The 21st century is a century of grand challenges to the planet and to humanity. Climate emergency, environmental degradation, economic disruption and social tension, conflicts and political instability at local, regional and global levels, all challenge the existing socio-economic systems, their model of development and the carrying capacity of the planet earth. Sustainability holds the key of human future. On September 25 2015, the United Nations General Assembly adopted unanimously the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their 169 targets. The ambitious agenda is a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

The UN Sustainable Solutions Network (SDSN) has been mobilizing different sectors including universities and civil society to promote practical solutions for sustainable development, including the implementation of the SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement since 2012. The Hong Kong Chapter of SDSN (SDSN Hong Kong), co-hosted by CUHK and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, was launched in 2018. Being the co-host of SDSN Hong Kong, CUHK is committed to mobilizing expertise and resources to address the SDGs in Hong Kong.

Using the 17 SDGs as a framework, the Office of University General Education launched the SDG Study Scheme in 2020–21 to prepare students for the challenges of tomorrow. The SDG Study Scheme enables students who aspire to be future leaders of sustainable development to integrate their academic learning with life experiences and community engagement. Students are encouraged to take ownership of their learning and adopt SDGs as a unifying theme to extend their learning from knowledge based courses to experiential and service learning, either credit bearing or non-credit bearing. Students will be certified as SDG Explorers after they have finished the study scheme. Those who perform well in the scheme and have outstanding performance in the SDG-SE (Social Engagement) or SDG-VA (Voluntary Activities) will be granted the honor of being SDG Achievers.

The SDG Study Scheme is comprised of three components, combining knowledge based learning with experiential learning:

1. A short online course by SDG Academy providing an overview of the SDGs and their significance;
2. Three knowledge based SDG-GE (General Education) courses;
3. One SDG-SE (Social Engagement) course or at least 80 hours of co-curricular volunteer activity (SDG-VA)

 Please visit the designated website to learn more about the Study Scheme.

2021-22 SDG-GE Summer Course
UGED2297 Understanding in Practice: From Meditation to Mindfulness (2 credits)

Faced with academic pressures and challenges in interpersonal relations and adapting to society, our life easily becomes a chaotic swirl of anger, fear, or even hopelessness. If a storm is inevitable, can we find that stillness within the storm to rethink the real purpose of life, and to renew hope for fulfillment and happiness of oneself and the others? Promoting “Good Health and Well-being” is one of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) initiated by the United Nations in 2015, conveying the importance of attention for good mental health. The course offers an opportunity for learning mindfulness meditation through experience, which helps students to understand relevant theories and knowledge of “Mindfulness meditation”, as well as its applications to personal life and social settings in a more concrete and substantial context.

From the formal practice of sitting cross-legged and quietly counting the breaths to the informal practice of embracing each moment in daily life, students will be guided to cultivate “right mindfulness,” one of the Eightfold Paths to end suffering. Such practices are grounded in ancient Buddhist sutras named Anapanasati (“mindfulness breathing”) and Satipatthana (“foundation of mindfulness”), and 2,500 years of lay and monastic practice.  

Students joining this course will attend a five-day study trip at Jao Tsung-I Academy co-organized by the Office of University General Education and Dharma Drum Mountain Hong Kong to experience mindfulness trainings. Through undisturbed practice with peers, students are expected to master the basics of Buddhist meditation for stillness, wisdom, and a habit of mindful living. Students also have the opportunity to visit the local Buddhist monastery and Christian church to experience the various meditation traditions.

Course Structure 

The course consists of three parts: 

• Pre-trip classes: Students are required to attend lectures and tutorials at CUHK. Contents include Buddhist/Christian thoughts and their meditation traditions, mindfulness meditation, and its modern applications. In tutorials, teachers will guide students for a close reading of classics about mindfulness practices, and engage in discussions and sharing. Attendance at lectures is a prerequisite for participation in the retreat.

• Experiential learning: In a five-day retreat at Jao Tsung-I Academy students will learn the basic skills of meditation and practice mindfulness in sitting, walking, working, etc. Students will cultivate understanding and compassion through deep listening, sharing, and participation in talks and ceremonies.  Students will also have the opportunity to visit a local Buddhist monastery and a Christian church. 

