Page 94 - FSTE A5 Handbook

Appendix 1
A Brief Survey of Overseas Transfer
Practices of General Education Courses

Introduction

General Education (GE), which is also known as a common core curriculum, aims to equip
students with a set of desired attributes regardless of academic disciplines. Different
institutions have different ideas and expectations about GE, even though they all have similar
beliefs that GE equips students with the key qualities to prepare them for future educational
and vocational needs. However, the differences have posed challenges in mutually recognizing
GE programmes across institutions. Therefore, understanding the similarities and differences in
GE between institutions can be helpful in understanding how GE may be properly recognized.

Since the GE and the credit transfer practices of local institutions have now been identified, a
further investigation outside Hong Kong would to be helpful to add to our understanding of
the topic. Therefore, we will examine: 1) the general mechanism of credit transfer policy; and
2) the constitution of GE in different overseas institutions are investigated.
Taiwan

The education system in Taiwan is comparatively more complicated, in terms of study path, than
many other regions. Students may receive university education through different pathways,
besides advancing via the secondary education system. Junior college students may apply for
degree programmes and be admitted into the senior year after completing the 2- or 5-year
post-secondary programmes in junior colleges (which is similar as the 2-year HD programme
for F.7 graduates and 3 years HD programme for F.5 graduates in Hong Kong). Since students
will be admitted into the senior year directly, some credits will be exempted. To explain the
mechanism, Chang Gung University, a self-financed university in Taiwan, will be used as a case
study to exemplify the system of credit transfer and its understanding of GE.

A clear set of GE PILOs can be identified on the website of Chang Gung University:
• To mold the students to be diligent and trustworthy.
• To mold the students to be open-minded and visionary.
• To mold the students to be responsible and decent.
• To help students to engage in lifelong learning.

To help students to face challenges and overcome them, the university divides GE into three
domains: the English Curriculum; the Core Curriculum; and the Multiple Curriculum. Under
the English Curriculum, students are required to study not only basic English but, in particular,
writing. Since Chang Gung University has a specific focus on medical science education, their
Core Curriculum includes two compulsory subjects to cover topics in “social science” and

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