Students in the new four-year curriculum face a challenge that many have never encountered before. Because of the flexibility of the curriculum and the options of majors, double majors and minors, they are required to take firm control of their learning programme.

"In the first year students have a lot of freedom to choose the courses they want to take and that can be a problem," says Professor W.K. Chan, Chairman of the University Academic Advising Committee. "Some students may not know what they should do or how to set out an academic plan."

The Academic Advisory system has been set up to address this problem. First-year students are paired with an academic in their faculty who provides guidance on such things as selecting majors and planning ahead so they get all the prerequisites needed for their senior years.

A trial of the scheme was carried out in 2011–12 and Sam Chan Hau-sun, a Science major, said it was a great help to him.

Challenge to Adapt

"In secondary schools we do not need to plan our own lecture schedules, so it is a challenge for local students to adapt to this kind of flexible lecture scheduling," he says.

"My advisor gave me valuable advice on how to plan my courses, such as linking academically-related courses together for a more continuous learning process and planning a three-year schedule that can link pre-requisite courses to advanced ones, rather than just planning for each year independently. She also gave me advice on summer research fellowships and exchange programmes."

His advisor was Professor Pauline Chiu of the Department of Chemistry, who said she felt her role was to challenge students to think more deeply about their choices.

"I ask them to consider – what are the pluses and minuses of doing a single major? A double major? Is this major in line with their career goals and personal interests and skills? How will they make use of the time between and after classes?" she says.

Point of Contact

The Academic Advising system also includes a 'temporary advisory' system for students who want to do another major/minor outside their home faculty, so they have a point of contact there. There is also a more informal student peer advisory programme.

"The programme has helped me a lot in my first year. I regard it as the guiding star of my freshman life," says Sam.