Vice-President (Teaching and Learning)

Dear colleagues and students

I’m circulating a brief note about S2 T&L arrangements.

Covid policy

HKU has now resumed normal operations, subject only to Covid regulations mandated by the HKSAR Government (https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html). This means we no longer require a Vaccine Pass for campus access and we no longer expect close contacts of Covid cases to stay away from work or study. Currently, anyone reporting as Covid test positive will be issued with a Government isolation order. For the duration of the order, colleagues should apply for sick leave and students should apply for leave of absence.

T&L arrangements

All UG programmes will be delivered f2f in S2, with just a handful of courses adopting hybrid or online teaching for pedagogical reasons. Faculties will support students who cannot return to HK for the start of S2, but the experience will not be as good as actually being here. Pls do try to get back as quickly as possible. TPG programmes will make their own decisions about S2 T&L arrangements and inform their students directly.

Teaching rooms

We’ll be occupying teaching rooms up to full capacity in S2. At the same time, we’ll be requiring everyone to comply with our standard health protocols in all classes, whether lectures, tutorials, labs, studios or anything else – masks on throughout, no eating or drinking at all.

Lecture recordings

As in S1, we encourage teachers to upload lectures to Moodle, notably during the add/drop period when many students like to audit courses online. However, this is not required (unless a Faculty decides to retain the policy). To keep everything simple, ITS has created a ‘hide’ button in Moodle. This enables teachers to decide which lectures they wish to share with students and which they prefer not to share.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back to campus. HKU offers an immersive experience, much of which can be gained only by coming on campus and participating in the many activities taking place here.

Best wishes for S2!

Ian

Professor Ian Holliday
Vice-President (Teaching and Learning)
The University of Hong Kong

Message from Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning)

Dear colleagues and students,

I am very pleased to announce the recipients of the University’s 2022 Teaching Excellence Awards.  The Selection Panel was deeply impressed with the awardees’ dedication to teaching, their tireless and creative efforts to make learning enjoyable and challenging, and the impact they have made on student learning.

University Distinguished Teaching Award
• Mr. David L. Bishop, Faculty of Business and Economics

Outstanding Teaching Award
Individual award
• Dr. Lisa M.L. Cheung, Centre for Applied English Studies, Faculty of Arts
• Dr. Rachel K.W. Lui, Faculty of Science

Team award
• Dr. Michelle R. Raquel (Leader) and Mr. Simon D. Boynton of Faculty of Arts, Dr. Jack Tsao of Common Core Office and Mr. Donn E.V. Gonda of Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning for Communication-intensive Courses

Early Career Teaching Award
• Mr. Nikolas Ettel, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture
• Dr. Mei Li Khong, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
• Dr. Austin M. Strange, Department of Politics and Public Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences
• Dr. Abraham K.C. Wai, Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine

I would like to thank our external assessor Professor Moira Fischbacher-Smith (Vice-Principal (Learning and Teaching) of the University of Glasgow) for providing us with expert advice during the final selection process.  I would also like to thank the other Panel members: Professor Susan Bridges, Mr. Mathew Pryor and Mr. Gary Ng (student representative) for their assistance in this important exercise.

Please join me in congratulating the awardees!  

Professor Ian Holliday 
Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning)
Chair, Selection Panel for 2022 Teaching Excellence Awards 

Dear colleagues,

You are encouraged to explore different pedagogies to optimise student learning.  Among which, the use of audio and audio-visual recording of lectures and other classroom activities may be considered.  A set of guidelines related to classroom recording and how such recordings should be managed is therefore developed so as to standardize the practice across the University.  Please refer to the Guidelines here for details and handle all recordings with due care.

Best wishes, Ian

Professor Ian Holliday
Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor
(Teaching and Learning)

Message from Professor Ian Holliday, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning)

Dear colleagues

Just a quick note about plagiarism. The University is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity, and has in place a Policy on Student Plagiarism in Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate Curricula.  Please do inform your students about proper academic practice. Relevant resources could be found in the plagiarism website.

Thanks and best wishes — Ian

Professor Ian Holliday
Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor
(Teaching and Learning)

Message from Professor Ian Holliday, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning)

Dear colleagues,

As you are aware, assessment is an important vehicle for supporting and guiding student learning. The University has an overarching assessment policy which sets out the philosophy and principles that guide and regulate assessment practices. The key principle is that students should be assessed in an appropriate, fair, rigorous and transparent manner. Solid and timely feedback, not restricted to scores or grades, should be provided. In particular, the QAC Audit Panel has advised us to enhance students’ understanding of the grade descriptors used in undergraduate and taught postgraduate courses, and to provide better feedback.

You are therefore requested at the start of each semester to talk students through the grade descriptors used in their courses, so that they understand the level of performance expected of them. You are also asked to give timely feedback on assignments and written examinations, so as to enable students to learn from what they have done well and what they have done badly.

The Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL) will continue to work on enhancing assessment practices and providing good feedback to students. If you have any thoughts or need any help, you are most welcome to contact the CETL staff liaison for your Faculty/Office as set out below:

Opportunity is taken to draw your attention to a new exciting initiative called “Collaborative Online International Learning” (COIL). Through online technology, COIL connects teachers and students from two or more universities in different countries, enabling them to engage in discussions, collaborative projects, and other virtual exchanges (in class or out of class). Fully aligning with the University’s internationalisation at home strategy, COIL expands our course offerings, and broadens students’ horizons. You are strongly encouraged to develop COIL courses for undergraduate and taught postgraduate students, and consult the CETL staff liaison for your Faculty/Office as necessary. Details about COIL can be found on the T&L website.

Best wishes, Ian

Professor Ian Holliday
Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor
(Teaching and Learning)