About 250 principals, teachers and career advisors from around 200 secondary schools were introduced to the unique Discovery-enriched Curriculum (DEC) at an information session hosted by City University of Hong Kong (CityU) on 27 April.

The event helped participants gain a better understanding of the selection process and admission interviews for students who took the 2012 Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE).

Professor Arthur Ellis, CityU’s Provost, said the unique DEC allows every student at CityU to learn, communicate and share new knowledge for the benefit of society. “CityU is excellent in professional education. By preparing our students to practise professionally, well beyond the level of international standards, we will be positioning them to be future leaders in their professions and society. We believe that the DEC will help equip students for their entire careers.”

The DEC gives students the opportunity to make an original discovery while studying on the new 4-year curriculum at CityU. The DEC aims to inspire a passion for knowledge and develop the students’ sense of innovation. Under the DEC, students acquire fundamental knowledge of a broad range of subjects by taking Gateway Education courses in their first year of study. Interdisciplinary elements incorporated into the students’ major subjects facilitate whole-person development and a more contextualised view of learning.

Professor Paul Lam Kwan-sing, Vice-President (Student Affairs), briefed participants on the pre-requisites that students taking the 2012 HKDSE need when applying for CityU programmes. He also discussed the College-based admissions system newly adopted by CityU, the admission requirements of each college, and details of the interview arrangements. In addition to the basic entrance requirements, some colleges may have additional requirements such as a minimum grade for certain subjects in the HKDSE or different weightings on specific subjects, he explained.

Most of the colleges and schools will conduct their interviews in late June. Interviews will be offered based on the band choice of CityU programmes, school reference reports, information on Other Experience and Achievements in Competitions / Activities (OEA), and the Student Learning Profile (SLP).

During the event, representatives from CityU’s six colleges and schools made presentations on their respective programmes and curriculums with explanations on the incorporation of the DEC and interdisciplinary elements. The presentations helped secondary school principals and teachers understand how CityU’s unique curriculum can help students become more competitive.

After the information session, secondary school representatives gained a better idea of the learning and living environment on campus with visits to CityU’s state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities such as the Run Run Shaw Creative Media Centre, the Aquatic Science Laboratory, the State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, the Chinese Civilisation Centre, and the student hostels.