United Board Fulbright Collaboration on Liberal Arts Education in Asian Universities

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United Board FulbrightCollaboration on Liberal
Arts Education in Asian Universities

• Glenn Shive of the Hong Kong America Center
• Spencer Benson of the University of Maryland and
  HK University 08-09
• Presentation for the Asian Universities
  Leadership Program
• Thursday, February 5, 2009

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How well is HK doing?

• From 2008-09, free education will increase from 9
  to 12 years. Over 95 of young people pursue
  senior secondary or vocational education of an
  equivalent level.
• Hong Kongs students aged 9-10 are the second
  most literate in the world (The Progress in
  International Reading Literacy Study 2006).
• Hong Kongs students aged 15 ranked second in
  science and third in maths and reading in PISA
  (2006 Programme for International Student
  Assessment Rankings).

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Top Ten Countries / Regions in PISA 2006
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SCMP/TNS Opinion Leader Survey (2006)

• Hong Kongs opinion leaders are pessimistic about
  the quality of local graduates. With the
  exception of Numeric skills, less than one in
  five are confident that Hong Kongs university
  graduates possess sufficient and relevant skills.
• Graduates of European (63) and North American
  universities (60) are considered by a majority
  to be much better or slightly better than
  local graduates. The largest gaps are in terms of
  English, Creativity, and International
  understanding.
• While there is perceived to be less of an overall
  quality gap between local graduates and those
  from mainland China and elsewhere in Asia, the
  latter are nonetheless seen to be outperforming
  local graduates in terms of Putonghua and numeric
  skills.

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Sufficient and relevant skills
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Comparison with North American university
graduates
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Comparison in skillsNorth America vs. HK
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Comparison with Mainland China university
graduates
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Comparison in skillsMainland China vs. HK
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Fundamental Principles in 334

• ALL students should have opportunities to learn
  and are able to learn (interests, abilities,
  aptitudes) not to be screened out early
• Life-long learning capabilities are needed for
  fast changing contemporary future world
  independent thinking, learning to learn/
  self-directed learning, intra/inter-personal
  skills, values/ ethics broad knowledge base as
  foundation
• Whole-person development for enhancing qualities
  of life and human resources
• Knowledge is no longer fixed or disciplinary
  only it is cross-disciplinary, personal,
  contextualised, co-constructed Learning is
  acquired, personal, contextualised,
  co-constructed, growing
• Structural change/ academic structure to
  facilitate enhancing the opportunities for ALL

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Structural Changes HKs 3-3-4 Reform
Current Structure (3223)
New Structure (334)
New public examination leading to Hong Kong
Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) in 2012
(100 of students)
HKALE (36 of students)
HKCEE (98 of students)
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Smoother articulation to different pathways for
life-long learning and success in life
Continuing Education for Higher Degrees/
Further Qualifications
Employment
4-Year Undergraduate Degree
Year 2
Sub-degree
Secondary 6
Applied Learning
Secondary 5
Secondary 4
Junior Secondary
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Learning Expectations of Students

• To be biliterate and trilingual with adequate
  proficiency
• To acquire a broad knowledge base, and be able to
  understand contemporary issues that may impact on
  ones daily life at personal, community, national
  and global levels
• To be an informed and responsible citizen with a
  sense of global and national identity
• To respect pluralism of cultures and views, and
  be a critical, reflective and independent thinker
  
• To acquire IT other skills for being a
  life-long learner
• To understand ones career/ academic aspirations
  and develop positive attitudes towards work and
  learning
• To lead a healthy life style with active
  participation in aesthetic and physical
  activities

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From Basic Education to New Senior Secondary
(NSS) Education
Core Subjects Chinese Language, English
Language, Mathematics, Liberal Studies as core
subjects for ALL students (45-55)
Elective Subjects 2 or 3 elective subjects
chosen from 20 NSS subjects Applied Learning
courses, other foreign languages (20-30)
Other Learning Experiences moral civic
education, community service, aesthetic and
physical activities and career-related
experiences (15-35)
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Hong Kong General Education Initiative

• Po Chung Contributions
• Matching Funds from HKG
• 20 Fulbright Lecturers in GE
• 4 cohorts from 2008-2012
• HK university hosts
• Half time in host half for system
• HKAC administrator

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United Board-Fulbright Project on Liberal Arts
Education in Asian Universities

• US Fulbrighters visit to consult with UB
  universities in Asia on liberal arts
• Asian university leaders in LA come to HK to
  regional workshops in June
• Documentation diffusion how to assist Asian
  universities to implement and sustain liberal
  arts programs?