• Seminar: After the retreat, students are required to give group presentations reporting their learning during the retreat, and to submit a reflective essay. 

Course Review 

In June 2021, 13 students from different disciplines and years attended a five-day retread in Lee Woo Shing College, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Under the guidance of Venerable Chang-Zhan from Dharma Drum Mountain Hong Kong Centre, students engaged in a series of meditative activities. For a glimpse of the experience, please visit the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lDUEbguyOc　

Medium of Instruction

The course will be delivered in Cantonese, with Putonghua as a supplement. 

Fee

The Office of University General Education will cover all the basic costs of the retreat, including tuition, vegan meals, and accommodation. Students will be responsible for the necessary gears and gadgets for the retreat.

Application

Students must have taken or be taking the course “UGFH1000 In Dialogue with Humanity” at the time of application. Students should complete the online application form by 7 February 2022, uploading a personal statement and a copy of an updated academic transcript at CUHK. The personal statement will make important reference for selecting students for the course. Students may explain the motivation for taking the course, personal expectations, prior knowledge (if any) of mindfulness and its applications, and prior experience (if any) with related practices. It should be no longer than 1,000 characters in Chinese, or 700 words in English.

Important Dates

Notes

Organizing the retreat involves a lot of planning and coordination in advance. Therefore, the course will not follow the regular schedule of course enrollment of CUHK. Once the interview results are announced, shortlisted students will be required to indicate acceptance of the offer and pay a caution deposit of HKD 2, 000 within one week, which will be fully refundable on the successful completion of the course. The Office of University General Education will then proceed with the course enrollment on CUSIS. Once enrolled, students are not allowed to drop the course except under special circumstances. If it is because of the influence of COVID-19 (for instance, in treatment or mandatory quarantine), students must lodge a written application to the OUGE to seek the “Drop Consent”.

In consideration of the changing situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, this course might be subject to alteration or cancellation. The latest information will be released via email to all enrolled students.

For details about Dharma Drum Mountain, please visit:  https://www.ddm.org.hk/

For any queries, please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

2020-21 Summer SDG-GE Course
UGEB2296 Experiencing and Rethinking Science and Technology in Agriculture

Please note that this course will not be offered in 2020-21 summer term.

Agriculture is an art that integrates the knowledge of nature with human needs and values, evolving side by side with the development of science and technology. Nowadays, the highly industrialized modern agriculture has greatly increased food production to support an ever-growing global population. Yet, it also brings forth many global ethical concerns regarding sustainability, food safety, biotechnology, pollution, etc. In the past decades, increasing attention has been given to permaculture, an alternative agricultural practice that emphasizes the development of durable and self-sufficient ecosystems in farming. It is not only a practice of sustainable food production; it is also a philosophy of living in harmony with nature. Permaculture principles are closely related to some of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) initiated by the United Nations in 2015, including “Zero Hunger”, “Responsible Consumption and Reproduction”, “Climate Action” etc.

In this course, students will gain basic knowledge about modern agriculture and its application of science and technology; discuss related ethical issues; understand the fundamental principles, philosophy, and practice of permaculture; reflect on relevant SDGs through lectures. Apart from that, students will attend a six-day study trip to Taiwan and experience the practices of modern agriculture and permaculture in farmlands. Students are expected to be able to describe and compare major principles and practices of modern agriculture and those of permaculture, analyze the ethical issues related to modern agriculture in contemporary societies, and formulate personal views on how to live ethically with nature.

Course Structure

The course consists of three parts:

1. Lectures: To prepare for the study trip, students are required to attend two-day lectures in CUHK to gain basic knowledge about agriculture and related ethical issues.

2. Experiential-learning study trip: In a six-day study trip to Taiwan, students will learn the fundamental principles and practices of permaculture in permaculture institutes and neighbouring farmlands.

3. Seminar: After the trip, students are required to give group presentations. Each student is also required to submit a final term paper.

