Message from Professor Amy Tsui, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Teaching and Learning)
Dear Colleagues,
IT Services will be conducting an online Teaching Space Experience Survey on behalf of the University during week commencing 24th February 2014.
The purpose of this survey is to gather information about your experiences and perceptions of the classroom environments that you use to deliver your lectures and seminars etc. in order to find out what you think is important and of any issues to be addressed.
Your opinions are valuable to us and this information will help us understand how we can provide better facilities to support your teaching. A separate survey investigating the student learning environment experience will be running concurrently.
The results of both will be used to inform the University Strategy for future development of Teaching and Learning Spaces over the coming planning period (2-3 years) to ensure that space provided for teaching and learning is fit for purpose and of good quality in order to enhance the student learning experience.
If you have any questions or queries about this survey please contact Mrs Toni Kelly, Associate Director (Learning Environments), at tkelly@hku.hk.
With best wishes
Professor Amy Tsui
Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Teaching & Learning)
All recipients of the HKU University Distinguished Teaching Award and the Outstanding Teaching Award are now invited to apply for the 2014 UGC Teaching Award. For details, please refer to the circular posted on this page. Submissions are due March 28, 2014.
Applications are now invited for We Are With You Project Fund (Fund).
“We Are With You” (WAY) is a four-year community-based social capital development project in the Southern District. HKU students and staff will contribute to improve the condition of the less privileged and empower them to improve their own conditions in the long run. Its objective is to develop a replicable model for social capital development, particularly with the involvement of staff and students of tertiary institutions. The Fund will support projects initiated by students and staff of HKU under WAY.
The Fund is open to all HKU full-time students and staff. Joint projects between students and staff will be preferred. The Fund may be used to support research, direct services, community events, exhibitions, social entrepreneurship, documentary making, art, cultural, history promotion and presentations, and all activities that contribute to the goals of WAY. The projects should be carried out in the Southern District of Hong Kong preferably in collaboration with at least one community partner/NGO in the District. The project should normally be completed within one year. Longer projects are also welcome but funding will be approved for one year in the first instance with possibility of renewal. The maximum amount to be granted to each project is HK$50,000.
Message from Dr. Steven Cannon, Executive Vice-President
Dear Colleagues and Students,
Teaching Space Utilisation Survey – February 2014
IT Services will be conducting a second Teaching Space Utilisation Survey on behalf of the University during week commencing 10th February 2014.
Once again, the survey will look at every “central pool” classroom and lecture theatre once each hour between 8.30am and 6.30pm for 5 days and the data will be collected by University Security staff.
These staff will be required to enter each classroom and, in the case of rooms with a capacity of 50 or below, count every student in attendance, or, in the case of rooms of 51 or above, make a judgment as to how full the room is (25%, 50% and so on). Staff will attempt to keep any disruption to teaching to a minimum and should only be in the room for a few moments.
The data collected will be used to inform the future development and refurbishment of University teaching space over the coming planning period (2-3 years) to ensure that space provided for teaching is fit for purpose, the right size and of good quality in order to enhance the student learning experience.
Each room to be surveyed will have a clear survey message displayed on or close to the entrance doors and at the teachers workstation.
If you have any questions or queries about this survey please contact Mrs Toni Kelly, Associate Director (Learning Environments), at tkelly@hku.hk.
With best wishes
Dr. Steven Cannon
Executive Vice-President
(Administration and Finance)
I am very pleased to announce the winners of the Outstanding Teaching Award for 2013:
Individual Award
Professor Wing-sum Cheung, Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science
Dr. Tammy Y.L. Kwan, Faculty of Education
Dr. Cole Roskam, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture
Dr. Kaimin Shih, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
Ms. Dorothy S.W. Tang, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture
Dr. Xiaojun Yan, Department of Politics and Public Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences
Team Award
Professor Li-chong Chan (Leader), Dr. Julie Y. Chen, Dr. Janice W.H. Tsang of Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine for A Medical Humanities Core Curriculum: Engaging Medical Students Through Experiential Learning
Many congratulations!
