Bulletin No. 1, 2012

6   Chinese University Bulletin No. 1, 2012 Curriculum Design Finding Common Ground The change to four years reflects a shift in emphasis and a new approach to undergraduate education. The world is changing so swiftly that a narrow academic focus can no longer stand the test of time. All over the world, undergraduate education is becoming less specialized. Accompanying this trend is a growing recognition of the importance of universal values. The new curriculum therefore starts from the belief that for the good of both personal and professional development, graduates should have certain skills and attributes that apply to all university graduates, irrespective of discipline. Strengthening the ‘Core’ With this in mind and targeting the capabilities that our graduates will need to stay competitive, much of the extra year will be devoted to bolstering a University Core—‘Core’ in the sense that it is centrally designed and implemented, rather than determined by individual Faculties or departments, and that it applies to students of all disciplines. This Core consists of courses in English, Chinese, General Education, Physical Education and Information Technology, which together will take up a third of the credit units required for the completion of the degree. Focus on Universality CUHK has always set great store by general education and in the new curriculum, this will be increased by two foundation courses: ‘In Dialogue with Humanity’ and ‘In Dialogue with Nature’, which require students to ponder universal questions such as ideal society and the good life, and explore the