The Review 2015

11 Teaching and Learning Teaching and learning have been the focus of much change and innovation at HKU. The introduction of the four-year undergraduate curriculum in 2012 (from three years previously) provided an unprecedented opportunity to re-think and re- imagine how our students can best be equipped to meet the demands of the 21 st century. The ink is not yet dry on these reforms – the first intake will not graduate until next year – but in 2015 we have started laying out plans for the next stage in our aspiration to provide a world-class, world-leading university education. The four-year curriculum is the foundation of our ambitions. The additional year has enabled us to expand students’ horizons, critical thinking and leadership capabilities, while still demanding excellence in their work. We provide all students with experiential and service learning, cross-disciplinary learning through the innovative Common Core programme, and language training and refinement (most students speak at least two or three languages). We also encourage student- initiated learning through increased undergraduate research opportunities and financial and logistical support for student-led projects in the community. Our success can be measured by the fact that HKU continues to attract the best and brightest students in Hong Kong and from abroad, as the figures for 2015 show (see pages 12–13). Employers continue to value HKU graduates highly – every year since 2006, nearly 100 per cent of graduates have ended up employed or in full-time study. Teaching quality has received positive feedback from both students (scoring more than 75 per cent in student evaluations) and the University Grants Council (UGC), which in 2015 honoured an HKU teacher with its Teaching Award for the fourth time since the award was launched in 2011. The Year in Brief The Review 2015