The Review 2004

12 T H E R E V I E W 2 0 0 4 T H E R E V I E W 2 0 0 4 13 Creativity and Learning The University’s academic rigour, emphasis on student-centred learning and openness to innovation also enables us to attract the best students in Hong Kong. We admit the highest number of top-performing local students of all Hong Kong tertiary institutions. We also attract the largest number of exchange students and non-local students. Much effort has gone towards attracting students from Mainland China, with good results. Some 221 Mainland students were admitted in 2003- 04 to undergraduate programmes, and many selected the University over such esteemed institutions as Tsinghua University and Fudan University. We also enrol led students from elsewhere in Asia, North America, Africa and Europe, and we intend to expand the number of students from these places in future. The importance of attracting students from outside Hong Kong is closely linked with the idea of nurturing creativity. Exposing students to people from different cultures encourages flexibility and openness to new ideas – important qualities for creative thinking. In addition to bringing overseas students on campus, the University offers courses on other cultures, such as African Studies and Language. And hundreds of our students travel abroad each year for exchanges lasting from two weeks to one year. Another important element in encouraging students to think laterally is to get them to try something new. Students have abundant opportunities for personal development outside the formal classroom environment, a goal to which the University is ardently committed. Sports facilities and programmes on campus are cheap and accessible – a provision that has impressed students from overseas. The ArtsAl l Scheme provides students with generous discounts for arts events in Hong Kong. Our general education and career counselling programmes, and student-led societies, provide dozens of new activities and topics for students each term. Even after students graduate, they can continue to learn through the School for Professional and Continuing Education, which offers hundreds of programmes. Choice, and the abi l ity to discern the best options, are central components in creative thinking, and in students’ competitiveness in the job market. The University provides students with a vast and varied range of choices in their studies, extra- curricular activities and lifelong learning pursuits. More importantly, it is equipping them with the ski l ls to make informed choices and produce creative solutions, ski l ls they can draw on throughout their productive lives. The University – any university – cannot teach students to ‘be creative’. However, we can provide the vibrant environment , abundance of choice and high standards that wi l l help our students feel comfortable with taking risks, and encourage creative thought. KAREN CHAN , Bachelor of Law student, visited Egypt on a study trip in 2004. My first reason for applying for this trip was my interest in ancient Egypt, but I also learned a lot about modern Egypt. Egyptians like to debate politics and I find that I am more interested now in knowing about political issues and other countries. As young people, we have to set our sights globally and not be restricted just to Hong Kong. The University admitted the highest percentage of Grade A students in 2004, including those with an average Grade A in three subjects, those with the most Grade As (up to 10) and those with Grade A in English.