Course Review

In May 2019, 20 students from different disciplines and year of study visited Permaculture College Australia for six days and learned permaculture ethics and design principles from Robyn Francis, a master and educator in permaculture. Students also engaged in a series of farming and planting practices and get close contact with nature. For a glimpse of the experience, visit the following links to watch two short review videos:

• Review video 1: https://youtu.be/OIZh-Tfz5NU and
• Review video 2: https://youtu.be/lqhGuSzL6DA

Medium of Instruction

The lectures and seminar in CUHK will be delivered in Cantonese. The experiential-learning classes in Taiwan will be conducted in Putonghua.

Fee

The Office of University General Education will arrange and cover all the basic costs of the study tour, including tuition, meals and accommodation.

Students are responsible for arranging the air travels between Hong Kong and Taiwan, and any other personal items for the trip.

Further subsidies are available for application by students with financial needs (recipients of full grant from The Tertiary Student Finance Scheme - Publicly-funded Programmes (TSFS)). Please indicate your interest in the application form and submit the TSFS notification letter as proof that you are a recipient of their full grant. Applications will be reviewed depending on students’ financial needs, the number of applicants and the financial resource of the Office of University General Education.

Application

Students must have taken or be taking the course“UGFN1000 In Dialogue with Nature” at the time of application.

Students should complete the online application form on or before 13 December 2020, uploading a personal statement and a copy of an updated academic transcript at CUHK. The personal statement will make important reference for selecting students for the course. Students may explain the motivation for taking the course, expectations of this course, your contribution in experiential-learning activities, prior knowledge or experience (if any) and reflection on agriculture-related courses or activities. It should be no longer than 1000 characters in Chinese or 700 words in English. Year-one students without an academic transcript at the time of application should upload a list of courses taken in the present term; they should submit the transcript once the grades are released in mid-January 2021.

Important Dates

Notes

Organizing the study trip involves a lot of planning and coordination in advance. The course will therefore not follow the regular schedule of course enrollment at CUHK. Once the interview results are announced, shortlisted students will be required to indicate acceptance of the offer and pay a caution deposit of HKD2,000 within one week, which will be fully refundable on the successful completion of the course. The Office of University General Education will then proceed with the course enrollment on CUSIS. Once enrolled, students are not allowed to drop the course except under special circumstances. If this is because of the influence of COVID-19 (for instance, in treatment or mandatory quarantine), students must lodge a written application to the OUGE to seek the“Drop Consent”.

In consideration of the changing situation of COVID-19 pandemic and the corresponding travel restrictions issued by the Hong Kong and Taiwan governments, this course might be subjected to alteration or cancellation. Latest information will be released via email to all enrolled students.

For any queries, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

1. Study Scheme & Course Selection
2. Course Add/Drop
3. Course or Unit Exemption
4. GE Course Examination
5. Summer School Programme
6. General Education Foundation (GEF) Programme

1. Study Scheme & Course Selection

Q1: Can I take more GE courses on top of the General Education (GE) requirement?

Yes, subject to the prevailing course enrolment rules, you are free to enrol in more GE course even after fulfilment of the GE requirement. The extra credits earned will be treated as general electives.

Q2: I failed to select a UGE course even though the class quota was not yet filled. What was wrong?

Possible reasons are:

• time clashes with other enrolled course;
• entry of wrong course code;
• breach of enrolment rules such as total credit ceiling, UGE course ceiling, exclusion of certain majors and course taken; and
• failure to submit the course enrolment properly on "Chinese University Student Information System" (MyCUHK>CUSIS)

Please check your course selection carefully against the GE enrolment rules and your own timetable prior to submission for course enrolment.

Q3: Are GE course grades calculated in my grade point average (GPA) and degree classifications?

The grades will automatically work forwards your cumulative grade point average. Grade Points calculation and degree classifications are stipulated in Regulation 13 of the General Regulations Governing Full-time Undergraduate Studies.

Q4: If I change my major programme, is there anything I should pay attention to regarding GE?

You should check the student handbook of your admission year for the relevant course enrolment rules. If students of your newly adopted major programme are not allowed to enrol in a GE courses taken by you in the past, the credits earned from that course will not be counted towards GE and you should take another UGE courses to make up for the required units. Though not counted toward GE, the units earned can still be counted as general electives. You may also check with your major programme if the units can be used to fulfil any major requirements.

