Programme Description

Humankind is facing a more unpredictable future as technological advancement has brought disruptive changes and global problems are becoming more complex and serious. Young people need to be more adaptable, resourceful and creative in meeting future challenges. This is a future-focused programme which enables students to design their own personalised learning pathways. It is especially suitable for students who aspire to make a difference in the future world through various means, such as entrepreneurship, research, advocacy, invention and performance.

The curriculum is made up of two major components. Firstly, in the solution-based learning modules, students will go through an active and exploratory intellectual journey consisting of cycles of problem-solving. The problems are contextualised in the real-life settings and students will work in groups under the guidance of their teachers and external specialists. Secondly, students will complete a major which gives them in-depth knowledge in one or more specific domains of their choice and prepares them for further study.

The programme is open to students from all academic backgrounds.

Unique Features

The solution-based learning modules use a block design, which immerses students in one set of coherent learning activities around a problem at a time. The modules are student-centred, and guided by professors and/or professionals, and aim to facilitate deep learning toward addressing real problems. In the early years of the programme, the problems are smaller, more well-defined, and there will be more faculty guidance. As students proceed, the problems will become bigger, less well-defined, and students will become more independent with less faculty supervision. Examples include finding ways to provide support to care takers of elderly people (Year 1 or 2), revitalizing a heritage (Year 3), and making steps toward feeding the world population (Year 4). Students will play active roles in choosing the problems in the solution-based learning modules, as well as the approaches to solve these problems. The programme will give students ample autonomy and flexibility in designing their modules and curricula.

Student Learning Experiences

Students will benefit from a number of guided self-learning pedagogies in the programme such as service-learning, collaborative learning and research-led learning. Depending on the problems they choose, they will work intensely with community partners, professionals, artists and entrepreneurs. In addition to joining internships and exchange outside Hong Kong, they will work with overseas students and advisors in joint projects and learning activities such as summer schools.

Career Opportunities

Graduates will be resourceful and innovative problem-solvers and have a dedicated personal mission. They may become entrepreneurs, consultants, researchers, or artists, among other options. Their skills and abilities will enable them to take on multiple careers, which will be a trend in the future society, and make them especially competitive in jobs or industries that are yet to emerge.

Note

1. Subject to University annual review.