The Review 2016

18 Teaching and Learning Some of our international connections have been formalised, where appropriate, with dual degrees. In 2016 two new partnerships were announced, one with Sciences Po for dual BA, BBA and BSocSc programmes, the other with University College London for a dual LLB. These are in addition to dual undergraduate degrees offered with seven other leading institutions in North America, Mainland China and Europe (and to several taught postgraduate degrees, including a Master of Global Public Policy initiated with the University of Southern California, which will accept students from 2017). Students divide their studies between HKU and the partner university, giving them broad exposure in two countries and two institutions. The Common Core also organised its first Transdisciplinary Undergraduate Research Exchange in which students from Utrecht University and HKU visited each other physically and worked together virtually on self-selected projects focussed on migration, education, future cities, and technology and philosophy. More opportunities for cross-cultural learning are being developed by the University and individual faculties, both abroad and on campus. Innovation in teaching and learning is also being cultivated. Dual degrees can be an example of this when they seek to cross disciplinary boundaries, such as the BA&LLB combining arts and law, one of eight interdisciplinary degrees offered at HKU. But innovation can also happen within programmes. In 2016 the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine took the bold step to revise its six-year MBBS curriculum so that students go ‘off book’ in the third year to pursue different kinds of learning, such as a research internship locally or internationally, an exchange overseas or on the Mainland to fulfil part of their Common Core requirements, or taking Common Core courses and non-major electives at HKU. They can also use the year to work towards a Master of Public Health or Juris Doctor, and thus graduate with an MBBS and Masters degree. The options will be available to all new medical students from September 2016. The medical faculty has also undertaken other innovations such as the Springboard and Second Chance scholarships, to attract high quality students from less advantaged backgrounds or who are passionate about switching from other fields into medicine. Another example of experimentation comes from the Faculty of Science, which has introduced several new learning opportunities in recent years, such as the Summer Research Fellowship Scheme and Overseas Research Fellowship Scheme. In 2016 it launched the Young Scientist Scheme for newly-enrolled top students, to nurture young research talent. These students will automatically be guaranteed places in the research fellowship schemes as well as an international exchange, attendance at an international scientific conference, guidance from a research mentor, enrollment in an honours seminar series and an entrance scholarship. An innovation mindset is also something that the University wants to develop among students and graduates, particularly when it comes to start-ups and turning ideas into actions. Although HKU graduates do extremely well in landing jobs, they could potentially add even more value to the economy and society by pioneering new services, technologies and applications. The DreamCatchers initiative and the Centre of Development and Resources for Students are both promoting innovation activities (see Knowledge Exchange chapter), and this is an area that will see more activity in future. All of these developments – which come on top of our rigorous normative four-year curriculum – demand a lot from our students. In return, HKU offers them opportunities to test their boundaries, learn and grow. The developments in 2016 will further our aim of producing graduates who are highly competitive in their fields and who achieve the kind of personal and professional growth that will prepare them to be leaders at the local, regional and international levels. Fully Operational Medical students hone their skills in the Faculty of Medicine’s new Virtual Operating Theatre, which has human simulators, monitors and a backdrop that can be altered to evoke different scenarios – from a quiet ward to a natural disaster.