CUHK was honoured with the 2016 UGC Teaching Award by the University Grants Committee on 8 September, in recognition of the excellent design and implementation of its General Education Foundation (GEF) Programme. The team leaders of the programme, Prof. Leung Mei-yee, Director of University General Education, Dr. Julie Chiu, Deputy Programme Director of GEF Programme and Dr. Wong Wing-hung, Associate Director of University General Education, are highly commended for their vision and leadership.

The annual UGC Teaching Award was introduced to honour those who excel in teaching in the UGC sector and their leadership in and scholarly contribution to teaching and learning within and across institutions. Past awardees from CUHK include Prof. Poon Wai-yin, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Professor in the Department of Statistics, and Prof. Shekhar Madhukar Kumta, Assistant Dean (Education), Faculty of Medicine, and Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology.

General education has played an important role in CUHK’s undergraduate curriculum since the founding of the University. With the 2012 new curriculum, general education at CUHK was further enhanced by the introduction of the ‘General Education Foundation Programme’, a unique programme among local institutions. The programme consists of two courses, in which students, through the study of classics, engage in dialogues with Nature and Humanity to explore the world of science and knowledge, and reflect on an ideal society and good life.

The GEF is reading and writing intensive and taught in seminar style. It is designed to help students cultivate knowledge, attitudes and skills that are essential for independent learning. To add to the students' enjoyment and understanding of the classics, innovative learning aids and enrichment activities for students have been introduced. These range through specially-designed mobile apps, peer assisted study sessions, reading and writing workshops, documentary appreciation and movie nights.

This is the second time the GEF Programme has received an award in recognition of its achievement. In 2015, GEF was granted the 2015 Exemplary Programme Award for Improving General Education by the Association for General and Liberal Studies.

On 5 September, the bus stop at the University Station was busy with students ready for the new semester. Among them were many new faces that showed a special excitement. They were the freshmen of CUHK and the day turned a brand new page in their lives.

This academic year, the University has recruited over 3,000 undergraduate students. To help the new students immerse themselves in university life, numerous orientation activities were organized by faculties and colleges. In the annual Joint College Activity, freshmen also showed their solidarity and their affection for CUHK by lining up together to form a gigantic symbol '16 CU' and heart-shaped patterns at the University Mall.

At the Inauguration Ceremony, Prof. Joseph Sung, CUHK Vice-Chancellor, suggested that new students compile a list of what they want to achieve and encouraged them to learn three things: who you are, what this world actually needs, and how to work with others.

For the freshmen, university life is a completely new phase and one full of challenges. We sincerely hope everyone can organize themselves well for it and make full use of the valuable learning opportunities and the excellent environment. As Prof. Sung put it, “let this final stage of your education be a life-transforming experience.”

To hear Vice-Chancellor’s address to new students, please click here.
To watch the Inauguration Ceremony, please click here.

To celebrate the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival, CUHK welcomed 200 elderly people on 3 September and shared with them the CUHK Mooncake.

Fun activities were arranged for the guests, including warm-up exercise led by students of gerontology, and Gu Zheng and Cantonese Opera performances by university staff. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Joseph Sung also joined the event to write Chinese calligraphy with the elderly and sing a song to celebrate the festive occasion. A campus tour was prepared at the end by student ambassadors.

This year, CUHK produced CUHK Mooncake again through the social enterprise Caritas La Vie. For each box sold, CUHK · Care service team will deliver a free mooncake to the elderly in Shatin and Tai Po. All profit gained from the mooncake sales will be donated to support the I‧CARE Programme of the University, which facilitates CUHK students’ initiatives in community services.

As a result of the overwhelming response from CUHK staff, alumni and students, more than 1000 CUHK Mooncakes are ready to be sent to the elderly. Since the end of August, volunteers from CUHK · Care have been giving the mooncakes to the elderly through home visits and distribution at charity organisations.

The charity event also received support from Strategic CSR Network, which sponsored the gift bags for the elderly. Strategic CSR Network is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to serve underprivileged communities in Hong Kong on an ongoing basis. By leveraging Strategic Public Relations Group’s existing business and social networks, and by functioning as a one-stop platform, Strategic CSR Network is able to connect and bring together different parties, including corporations, NGOs/charities and volunteers to achieve common goals.

Big thanks to CUHK members who purchased the CUHK mooncake and spared no effort in helping to share the festive delicacy and good wishes to the elderly!