Developing a General Education Curriculum
for Vocational-oriented
Undergraduate Programmes
Catherine C. H. Chiu Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi)
David Jaffee University of North Florida, USA
01
General Education and
University Curriculum Reform:
An International Conference in Hong Kong
July 12-14, 2012
City University of Hong Kong
Technological and Higher Education Institute of
Hong Kong (THEi)
The newest VTC member Institute
Offers self-financed degree programmes across three faculties
starting September 2012
Faculty of Design
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Advertising
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Fashion Design
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Product Design
Faculty of Management and Hospitality
Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons) in Sports and Recreation Management
Faculty of Science and Technology
Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Civil Engineering
Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Environmental Engineering and
Management
02 Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong
Development of GE Programme at THEi
Consultancy by General Education Fulbright
Scholar, Professor David Jaffee
First stage: a common core curriculum with core
modules in Humanities, Sciences and Social
Sciences and language modules
Second stage: a hybrid approach with common core
modules in Humanities, Sciences and Social
Sciences alongside language modules, and elective
modules from faculties other than the students’ own
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A Common Core Curriculum Informed by
Understanding by Design (UbD)
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■ Common Core Curriculum
- Based on the assumption that an institution of
higher education should provide its students with a
common foundation of knowledge, skills, and values
■ Understanding by Design (UbD) - Complements OBTL with an emphasis on outcomes,
assessment, and learning for understanding and transfer
- Offers guidelines for the design of learning activities and
formative assessments organised around questions and
issues that students explore as part of an inquiry-oriented
curriculum
Advantages of a Common Core Curriculum
■ Ensures that all students have a truly common educational
experience to complement the more specialised and
professional skills and knowledge
■ Having single, well-designed, and intentional modules for
each area will ensure consistency, coherence, and
commonality in the learning experience of all the Institute’s
graduates
■ The ability to conduct reliable and effective quality
assurance, assessment of student learning outcomes, and
continuous improvement is enhanced when there are
fewer rather than more modules designed to realise
common learning outcomes
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GE Intended Learning Outcomes
Students who complete the GE Programme will be able to:
■ Demonstrate a capacity for critical thinking, self-reflection, and
analysis;
■ Recognise ethically, socially and globally responsible action;
■ Engage in self-directed learning;
■ Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills;
■ Engage in creative problem-solving;
■ Demonstrate interpersonal skills associated with leadership and
teamwork; and
■ Apply the broad principles of the humanities, sciences, and social
sciences to practical problems and contemporary issues.
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Stage One – Core Modules and Language Modules
Core Modules: Language Modules:
Thematic connection between core modules and language modules
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Chinese 1
English for Academic Studies 1
Chinese 2
English for Academic Studies 2
Professional English for
Design/ Management and
Hospitality/Science and
Technology
Core Modules correspond
with the widely accepted
and familiar divisions
among the Humanities,
Sciences, and Social
Sciences respectively
The Human Spirit
Habits of Scientific Thinking
Social Dynamics of Organisations
Core Modules: Question-Driven Curriculum
Each module contains four units organised around a set
of essential questions for that domain that are also
linked to essential questions posed in at least one other
domain
The question-driven GE curriculum encourages inquiry
and discovery
■ A deliberate and intentional alternative to a content-
driven approach
■ The questions do not have a single or right answer
■ Designed to stimulate, rather than extinguish,
thinking and exploration of concepts, principles and
content
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Core Modules: Essential Questions
Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong 09
The Human Spirit Habits of
Scientific Thinking
Social Dynamics
of Organisations
What does it mean to
be human?
How do scientists think? What is social about
organisations?
What is creativity?
What is the science of
creativity and the
creativity in science?
Can an organisation be
efficient and creative?
What responsibilities do
humans have to the
natural world?
What is sustainability
science?
How can organisations
be socially responsible?
What is ethically and
socially responsible
behaviour?
Has science and
technology improved
the quality of life?
How can Hong Kong
nurture and attract
creative professionals for
its organisations and
enhance its global city
image ?
Thematic Connection Between Core Modules
and Language Modules
The Language Modules and the three core modules will
remain independent and self-contained modules
Some of the content of the language modules will, where
appropriate, be “thematically connected” with those of the
other three core modules, with the substantive themes in
the latter providing a focus for language development and
use
Incorporating some GE themes into the language
modules – substantive GE themes such as sustainability,
creativity, environmental awareness, ethics, etc., where
appropriate, are woven into the language modules
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Stage Two: Further Development
Complement the GE Common Core Curriculum
by GE Elective (GEE) Modules, offered by the
three faculties
Students will be required to take four GEEs, all
from faculties other than their own
Of these four GEE Modules, to broaden their
knowledge base and perspectives, students
must take at least one from each of the other
two faculties
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Offering Faculty No. Module Title
Faculty of Design 1 Effective Branding and Consumer Behaviour
2 Impact of Contemporary Design on Society
3 Living with Sustainable Materials
Faculty of
Management and
Hospitality
4 Stress Management
5 Wellness and Lifestyle Management
6 Corporate Social Responsibility in Action
Faculty of Science
and Technology
7 Environment, Development and Sustainability
8 Urban Development in Hong Kong
9 Green and Intelligent Building
As a start, each faculty will offer three GE Elective Module
GE Electives
The number will increase as faculties develop in the future
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THEi GE Programme
Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong
GE Core Modules GE Elective Modules
1. Chinese 1
2. Chinese 2
3. English for Academic Studies 1
4. English for Academic Studies 2
5. Professional English for
Design/ Management and
Hospitality/Science and
Technology
6. The Human Spirit
7. Habits of Scientific Thinking
8. Social Dynamics of
Organisations
1. GE Elective 1
2. GE Elective 2
3. GE Elective 3
4. GE Elective 4
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Lessons Learnt
Relevance and weight of GE not a problem
Common Core Curriculum
- Some questions raised
- Review and development
- Broadening experience is a requirement
Support from Faculties
- Dialogue
- Involvement in programme development
- Capacity building
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