4
A SIGNIFICANT LANDMARK
Oct 2012
UMP
ɽኪᄿఙ
2012 –
A Significant LANDMARK:
from a Provost’s perspective
An Interview with Professor Benjamin Wah
Student Reporter: Mr. Ng Yan Kin
Professor Benjamin Wah, Provost, chaired the University’s
task force to prepare for the four-year curriculum. We
have invited him to share with us the challenges of the
new academic structure. His sharing and advice are
summarized below.
From Strength to Strength
A new four-year curriculum is redesigned to encourage
students to apply the knowledge they learn and gain
lifelong benefits. Under the new curriculum, students are
given opportunities to explore more about their major
programmes as well as generic competencies. One of the
most significant steps taken in developing this
curriculum is to introduce the general education
foundation programmes, in which through the
study of classics of different cultures or periods,
students engage in the discussion of critical
issues of human society.
Students will also receive more language
enhancement opportunities such that they can
be equipped with a higher level of bilingual
proficiency. Both English and Chinese courses
for professional and practical use are offered in the new
curriculum.
Versatility is one of the objectives of the new curriculum.
Students are expected to be versatile in terms of their
knowledge and talents. Therefore, the faculty package
is introduced, in which students are allowed to take
courses outside their Majors but within the Faculty, thus
broadening their knowledge beyond their chosen fields of
specialization.
Furthermore, to ensure the students can apply the
knowledge learned in the new curriculum and start a
promising journey after they leave campus, students will
enroll in the capstone course before their graduation to
consolidate their learning outcomes, which is hoped to be
the cornerstone of their future endeavours.
Capitalizing on opportunities
So what can the new students expect from this new
curriculum? Among all, critical thinking shall be the ultimate
learning outcome, considering the new curriculum aims
to advocate a global perspective among students. What
comes with critical thinking is the capability of self-learning.
Students are encouraged to rise to the challenges laid
out before them and work out their own solutions. Facing
the keen competition in the globalised world, knowledge
from a single discipline will not suffice and students should
focus more on the versatility of their skills and translate
what they acquire at university into enduring values and
knowledge.
Aim High, Fly High
As beneficial as the new curriculum is, how much one
would gain still lies in their personal initiatives:
Be Proactive.
Entering university is like embarking on a
new journey, along which many things are waiting to be
explored. Students should be proactive, looking for the
original and discovering their own interests.
Be Curious.
Not only is university education
about knowledge transferred from teachers to
students, but also the self-motivated academic
pursuit. It is therefore important to be curious,
as students can then be motivated to seek for
answers to the questions they encounter.
B e O p e n - m i n d e d .
U n i v e r s i t y i s a n
encapsulation of society where a myriad of
people and cultures exists. University life
is multifaceted. Students should be open-
minded enough to embrace various opportunities and avail
themselves of the advantages offered.
Be Balanced.
University acts as a platform on which
students can arrange their activities and direct their
personal journeys. With more diversified choices in
lifestyles, students should try to achieve a well-balanced
life, in which academic achievements and extra-curricular
activities are equally important.
Be Mature.
University also provides students with a
valuable opportunity to mature themselves. Students have
to face possible defeats and challenges and learn to cope
with them in the university life. It is always true that with
greater freedom it comes greater responsibility. When
students can deal with their academic pursuit as well as
their social life, they would reap the fruitful rewards brought
by an all-round personal development.
Do enjoy university life, a new phase of their life, where
they are at the liberty to explore and determine their future
path and direction.
While CUHK is undergoing unprecedented changes under
the 3-3-4 academic structure, newly admitted students are
also stepping into a realm where academic inspiration,
social interaction and personal growth can greatly enrich
their life experiences, eventually leading them to a bright
future.