Page 32 - FSTE A5 Handbook

Chapter Two
Common Core Requirements at the
UGC-funded Universities

It is noteworthy that, across the sector language training, which is clearly evidenced in all
the universities, is sometimes regarded as an aspect of GE and sometimes lies outside the
administrative structure of GE requirements. For example, some universities count language
requirements as mandatory “generic” courses while some include those courses explicitly in
their GE programmes. Figure 1 shows that every university has assigned a significant proportion
to language-related courses, ranging from 22% to 44%, even though they may not be considered
as GE by university’s structural definition. It is still reasonable to conclude, then, that language
requirements are considered as part of a required component of all undergraduate education,
sometimes sitting in the GE/Common Core programmes and sometimes not.

100%
90%
80%

70%

60%
Percentage 50%
40%

30%

20%
10%
0%
U1 U2 U3 U4 U5 U6 U7 U8
Distribution requirement (%) 67 25 40 75 40 29 57.5 67
Core requirement (%) 0 17 30 0 10 41 27.5 0
College/school-specified
requirement (%) 0 17 0 0 30 0 0 0
Language requirement (%) 33 42 30 25 20 29 15 33

Figure 1: Distribution of GE components (percentage of the total number of credits) by university
Figure 1: Distribution of GE components (percentage of the total number of credits) by university

Apart from the differences in language training, the sequence for students in taking

GE courses within their degree programmes also varies across the eight UGC-funded
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universities. Usually, distribution requirements are assigned to students throughout the degree
study period based on individual school/study programme structure, whereas the compulsory

GE requirements such as a freshman seminar, language courses and foundation courses

usually take place in the first year of studies.

Despite these diversities, the GE programmes of the eight UGC-funded institutions have

common areas of focus in their aims and objectives and intended learning outcomes. This

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