The Selection Panel was deeply impressed by the awardees’ dedication to teaching, their tireless and creative efforts to make learning enjoyable and challenging, and the impact that they have made on their students’ learning.
The awardees will be honoured at the upcoming award presentation ceremony on Wednesday, 26 March 2014; and their names will be posted for a period of five years on the Teaching Excellence Awards Honour Board in the Main Library.
I would like to thank our external assessor Professor Michele D. Marincovich (Senior Advisor to the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education at Stanford University) in providing us with her expert advice in situ during the final selection process. I would also like to thank the other Panel members, Professor Amy B.M. Tsui, Professor Grahame T. Bilbow, Dr. David M. Pomfret and Ms. Yee-man Wong (student representative), for their assistance in this important exercise.
Message from Professor Amy B.M. Tsui, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching & Learning) and Vice-President
Dear Colleagues,
Director of Common Core Curriculum
As some of you may know already, Mr Gwyn Edwards, Director of Common Core Curriculum, will step down from the Directorship at the end of December 2013, having served in that capacity since its inception. Mr Edwards has played an important role in the conceptualization of the Common Core Curriculum as well as its implementation. His very broad knowledge base, deep insights into profound issues confronting human societies, and collegial intellectual engagement with colleagues have inspired many to contribute their best to the Common Core Curriculum. I wish to express my deep gratitude to Mr Edwards for taking on a highly complex and onerous task and making it a success.
An international recruitment for a new Director has been underway. In the interim, Professor Gina Marchetti, Professor of Comparative Literature in the Faculty of Arts and Convenor for Global Issues Area of Inquiry, has kindly agreed to serve as the Acting Director from December 23, 2013. To facilitate the transition, Mr Edwards has kindly agreed to serve as Deputy Director on a part-time basis from mid-February 2014. I wish to thank both Professor Marchetti and Mr Edwards for their commitment to making a difference to undergraduate education at this University.
Amy B.M. Tsui
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching & Learning) and Vice-President
Chair of Language and Education
Campus Internationalization and Integration Funding Scheme (Scheme) is established by the University Grants Committee to support new initiatives of internationalization and engagement with Mainland China. The Scheme is administered by the Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS) to support projects or activities initiated, planned and organized by students to facilitate integration between local and non-local students in higher education.
Objectives
The Scheme aims to achieve the objectives below:
To enhance students’ awareness on globalization and diversity; and
To promote intercultural understanding and facilitate integration between local and non-local students of different cultural backgrounds for them to interact and learn from each other
Amount of Subsidies
The maximum amount to be granted to each project is HK$100,000.
Award Criteria
The Scheme finances projects organized by full-time local and non-local students, either on individual or group basis, to facilitate integration between local and non-local students in 2013- 14 and 2014-15 academic years. The projects should be of distinguishable nature that promotes campus integration.
Students from both local and non-local origins can organize and/or participate in the funded projects. The majority of students in each project team should be taking UGC-funded programmes.
Some examples of activities envisaged include visits to schools, community services for social welfare groups, hostel debating competition, movie screening, artwork exhibition, talent contests, TED talks, drama production etc. Intellectual, quasi-intellectual, culturally enhancing projects and inter-institutional collaborations will be highly valued.
Inter-institutional collaborations are encouraged. For such projects, students are required to elect a coordinator from among themselves and the institution where the coordinator is studying at will assess the project and provide the funding, if selected.
The criteria for award include:
Anticipated impact on facilitating student integration in relation to the objectives of the Scheme;
Active and extensive participation of both local and non-local students;
Anticipated number of students taking part;
Originality and innovativeness of the Project; and
Benefits to the community, if any.
Application Procedure
Applications should be submitted to cedars-programmes@hku.hkon/before 5 January 2014 (Sunday). Only one round of selection will be conducted each year. Applications and proposals should contain the following information and details:
Title of the project;
Objectives of the project;
Project/activity description;
Format and schedule of activities (date, time, duration and venue, etc.);
Expected number of local and non-local students taking part;
Expected outcomes, achievements, impact and contributions of the Project;
Information of the partner organization (if any);
Method of project evaluation;
Budget; and
Information and CV(s) of the project coordinator(s).
