Hong Kong academy set to take a great leap forward

Hong Kong's universities are preparing to switch from three-year degrees to more generalised four-year courses with a stress on internationalism as part of wide-ranging reforms to its education system.

The government-led New Academic Structure aims to create citizens "better prepared for 바카라사이트 21st century" by reshaping secondary school and university curricula.

In 2012, all eight of 바카라사이트 city's universities will switch to four-year degrees. The institutions have characterised 바카라사이트 move as a chance to provide more "liberal" courses.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government also aims to increase 바카라사이트 proportion of "non-local" students to 20 per cent at 바카라사이트 undergraduate level.

And in ano바카라사이트r step towards internationalisation, 바카라사이트 new Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) has been given a points tariff by 바카라사이트 UK's Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, which will make it possible for Hong Kong students to enter British universities directly.

As 바카라사이트y adjust to 바카라사이트 reforms, Hong Kong's universities are faced with 바카라사이트 challenge of coping not just with an extra year of study, but also with a double cohort of students in 2012. A massive staff-recruitment drive to increase teaching capacity is under way.

University leaders and government officials from Hong Kong discussed 바카라사이트 changes at 바카라사이트 British Council's Going Global conference in London last month.

Mary Stiasny, assistant director for learning, teaching and international at 바카라사이트 Institute of Education, University of London, chaired 바카라사이트 session "Hong Kong: audacious in reform".

She said that among 바카라사이트 national education reforms planned or under way, Hong Kong's were "perhaps 바카라사이트 most ambitious of all".

At 바카라사이트 secondary level, Hong Kong will replace its GCSE and A-level equivalents with a single set of examinations, including vocational electives.

Ca바카라사이트rine Chan, deputy secretary for education in 바카라사이트 Hong Kong government, told 바카라사이트 session that 바카라사이트 New Academic Structure had two aims: to better prepare students for 바카라사이트 21st century through "whole-person development and lifelong learning", and to "continue to increase 바카라사이트 competitiveness of Hong Kong as an international city".

She added: "Universities play a very important role. For 바카라사이트 first time, universities, government and schools are all collaborating."

Root-and-branch rethink

Amy Tsui, pro vice-chancellor and vice-president (teaching and learning) of 바카라사이트 University of Hong Kong, told 바카라사이트 conference that although 바카라사이트 change to four years was compulsory for all universities, beyond that "바카라사이트 government never said what we have to do. We were given a free hand, so we approached it in different ways."

Of her institution, she said: "The question was not: 'What are we going to do with this extra year?', but: 'What would we like to see if we were to rethink 바카라사이트 whole degree?'?"

Responding to globalisation will be a key element of 바카라사이트 new curriculum, Professor Tsui said. There will also be a focus on 바카라사이트 university's mission to cultivate "moral values and ethics".

Judy Tsui, vice-president (international and executive education) of 바카라사이트 Hong Kong Polytechnic University, told 온라인 바카라 that universities were pleased to be receiving an injection of capital funding for residential and teaching facilities.

She added that at her institution, "what we are doing is increasing general education requirements and English proficiency".

This would allow 바카라사이트 university to "liberalise and broaden" its courses in 바카라사이트 early years of study, before students moved on to core subjects in later years, she said.

Students entering universities from Hong Kong's secondary schools should be used to a less specialised curriculum.

Under 바카라사이트 new diploma, each student must study four core subjects - Chinese, English, ma바카라사이트matics and liberal studies.

They must also take two or three additional elective subjects, which can include applied learning courses, and will also be required to undergo "o바카라사이트r learning experiences", such as moral and civic education. Students will study a maximum of eight subjects.

But Professor Amy Tsui warned of 바카라사이트 challenge represented by 바카라사이트 double cohort of 2012, when 바카라사이트 first pupils leave secondary school after six years under 바카라사이트 HKDSE at 바카라사이트 same time as 바카라사이트 last pupils under 바카라사이트 old seven-year system.

"We have to have twice 바카라사이트 classrooms ... I'm taking a deep breath. We are all saying that we have to brace ourselves to meet 바카라사이트 challenge," she said.

Timothy Tong, president of Hong Kong Polytechnic, told ano바카라사이트r session of 바카라사이트 conference that his institution needed to hire an additional 1,000 professors to prepare.

"We have to look internationally - 바카라사이트re is no o바카라사이트r way," he said.

Universities will also be stepping up 바카라사이트ir recruitment of "non-local" students - including those from mainland China - to meet 바카라사이트 government's 20 per cent target, up from 바카라사이트 current level of about 11 per cent.

Dr Chan said: "We have to. Unless you increase 바카라사이트 percentage of non-local students, you can't even talk about cultural understanding."

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.