• Dec. 14, 2008–Our first class will be on Jan. 16, 2009 from 11:30 am to 1:15 pm, CKB UG05. We could probably arrange another time and venue according to the desire of the class in our first meeting.

The overall objective of this course is to help students acquire a basic understanding of university education and a balanced university life, including the value and purposes of university education and the role of university students in the society. This course adopts a small group and a less structured teaching format. Throughout the course, students are expected to explore topics related to university education (e.g., role of university students) and the society (e.g., current social issues), with the aims of promoting the problem-solving, seminar presentation and report writing skills of the students. Students are expected to have active participation and contribution in the course under the guidance of the instructor.

本科旨在讓學生對大學生活與大學的教育理念有正確及全面的認識。透過小組非形式教學之模式，希望鼓勵學生探討學術、教育及社會的各類型問題，例如大學教育理念、大學生角色以及社會時事等等，並學習分析資料、撰寫論文、發表研討報告之技巧。各小組均有老師指導，但著重學生的主動參與及討論。

1. acquire knowledge and understanding of university education;
2. understand the role of university students in the society;
3. understand the adjustment of students to university life;
4. acquire knowledge and understanding of New Asia College;
5. be able to demonstrate the skills on seminar presentation and report writing;
6. be able to communicate with others effectively and build up the skills on team work

1. group discussions
2. research on presentation topic
3. essay report
4. seminar presentations

1. Attendance is compulsory (5 marks will be deducted for each absence in class)
2. STOT/Seminar Presentation/Seminar Essay Report (70%)
3. Participation in Discussions and Performance in Class (30%)

The teacher may assess Students' performance on the basis of the students' overall STOT performance, sminar presentation, report and degree of participation in discussions.

Note: This class will be taught in English. Homework assignments and presentations will be conducted in English.

The pdf files are created in Acrobat 6.0. Please obtain the correct version of the Acrobat Reader from Adobe.

I have decided that the presentation topics should be something that we have discussed in the course so that we can be evaluated fairly. We will do all presentations on March 20, 2009. Each person will have 10 mins, so a group having two people will take approximately 20 minutes and a group with three people will take about 30 minutes.

A major part of your course grade will be on the research work you have done on the presentation topic. You will be evaluated by your presentation and also your report.

Please edit the table below with your names and the slot that your group would like to have.

1. The Idea of a University by Michael Oaskeshott
2. The Mission of the University: Medieval to Postmodern Transformations by John C. Scott
3. Do the Right Thing: Ethical Issues in Higher Education by Sue Couch
4. Qian Bin Si
5. Sheung Guo Tung
6. Developing Social and Personal Competence in the First Year of College by Robert D. Reason, Patrick T. Terenzini, and Robert J. Domingo
7. New Asia 55th Anniversary

1. Q: What is departmental guideline for plagiarism?
   A: If a student is found plagiarizing, his/her case will be reported to the Department Discipline Committee. If the case is proven after deliberation, the student will automatically fail the course in which he/she committed plagiarism. The definition of plagiarism includes copying of the whole or parts of written assignments, programming exercises, reports, quiz papers, mid-term examinations. The penalty will apply to both the one who copies the work and the one whose work is being copied, unless the latter can prove his/her work has been copied unwittingly. Furthermore, inclusion of others' works or results without citation in assignments and reports is also regarded as plagiarism with similar penalty to the offender. A student caught plagiarizing during tests or examinations will be reported to the Faculty Office and appropriate disciplinary authorities for further action, in addition to failing the course. Please refer to Honesty in Academic Work: A Guide for Students and Teachers for more information.