The Review 2016

A key factor, though, was the fact that high quality students continued to choose to study at HKU. In 2016 we accepted top scorers in the HKDSE, IB, GCE ‘A’ Levels and other international curricula, as well as nine zhuang-yuan (top-scoring) students from the Mainland examination system. Only one in every 10 applicants for undergraduate places succeeded and one in every 21 applicants from Mainland China. HKU also continued to be a sought-after destination for students from around the world and in 2016 we enrolled undergraduates representing 36 nationalities including 697 non-local students. HKU offers every student a rich and rewarding learning experience under the normative four-year curriculum launched in 2012. The first cohort graduated in 2016 and our initial assessment is that they have done remarkably well based on feedback from students, teachers and employers. We will be reviewing every programme in greater detail over the next two to three years to identify strengths and potential areas of enhancement. Guiding that assessment will be the recommendations of the QAC report , which praised HKU’s high academic standards and its comprehensive approach to quality assurance and enhancement. The QAC Audit Panel analysed more than 1,500 pages of documents and interviewed about 130 people, including senior management, regular faculty, students, alumni and stakeholders in the community, to get a complete understanding of our quality assurance systems and standards. The Common Core Curriculum was among the initiatives singled out for commendation for its impact on student intellectual, social and ethical development. Universities from Sweden, Scotland, India and Mainland China have recently expressed interest in learning from the HKU model as they develop their own cross-disciplinary offerings. Also highly commended were our globalisation efforts. In 2015–16, HKU Horizons was initiated to ensure 50 per cent of undergraduates have opportunities for both a Mainland China and an overseas learning experience by 2019, and 100 per cent do so by 2022. A committee has been formed to identify external partners, such as the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Common Purpose Leadership Development Programme from the UK, and to enhance the good work that many faculties have done in incorporating non-local experiences into their programmes. For example, the Faculty of Social Sciences requires all undergraduates to undertake unpaid, off-campus learning related to global citizenship and social innovation. The University will also be making full use of its network of nearly 350 partner institutions around the world through which students can go on exchange or join summer or China programmes. In 2015–16, 4,379 students had learning experiences outside Hong Kong. HKU also hosted 2,201 students from overseas institutions who came here for exchange, research, language and other learning programmes. Teaching and Learning 17 Secondary-school students visit campus on Information Day, October 2016. Brightest and Best Nelumi Jayasundara, a first-year Bachelor of Economics and Finance student, joined HKU from Sri Lanka, having received the world prize in Edexcel IGCSE Mathematics and Edexcel GCSE Science. HKU was her number one choice for its good ranking in international tables, high graduate employment rates, abundant exchange opportunities, affordability and safety. “So far I’ve been exposed to new experiences and new environments. I like the teaching methodology, and the lecturers and tutors have been very helpful and approachable,” she said.