For more information, please visit: Programme > Study Scheme

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2. Course Add/Drop

Q5: If I want to add/drop a UGE course, can I apply directly to the course teacher?

No, add/drop application of UGE courses in the Four Areas must be submitted through CUSIS within the official add/drop period stipulated by the Registration and Examination Section. Students who encounter problems with add/drop of UGE courses on CUSIS can approach Office of University General Education for assistance.

Please refer to FAQ 4 on GEFP website for details of course add/drop of UGFH1000/UGFN1000.

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3. Course or Unit Exemption

Q6: Can I use the credits earned from an elective course which is double-coded as a UGE course to fulfil the GE requirement?

If the elective course you took was double-coded with a UGE course in the year you took it and all the enrolment rules are duly observed, you can make an application to the Office of University General Education. Click here to download the application form and submit the application to the Office of University General Education by e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Q7: I've just changed my major programme this year. Last year, I took an elective course offered by my former major department which was double-coded as a GE course. Can I apply for converting the elective credits to GE credits?

Yes. Please check the relevant course enrolment rules stated in the student handbook of the year you took the course. If students of your new major programme are permitted to take the course, you can apply to the Office of University General Education to use the credits to fulfil GE requirements. Click here to download the application form.

Q8: What if I have completed a similar GE course at another institution? Can a waiver be granted?

The course taken should be at academic level comparable to the GE courses offered by CUHK. Application should be made via CUSIS or submitted to Registration & Examination Section (RES) on the prescribed application form together with an official transcript and detailed course description. Please visit the RES webpage for the detailed procedure.

Q9: I was told that students of New Asia/Lee Woo Sing can choose courses from a specified list of UGE courses and have the units earned counted towards the New Asia/Lee Woo Sing College GE requirements. How do I enrol in these courses?

Students of New Asia/Lee Woo Sing College can enrol in the specified UGE courses through the normal course enrolment procedure on CUSIS and apply for re-designation of the units to College GE in the final year of studies. Please refer to the Student Handbook or College websites (New Asia College/Lee Woo Sing College) for the specified course list and application procedures. It is not applicable to students from other colleges.

For more information, please visit Registration & Examinations Section website.

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4. GE Course Examination

Q10: How do I apply for an academic appeal?

For UGE courses, all grade appeals must be submitted in writing to the Office of University General Education (OUGE) within two weeks after the release of course grades. OUGE will first consult the course teacher concerned for a review of the course grade. The teacher may decide to revise the grade if a careful review of the assessment component(s) involved justifies the change.

If the matter cannot be resolved by this stage, the student may substantiate the appeal by completing the UGE Grade Appeal Form. A reasonable justification must be provided on the Form. Otherwise, the application may not be accepted.

Upon receipt of the Appeal Form with reasonable justification, the Director of UGE will request the offering department to assign one or more independent teachers to re-assess the written assignment(s), examination answer script(s) and other relevant assessment component(s) of the student.

The result of this second marking will be final; and the grade may remain unchanged, be adjusted upward or downward.

Q11: How do I apply for a make-up examination if I was absent from a GE course examination?

A student who for medical or other compelling reasons is unable to sit for any course examination shall apply in writing with documentary evidence at the earliest possible moment but not later than 5 working days after the examination concerned to the Director of Registry Services for permission for absence. In the case of illness/injury, the application shall be accompanied by a certificate signed or countersigned by the Director of the University Health Service. For details, please refer to General Regulations Governing Full-time Undergraduate Studies (Regulation 9.5 of the Student Handbook).

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5. Summer School Programme

Q12: Can I take GE courses in the summer term?

You can take UGE courses offered in the two programmes in the summer term to fulfil GE requirements, namely "University Summer Session" and "International Summer School". However, you cannot take more than two UGE courses in Summer Term. For details of the programme dates, courses and enrolment procedure of the International Summer School, please visit the website of Office of Summer Programmes.

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6. General Education Foudation (GEF) Programme

Visit: GEF > The Programme > Programme Content > FAQ

To celebrate student achievements in GE courses and to provide exchange opportunity for students beyond the classroom, the Office of University General Education organizes the GE Student Seminar. 

Visit: GEF > Beyond the Classroom > Student Seminars

Academic honesty

Plagiarism is the act of using the work of others (in particular the writing of others) as one's own.

The most obvious and substantial type of plagiarism is copying whole articles, sections, paragraphs or whole sentences from other publications without acknowledgement. This is clearly unacceptable.

However, even the use of a few words or paraphrasing (without actually copying any words at all) may constitute plagiarism if the source is not acknowledged. Students sometimes unintentionally plagiarize because they are not aware of the very stringent rules that apply. Students should read the detailed guidelines and examples for the acknowledgement of sources in the University’s website Honesty in Academic Work: A Guide for Students and Teachers (Plagiarism), in particular, the Section on Electronic submission of assignments via VeriGuide. Students should also pay attention to Copyright and Intellectual Property Rights.

If material is taken from a source, there shall be proper quotes and acknowledgements. For reference styles, see the examples provided.

Academic Writing Guidelines

leave and absence from exam

writing guidelines

Official application

Students should submit their application via the online application at MyCUHK>CUSIS or on prescribed application form which is obtainable from the Registration and Examinations Section (RES). For details, please visit RES webpage.

Application for approval-in-principle prior to commencement of overseas exchange

This is a service for students going on overseas exchange. To facilitate planning for overseas exchange, OUGE will review application for course and unit-equivalence and give approval-in-principle before the start of the exchange programme. Students are reminded that approval-in-principle, if granted, is given on condition that all course registration restrictions for University GE courses are duly complied. Students are reminded to check the Student Handbook of their admission year and course enrolment rules for such restrictions.

Application form can be obtained from Office of University General Education or downloaded online. Students should check the followings before returning the application to OUGE:

1. Language and skills training courses will NOT be accepted as equivalent to GE courses. 
2. Course outlines and class timetables of the courses under application should be returned together with the application form. 

Upon completion of the courses under application, students must submit official application for course and unit exemption to the RES. Official approval is subject to compliance with all the prevailing registration restrictions and documentary proof that the course taken is of academic level comparable to CUHK General Education requirement. A copy of the approval-in-principle granted should be submitted with the official application together with other required documents including academic transcript and detailed course information.

 Please refer to the Chinese version.

Information for new students of the New Curriculum

• Orientation Talk - Introduction of University General Education programme

1. Course Selection Information for University General Education (University GE)
2. Course Enrolment Restriction
3. Schedule for Enrolment
   
   

1. Course Selection Information for University General Education (University GE)

1.1 Course selection arrangement

For the details of Term 2 of 2022-23, please refer to the following information sheets:

• Applicable to Year 1 or above students (updated on 20 October 2022)
• Applicable to IASP students (updated on 20 October 2022)

For the details of Term 1 of 2022-23, please refer to the following information sheets:

• Applicable to Year 1 or above students (updated on 30 August 2022)
• Applicable to IASP students (updated on 22 July 2022)

For the details of the University Summer Session of 2021-22, please refer to the following information sheets:

• Applicable to Year 1 or above students (updated on 7 April 2022)

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2. Course Enrolment Restriction

2.1 Course ceiling

Students are allowed to take a maximum of two University GE courses in each of Term 1 and Term 2, and in the Summer Session (including the University Summer Session and the International Summer School).  In respect of the University Summer Session, students are allowed to enrol in one University GE course during the course registration period and to enrol in the second University GE course during the add/drop period subject to the availability of class quota.  The aforesaid ceiling on University GE courses shall include GE Foundation courses, courses in the Four Areas, together with the departmental double-coded courses and the courses of non-local tertiary institutions when these two types of courses are recognized for fulfilment of University GE requirements.

To enhance system performance, a maximum of two UGE classes, including waitlisted classes, can be put in the “Shopping Cart” under “My Class Schedule”. After reaching the ceiling, students must drop one class before they can add another into the shopping cart.

