1963–1976

• Constituent Colleges Chung Chi, New Asia, and United each designed their own GE programmes

1976–1986

• Implementation of unitary university administration
• College departments integrated under central administration, GE continued to be entrusted to the Colleges
• Review of the undergraduate curriculum in 1984

1986–1991

• GE entered a new phase in 1986
• University General Education (UGE) programmes coordinated by central administration
• College GE offered by the Colleges

1991–2004

• Implementation of a flexible credit unit system, required GE programmes units were reduced to 15
• The one-line budget was introduced in 1995. Funding of departments was linked to the number of students taught. Number of GE courses soared
• Review of UGE in 2002–03

2004–2012

• Clearly defined the aims of GE
• Restructured UGE courses under four areas: Chinese Cultural Heritage; Nature, Science and Technology; Society and Culture; Self and Humanity
• Course management and quality assurance scheme was established
• In preparation of the ‘3+3+4’ curriculum, the Senate Committee on General Education approved the overall General Education Foundation (GEF) programme framework in 2006
• Task Force on GEF courses was established in 2007
• Pilot GEF programme (two courses ‘In Dialogue with Humanity’ and ‘In Dialogue with Nature’) introduced in 2009
• The soft launch of the GEF programme in 2010, mandatory for all S6 entrants
• GE units increased to 21 under the undergraduate curriculum* starting September 2012:
  － GEF programme (6 units)
  － Four UGE Areas (9 units)
  － College GE (6 units)

* Undergraduate students should complete at least 123 units

2013

• Formal launch of GEF programme in January