The Review 2016

Diversity and identity HKU aims to provide an accepting, accessible and supportive environment for people of all abilities, ethnicities and genders. We were the first university in the world to launch the United Nations HeForShe campaign (see Message from the President and Vice-Chancellor). We have also made it easier for people with disabilities to visit and study here, for example, through the design of the Centennial Campus and the use of learning technologies for students with sensory, physical, learning and developmental disabilities. In 2016 the University also opened an all-gender toilet on campus to promote inclusion and diversity. Internationalisation is another important aspect of diversity given HKU has students of 36 different nationalities. Integration activities are encouraged through student societies, halls and residential colleges, and the actions of individual students. Amrita Daryanani, a fourth-year Bachelor of Journalism student, was the first non- Experiential learning Dr Gary Wong Pui-fung of the Faculty of Social Sciences led students on an Experiential Learning Fund-supported sociological study of tourism in Hong Kong, which resulted in a booklet on heritage and urban development in Pokfulam. “Local tourism has become popular in many places and the organisers often have their own messages to present, usually for preservation. Now students can study real-life examples in Hong Kong, which is far more effective than teaching them theories that are mostly from the West,” he said. Teaching Innovation Award Dr Michael Botelho in the Faculty of Dentistry received the inaugural Teaching Innovat ion Award for hi s Communal Consultation videos, which allow students to learn from each other. “It is not uncommon for students to visit your office with questions about challenging learning issues. After a one-on- one dialogue, a resolution to their problem usually ensues, but this meaningful teaching moment is lost to the rest of the class. Quite often such questions and problems are common to many students, meaning others can benefit if they are present at that teaching interaction. My solution is to record the learning moment and upload the video to be shared with the broader student community.” 22 local member of Simon K.Y. Lee Hall to take up leadership positions in the Non-Local Orientation Camp Organising Committee and Social Education Group. She has organised activities to break down barriers between local and non-local students and, while it can be a challenge to get people to join in, “you have to keep trying,” she said. “If you don’t try to change it, nobody is going to change it. It’s a matter of a few people trying and eventually the big goal of integration will be reached.” Tony Lau Hon-yiu, a fifth-year BSocSc(Govt&Laws) student, has also brought students from numerous nationalities together through Toastmasters Club at HKU. Some join to improve their English, others to make new friends. “We’re successful because we can accommodate different expectations. We meet regularly to sit and listen to each other and do things together, and this has fostered closer co-operation,” he said. Tony Lau Hon-yiu (left) and Amrita Daryanani are advocates for HKU’s open-door policy. As part of their sociological project, students conducted tours of Pokfulam’s historical sites including HKU’s own University Hall which dates back to 1861. Teaching and Learning