL and members of the Common Core Curriculum Committee and the Teaching and Learning Quality Committee, met with fourteen students to discuss issues related to the Common Core Curriculum. The meeting was initiated by office bearers of the Students’ Union and its associated Faculty Societies in an attempt to address students’ queries over the implementation of the Common Core Curriculum in 2012.
Students were informed of why HKU would be implementing the Common Core in the context of undergraduate curriculum reform. In particular, the Common Core would enable students to broaden their horizons beyond their chosen discipline and would give them the opportunity to explore issues of profound significance to humankind in the 21st century. Teachers from various Faculties explained how the Common Core would be incorporated into their future curricula, and assured students that the Common Core would fit into professional degrees as well as double-degree programs involving multiple Faculties.
Since most Common Core courses would have a heavy weighting of coursework assessment, students were concerned about the workload implications. It was explained that student workload hours for each standard 6-credit course would be between 120 and 180, so coursework assessment should not lead to additional workload. The meeting ended with Professor Tsui’s remarks on the importance of constant dialogue between students and staff, and her words of thanks to the students for initiating and joining the meeting.
The Symposium, hosted by HKU on the first of March 2010, took place at Rayson Huang Theatre, the University of Hong Kong.
Vice-Chancellor Lap-Chee Tsui gave a warm welcome to over 300 attendees from local tertiary institutions, UGC, Education Bureau, and other organizations, noting the significance of Standards Based Assessment and Honours Classification in the implementation of the new 334 academic reform.
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The Steering Committee on 4-year Undergraduate Curriculum held its 4th Curriculum Reform Retreat on June 22-23, 2009 at the Aberdeen Marina Club. The theme of this retreat is “Student Learning Experience and Assessment”. Faculties responded enthusiastically and about 180 participants joined the Retreat, consisting of Deans, Heads of Departments and mostly staff members who are key players in the implementation of teaching and learning matters, teaching award winners, and members of the subcommittees of the Steering Committee. Of the retreat participants, over 30 are office bearers of student organizations and student representatives from Faculties.
The first session was devoted to the interpretation of the preliminary findings of the HKUSLEQ 08-09 whereas the two sessions on the next day were focused on assessment issues, particularly the move to standards-referenced assessment and First Year Experience (FYE). Students collectively made three impressive presentations to express their views on student learning experience, assessment and FYE.
Responses from the participants were very positive and encouraging. Please see below for the Feedback Report, programme rundown and the presentation files.
(Presentations with icons require HKU Portal login to access.)
Day 1: Monday June 22, 2009 (afternoon) (Grand Ballroom, 2/F)
From
To
Programme
Please click the PDF/VIDEO button to download the presentation files in PDF/WMV format
2:00pm
2:15pm
Opening Address
Professor Lap-Chee Tsui (VC & President)
2:15pm
2:40pm
Curriculum Reform Progress Report and Student Learning Experience Session Facilitator: Mr Benny T.Y. Tai (Retreat Organizing Committee Chair)
(I) CR Progress Report (Plenary Session)
Overview of progress made on curriculum reform
Professor Amy B.M. Tsui (Chair of SC; PVC(T&L) & VP)
Progress report on Common Core (CC) Curriculum and overview of CC offerings for 2010
Professor Joseph C.W. Chan (Deputy Chair of CCC Subcom; SC member)
Mr T. Gwyn Edwards (CC Co-ordinator)
2:40pm
3:45pm
(II) Student Learning Experience (Plenary Session)
Student learning experience: Preliminary findings of HKUSLEQ 2009
Professor Amy B.M. Tsui (Chair of SC; PVC(T&L) & VP)
Dr Beverley J. Webster (CAUT Deputy Executive Director)
Dr Albert W.L. Chau (Dean of Student Affairs; Chair of Student Learning Experience Subcom; SC member)
Student learning experience: Findings of follow-up focus group interviews with students on HKUSLEQ findings
Professor David R. Kember (Professor affiliated with CAUT) (5 mins)
Dr Susan M. Bridges (Assistant Professor, Faculty of Dentistry) (10 mins)
Dr Y. Feng (Assistant Professor, School of Chinese Medicine) (5 mins)
Response from students and Reporting back from staff
Q & A
Day 2: Tuesday June 23, 2009 (Morning) (Grand Ballroom, 2/F)
From
To
Programme
Please click the PDF/VIDEO button to download the presentation files in PDF/WMV format
8:45am
9:15am
Assessment
Session Facilitator: Dr Stephen B. Pointing (Retreat Organizing Committee Member)
(I) Assessment: Current Practices at HKU, Issues and Implications – An Overview (Plenary Session)
Professor Esmonde F. Corbet (Chair of Assessment Subcom; SC member)
9:15am
10:30am
(II) Panel Discussion (Plenary Session) Part A – Comments from panelists on key issues Panelists: Member(s) of SC Subcom, Faculty academic staff and student(s)
Outcome-based learning and standards-referenced assessment
Professor Michael T. Prosser (CAUT Executive Director; SC member)
Assessment standards and GPA
Professor Amy B M Tsui (Chair, SC; PVC (T&L) &VP)
Dr Otto Heim (Associate Dean (UG Student Affairs), Faculty of Arts)
Assessment policy
Professor Stephen J. Andrews (Associate Dean (Learning & Teaching)-designate, Faculty of Education)
Professor Esmonde F. Corbet (Professor, Faculty of Dentistry)
Part B – Comments from the floor
10:30am
11:00am
Tea Break (Marina Suite, 2/F)
11:00am
11:45am
(III) Standardizing Assessment Practices and Assessment Policy (Break-out Session)
11:45am
12:30pm
(IV) Interactive Session
Response from students and Reporting back from staff
Q & A
12:30pm
1:30pm
Lunch (Balcony & Board Room, 1/F)
1:30pm
2:15pm
First Year Experience (FYE)
Session Facilitator: Professor L.C. Chan (Retreat Organizing Committee Member)
(I) Transition from School to University Education: Problems and Issues (Plenary Session)
Presentation of findings of FYE (2008-2009) and First Year Expectation Surveys (2008-09)
Dr Albert W.L. Chau (Dean of Student Affairs; Chair of Student Learning Experience Subcom; SC member)
Professor Michael T. Prosser (CAUT Executive Director; SC member)
Presentation of findings of FYE focus group interviews
Professor David R. Kember (Professor affiliated with CAUT)
Dr David M. Pomfret (Associate Dean (Curriculum Development), Faculty of Arts; SC member)
Q & A
2:15pm
3:00pm
(II) FYE Findings & Proposed and Implemented Courses of Action (Break-out Session cum Tea Break)
3:00pm
4:00pm
(III) Interactive Session
Experience sharing from staff
Dr Albert W.L. Chau (Dean of Student Affairs; Chair of Student Learning Experience Subcom; SC member)
Professor Ian Holliday (Dean of Social Sciences)
Dr Tsing Nam-kiu (Associate Dean (Teaching & Learning), Faculty of Science)
Response and Proposal from students
4:00pm
4:15pm
Wrap Up and Look Ahead
Professor Amy B.M. Tsui (Chair of SC; PVC(T&L) & VP)
4:15pm
4:25pm
Closing Remarks
Professor Richard Y.C. Wong (DVC & Provost)