Projects should be carried out during the period from January 2013 to June 2015.
Conditions of Award
The Scheme is a token subsidy and does not mean to assist any student/ student group to generate income or profit. It can be held concurrently with other subsidies and sponsorships. However, applicants are required to declare and report on details of any subsidies and sponsorships already received at the time of application or as soon as they are awarded.
Subsidies will be paid in the form of reimbursement upon successful completion of the project, presentation of original receipts and evaluation report. Disbursement of funding in advance or early reimbursement requires the approval of CEDARS.
The report should include:
An account of activities carried out;
Outcome(s) of the project;
The number of participating students and a profile of their background by countries of origins
Feedback and evaluation by students;
The use of the subsidy awarded;
The obstacles encountered and areas for improvement;
A financial statement with the original receipts; and
Publications, video or photo CD, if any.
The UGC and CEDARS may use the materials provided in the report for publicity and reporting purposes.
Students of the projects which best achieve the objective of integration will assist The University of Hong Kong to help spread the importance of the initiatives of internationalization and engaging the Mainland in the higher education sector.
Important Notes for Applicants
1. Retrospective application will NOT be considered.
2. Submission of incorrect/incomplete information may cause delay/disqualification. Moreover, a successful applicant will be disqualified and/or, where appropriate, be required to refund the subsidy if he/she provides any false or misleading information to CEDARS.
Enquiries
Centre of Development and Resources for Students (Student Development) cedars-programmes@hku.hk / 2857 8387
Applications are now invited for We Are With You Project Fund (Fund).
“We Are With You” (WAY) is a four-year community-based social capital development project in the Southern District. HKU students and staff will contribute to improve the condition of the less privileged and empower them to improve their own conditions in the long run. Its objective is to develop a replicable model for social capital development, particularly with the involvement of staff and students of tertiary institutions. The Fund will support projects initiated by students and staff of HKU under WAY.
The Fund is open to all HKU full-time students and staff. Joint projects between students and staff will be preferred. The Fund may be used to support research, direct services, community events, exhibitions, social entrepreneurship, documentary making, art, cultural, history promotion and presentations, and all activities that contribute to the goals of WAY. The projects should be carried out in the Southern District of Hong Kong preferably in collaboration with at least one community partner/NGO in the District. The project should normally be completed within one year. Longer projects are also welcome but funding will be approved for one year in the first instance with possibility of renewal. The maximum amount to be granted to each project is HK$50,000.
On behalf of Student Ambassadors: “TGIF @Global Lounge” organizing committee:
Dear Professors and Academic Staff,
We are writing to cordially invite you to an event called T.G.I.F (stands for “Thank God It’s Friday) on:
Date: November 15, 2013 (Friday)
Time: 6:30 p.m. onwards
Venue: Global Lounge
This event is organized by HKU Student Ambassadors from all faculties and supported by Global Lounge. It aims at creating an opportunity for HKU teachers and students to meet outside the classroom setting. We hope that by creating a more relaxing atmosphere, the participants, be it students, professors or staff can meet each other and engage in freer interaction. We believe it will be a wonderful chance for you to show how much cooler you can be in real life than already in class!
Since an atmosphere easy for conversation is key to the event, we think it may be a nice conversation starter that everybody assumes a historical or fictional figure of special importance to her/him. Of course there is absolutely no need to dress up as or act out that figure. We will prepare the name tag for the figure for you and you can simply stick it on upon arrival, only if you feel like doing so. Please still do come and have a drink and a chat with students and staff. Also, you are more than welcome to bring your colleague, just let us know.
This is the first time students try to organize event like this. If this turns out to be a successful one, we plan to make it a regular event. Therefore your support it vital to us.
If you are interested to come, we will greatly appreciate it if you could kindly RSVP with your FULL NAMEand FACULTY by email to globallounge@hku.hk by Thursday, 6th November as there is limited space available. We will be utterly thrilled to see you on November 15th, Friday. Hope to see you there.
Dear Colleagues,
