The Review 2014

Undergraduate education at the University has undergone fundamental changes in recent years, triggered by the switch from a three-year to four- year undergraduate curriculum in 2012. As the cycle of change and transformation settles down, the University is now able to focus more intently on its grander goal of not only educating students, but cultivating leaders for Hong Kong, the region and the world. Our base for achieving this goal is very strong. In 2013-14, we reached the halfway point of the new curriculum, and by all measures things are proceeding smoothly. A comprehensive study of the three-year and four-year cohorts found the differences between them are narrowing (the four-year group has one year less of secondary school). The Common Core curriculum, a requirement that brings together students from different disciplines to ponder major issues such as China's development and climate change, has been fully implemented, with some 170 offerings available. And a programme to enhance academic and discipline-specific English is also fully implemented, while a similar Chinese programme is being phased in. The language requirements reflect the strengths of our students, who have much of the raw ability needed to take up leadership roles. The vast majority are bilingual or trilingual, and they are among the very best students in the region. In 2014, 78 per cent of the top-scoring Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) (Level 5** or above in at least six subjects) students chose to come to HKU. Some 10,311 applications also came from Cultivating Tomorrow's Leaders of top-scoring HKDSE students chose HKU applicants from Mainland China (10,311) and overseas (10,937) of graduates employed or pursuing further study HKU students go on exchange Teaching and Learning John CH Lin, Associate Professor in the Architecture Department, won the 2014 University Grants Committee Teaching Award, a scheme first launched in 2011 to honour academics in UGC- funded institutions for their outstanding teaching performance and achievements. Since joining HKU in 2006, Mr Lin has distinguished himself as a first-rate teacher and researcher in architecture, and as a pioneer of experiential learning. 1,446 78 % ~100 % 21,000 + THE REVIEW 2014 ⎜ 9