Page 46 - FSTE A5 Handbook

Chapter Two
Common Core Requirements at the
UGC-funded Universities

Summary
FHKGEP provided valuable experience in planning and implementing the GE curriculum for
all UGC-funded universities, all of which aimed at preparing students to be 21st century
learners but all of which also structured their GE curriculum differently. The Core-distribution
model, which includes the “compulsory” core requirements and the “elective” distributional
requirements, is a common model adopted in Hong Kong, but there is no uniform structure
across institutions in taking GE courses according to a clear sequence, implying that
prerequisites may not be a common practice in GE (unlike in the students’ major area of
concentration). Language training was always included and considered (especially English
communication skills) as an important area of inquiry, albeit this training may sometimes be
excluded as part of the formal GE administrative structures. Culture and values is another
domain that is commonly found across institutions. Many universities have included freshman
seminar, or even integrated it as a part of a larger course. All these curricular formations
are used to develop a broad base of general knowledge and sustainable learning qualities
for lifelong development. All the universities hope to prepare students to be well-rounded
graduates upon the completion of their GE programme.
Since all universities have different approaches to equip students with all the necessary GE
graduate attributes, we have adopted the “Kereluik Framework” for comprehensive review
and comparative analysis across institutions. Although we can see the courses may adequately
distribute across the three categories in the framework without significant difference, only
half of the institutions managed to cover all nine finely differentiated subcategories. As GE
is an essential component of undergraduate education, each of the UGC-funded universities
has developed its own GE protocols to ensure the quality of their respective GE programme.
References

Chan, F. T., Leung, S. & Cheng, S. (2012). The challenges and opportunities of sub-degree
General Education development under the new academic structure. Corrigan, P. (ed.),
General Education and University Curriculum Reform: An International Conference in
Hong Kong. Paper presented at General Education and University Curriculum Reform:
An International Conference in Hong Kong, 25-31. Hong Kong: City University of Hong
Kong.

Eckel, P. D. & King, J. E. (2004). An Overview of Higher Education in the United States: Diversity,
Access and the Role of the Marketplace. Washington, DC: American Council on Education.

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