Skip to main content

Development of the New 4-Year Undergraduate Program in Hong Kong

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Quality of Life in Asia ((QLAS,volume 12))

Abstract

To address the problems of the old 3-year undergraduate degree structure modeled after the British higher education system, a new 4-year undergraduate degree structure was implemented in 2012/13 academic year in Hong Kong . In this chapter, the background of the undergraduate curriculum reform is outlined. With reference to The Hong Kong Polytechnic University , the development of the new undergraduate degree program is described. For the extra undergraduate year, the General University Requirements (GUR) was developed. There are several components of the GUR, including Freshman Seminar, Language and Communication Requirements, Cluster Area Requirements , Leadership and Intrapersonal Development, Service-Learning , and Healthy Lifestyle Program. To evaluate the impact of the GUR on the students, a longitudinal evaluation study was conducted. Results showed that the GUR was able to promote the holistic development in students. In particular, the evaluation findings showed that the Leadership and Intrapersonal Development and Service-Learning Requirements are the signature programs which can help students develop in a holistic manner.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Hong Kong Education Commission. (2000). Learning for life, learning through life: Reform proposals for the education system in Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Hong Kong Education Commission. https://www.e-c.edu.hk/doc/en/publications_and_related_documents/education_reform/Edu-reform-eng.pdf

  • Jaffee, D. (2012). The general education initiative in Hong Kong: Organized contradictions and emerging tensions. Higher Education, 64(2), 193–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ma, C. M. S., Shek, D. T. L., & Li, P. (2016). Promoting service leadership through service learning among Chinese University students. Paper presented at 2016 Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Service-Learning (pp. 6–8). Hong Kong: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L., Chai, W. Y., Lu, H., Yu, L, Chan K. H. W., Ho, W., … Law, M. (in press, e). Development of undergraduate University students: A 4-year longitudinal case study in Hong Kong. International Journal of Child and Adolescent Health, 12(1).

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L., & Leung, H. (2014a). Post-lecture subjective outcome evaluation of a university subject on leadership and positive youth development in Hong Kong. International Journal on Disability and Human Development, 13(4), 465–472.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L., & Leung, J. T. Y. (2014b). Perceived benefits of a university subject on leadership and intrapersonal development. International Journal on Disability and Human Development, 13(4), 481–488.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L., & Leung, J. T. Y. (2016). Developing social competence in a subject on leadership and intrapersonal development. International Journal on Disability and Human Development, 15(2), 165–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L., & Ma, C. M. S. (2014). Do university students change after taking a subject on leadership and intrapersonal development? International Journal on Disability and Human Development, 13(4), 451–456.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L., Ma, C. M. S., & Merrick, J. (Eds.). (2016). Special issue: Promoting leadership and intrapersonal development in university students. International Journal on Disability and Human Development, 15(2), 125–231.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L., & Yu, L. (2014). Post-course subjective outcome evaluation of a subject on leadership and intrapersonal development for university students in Hong Kong. International Journal on Disability and Human Development, 13(4), 457–464.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L., & Yu, L. (2016). Student feedback on a subject on leadership and intrapersonal development for university students in Hong Kong. International Journal on Disability and Human Development, 15(3), 339–346.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L., & Yu, L. (2017a). General University Requirements and holistic development in university students in Hong Kong. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 29(1), 41–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L., & Yu, L. (2017b). The impact of 3-year and 4-year undergraduate programs on university students: The case of Hong Kong. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 29(1), 49–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L., Yu, L., & Chai, W. (2017). Qualitative evaluation of a new general education program at a university in Hong Kong: Teachers’ experiences. International Journal of Child and Adolescent Health, 10(1), 73–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L., Yu, L., Chai, W., Chan, K. H. W., & Ngai, J. (in press, c). General education at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University: A comprehensive evaluation study. International Journal of Child and Adolescent Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L., Yu, L., Chai, W., Wu, F. K. Y., & Ho, W. W. L. (in press, a). Achievement of desired university graduate attributes through a new 4-year undergraduate program. International Journal of Child and Adolescent Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L., Yu, L., Chan, K. H. W., & Ho, W. W. L. (2016). Assessing learning gains of university students in Hong Kong adopting the Collegiate Learning Assessment Plus (CLA+). International Journal on Disability and Human Development, 15(3), 331–337.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L., Yu, L., & Merrick, J. (in press, b). Special issue: Promotion of holistic development of university students in Hong Kong. International Journal of Child and Adolescent Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L., Yu, L., & Merrick, J. (in press, d). The impact of a new 4-year undergraduate program in Hong Kong. International Journal of Child and Adolescent Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L., Yu, L., & Ngai, J. (2015). Evaluation of a general education program in Hong Kong: Secondary data analyses based on student feedback questionnaires. International Journal on Disability and Human Development, 14(4), 401–406.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L., Yu, L., & Pu, X. (2017). Evaluation of a general education program in Hong Kong based on student feedback questionnaires. International Journal of Child and Adolescent Health, 10(1), 91–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L., Yu, L., Wu, F. K. Y., & Chai, W. (2015). General university Requirements at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University: Evaluation findings based on student focus groups. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 40(8), 1017–1031.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L., Yu, L., Wu, F. K. Y., & Chai, W. (2017). Teachers’ views of a new general education program in Hong Kong: A qualitative study. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 29(1), 57–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L., Yu, L., Wu, F. K. Y., & Ng, C. S. M. (2015). General education program in a new 4-year university curriculum in Hong Kong: Findings based on multiple evaluation strategies. International Journal on Disability and Human Development, 14(4), 377–384.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L., Yu, L., Wu, F. K. Y., Ng, C. S. M., & Chai, W. (2017). Qualitative evaluation of general university requirements in a new 4-year university curriculum: Findings based on experiences of students. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 29(1), 91–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L., Yu, L., Wu, F. K. Y., Zhu, X., & Chai, W. (2017). Teachers’ views on a new general education program in Hong Kong: Qualitative data collected over two years. International Journal of Child and Adolescent Health, 10(2), 233–243.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T., Yu, L., Wu, F. K. Y., Zhu, X., & Chan, K. H. W. (2017). A 4-year longitudinal study of well-being of Chinese university students in Hong Kong. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 12(4), 867–884.

    Google Scholar 

  • University Grants Committee. (2002). Higher education in Hong Kong: Report of the university Grants Committee. Hong Kong: University Grants Committee. https://www.ugc.edu.hk/doc/eng/ugc/publication/report/her/hereport.pdf

  • van der Wende, M. (2011). The emergence of liberal arts and sciences education in Europe: A comparative perspective. Higher Education Policy, 24(2), 233–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, F. K. Y., Shek, D. T. L., Chai, W., & Zhu, X. (in press). Well-being of university students in Hong Kong: A longitudinal case study. International Journal of Child and Adolescent Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xing, J., Ng, P. S., & Cheng, C. (Eds.). (2013). General education and the development of global citizenship in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mainland China: Not merely icing on the cake. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel T. L. Shek .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Shek, D.T.L. (2019). Development of the New 4-Year Undergraduate Program in Hong Kong. In: T. L. Shek, D., Ngai, G., C. F. Chan, S. (eds) Service-Learning for Youth Leadership. Quality of Life in Asia, vol 12. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0448-4_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0448-4_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-13-0447-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-13-0448-4

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics