The Emerging University 1970-74

closer together . Student s ar e expecte d t o d r a w upo n bo t h culture s and t o con t r i bu t e t o both , an d a competen t comman d o f th e Chinese an d Englis h language s i s th e indispensabl e first step . Th e compulsory first-year Genera l Chines e an d Genera l Englis h course s are i n t ende d t o ensur e a soli d f ounda t i o n i n bo t h languages , an d the genera l climat e w i t h i n th e Un i ve r s i t y continue s t o nu r t u r e students' interes t i n b i l i ngua l i s m an d th e i n t er f l o w o f Western an d Chinese cultures . Th e academi c staf f i s recruite d f r o m differen t parts o f th e wo r l d , an d i n thei r da i l y experience s student s ar e exposed t o influence s f r o m a diversit y o f cultures . Teach i ng Methods The Un i ve r s i t y ha s lon g recognize d tha t goo d teachin g methods ar e essentia l t o goo d undergraduat e education . A s earl y as Ma r c h 1964 , jus t ha l f a yea r afte r th e i naugu r a t i o n o f th e Un i ver s i t y, a Commi t t e e o n Teach i n g Me t hod s wa s appointe d “ t o examin e i n detai l th e presen t teachin g syste m an d t o com e u p w i t h a propose d workabl e p r og r amm e wh i c h w i l l adap t th e bes t features o f th e British , Ame r i ca n an d othe r system s t o ou r needs" . The report s o f thi s Commi t t e e stresse d th e valu e o f small-grou p teaching i n th e cu l t i va t i o n o f a critica l approac h an d a capacit y fo r articulate expression . Tu t or i a l s an d seminars , wh i c h provid e opportunities fo r meaningfu l intellectua l exchange s an d mu t ua l stimulation, hav e sinc e bee n wi de l y adopte d a t thi s Un i ver s i t y . Cont inuous Assessment of Student Performance I n 1973—7 4 a significant chang e i n establishe d academi c polic y and practic e too k place . Th e I n t e rmed i a t e Exami na t i on , a f o rma l screening tes t wh i c h al l student s wer e require d t o tak e a t th e en d o f their secon d year , wa s abolished . Th e increasin g desir e t o de - emphasize th e f o rma l university-wid e exami na t i o n i s reflecte d i n the increasin g interes t i n th e revisio n o f cu r r i cu l u m an d degre e requirements an d i n a genera l polic y o f continuou s assessmen t o f student performance . Eve n fo r gradua t i on , th e Art s Faculty , fo r instance, specifie s tha t th e cours e assessmen t grade , obtaine d b y instructors f r o m grade s give n fo r tests , assignments , t e r m o r yea r papers, an d performanc e i n seminars , tutorial s an d practica l o r field wo r k , shal l represen t u p t o 50 % o f th e student' s tota l degre e grade fo r th e relevan t paper . Personal Educat i on So muc h fo r f o rma l instruction . Ther e ar e ye t man y othe r facets t o undergraduat e educatio n a t Th e Chines e Un i ver s i t y , where al l effort s ar e directe d t o b r i ng i n g student s t o f u l l ma t u r i t y , intellectual, psychological , social , mo r a l an d aesthetic . Un i ve r s i t y life i s see n no t a s just leadin g t o a professiona l caree r bu t als o a s 2 3