2.2 GE Foundation programme requirement (applicable to S6 entrants under the old curriculum and all students under the new curriculum)

a) Students are required to complete the GE Foundation Programme which is comprised of two required courses, namely,

• UGFH1000 "In Dialogue with Humanity" or UGFH1001 "In Dialogue with Humanity" (Cross-institutional); and
• UGFN1000 "In Dialogue with Nature" or UGFN1001 "In Dialogue with Nature (Cross-institutional)".

b) Students should have completed or enrolled in at least one of the two GE Foundation courses before they are allowed to enrol in any course(s) in the Four Areas.  This co-requisite requirement also applies to the departmental double-coded courses and the courses of non-local tertiary institutions taken in the current degree of study when these two types of courses are recognized for fulfilment of University GE requirements.  Students on the waiting list of their intended first GE Foundation course are not considered as having fulfilled this co-requisite course requirement.

2.3 Declaration of/change in major programme

For broadening purposes, there is course enrolment restriction/exclusion with respect to the major studies of the students concerned and to course(s) the students have already taken. Such restriction/exclusion has been stipulated in the "Course List" the Student Handbook. Students who have declared a new major are therefore advised to check the course enrolment restriction/exclusion in the Student Handbook of their admission year. If any of the University GE courses taken by a student in the past fall(s) under the restricted/excluded courses of the student’s new major, the units earned in the past course(s) will be counted towards general elective and overall units completed; and the students have to take further University GE course(s) to make up for the required units.

2.4 Double-coded courses

Some University GE courses are also double-coded with departmental/programme courses. Double-coded courses are indicated in the Student Handbook and the CUSIS Course Catalogue. If students would like to use the units earned from such departmental/programme courses to fulfil University GE requirement and that the GE course enrolment restriction is duly fulfilled, they shall submit an application to the Office of University General Education. Application form can be obtained from our General Office (8/F, Hui Yeung Shing Building) or downloaded online.

If students would like to use the units earned from a University GE course to fulfil programme requirement, they have to apply to the relevant Department/Programme Office, and students should take another UGE course to make up for the required units.

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3. Schedule for Enrolment

3.1 Check “My Class Schedule” at respective stages of the course enrolment and add/drop period

All successful enrolment and add/drop of courses will be reflected on “My Class Schedule”. Students must always check “My Class Schedule” on CUSIS and verify their enrolment status at the respective stages of the course enrolment and add/drop period.

3.2 Course selection on CUSIS

a) For the detailed arrangement, please refer to Section 1 "Course Selection Information for University General Education".

b) The medium of instruction of each course is given in the teaching timetable on CUSIS. Students should check carefully before course enrolment. Please refer to the RES webpage for explanation of the abbreviations.

c) Students on the wait list will be enrolled automatically once a vacancy arises. They should check “My Class Schedule” daily to track any changes in enrolment status. If they do not wish to get enrolled, they should drop the course(s) on the wait list immediately to vacate the place(s) for other students who wish to get enrolled.

3.3 The 1st week after term start

Students who have enrolled in or are planning to add any courses should attend/sit in the class and study the necessary course information before making any decision for add/drop.

3.4 CUSIS add/drop period

a) For the detailed arrangement, please refer to Section 1 "Course Selection Information for University General Education".

b) Application for add/drop after this period will NOT be considered unless there are compelling reasons supported by documentary proof.

c) Students on the wait list will be enrolled automatically once a vacancy arises. Negligence to drop a course on wait list will affect the enrolment opportunities of other students and cannot be accepted as a justification for add/drop after this period.

3.5 Special add/drop at the Office of University General Education

Add/drop application after the CUSIS add/drop period normally will NOT be considered.

a) Course-add can be considered for graduating students who have to take courses of the GEF courses and courses in the Four Areas to fulfil graduation requirement but have failed to enrol in the course(s) even after the close of CUSIS add/drop period. Enrolment is subject to availability of class quota.

b) Any other applications will NOT be considered unless there are compelling reasons. Documentary proof, wherever applicable, should be submitted together with the application. Carelessness or failure to obtain class information before the end of the CUSIS add/drop period will NOT be acceptable reasons.

c) Late application will NOT be considered except those with strong justifications with relevant supporting documents to certify and substantiate the reason(s) for late course add/drop.

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