Curriculum
All students enrolled in HKBU's transdisciplinary programmes are required to complete the 9-credit common core course "Global Challenges". These courses explore the intricacies of global issues, emphasizing innovative solutions derived from transdisciplinary collaborations.
What are the SDGs?
The 3C’s Pedagogical Approach in Global Challenges
The Global Challenges curriculum adheres to a structured framework consisting of three stages: "Connection," "Complexity," and "Collaboration. Students collaborate to devise solutions for real-world issues while engaging in experiential and/or service-learning experiences with cross-cultural and cross-sectoral endeavors.
Pedagogical Elements in Global Challenges
Below is a list of the key elements in our teaching practices.
Transcending Traditional Boundaries
Service-Learning
Problem-oriented Approaches
Cross-Border and International Collaboration
Learner-Centered
Participation and Partnerships
Experiential Activities
Envisioning Transformations
Student Project Showcase
Community Partner:
In AY2023-24, Global Challenges collaborated with WWF-Hong Kong, aiming to call for "Sustainable Living for the Health of People & Nature“. About 140 transdisciplinary students taking ITS1008 Global Challenges I and ITS2009 Global Challenges II worked collaboratively to explore the lifestyle change on four daily essentials: clothing, eating, living, and commuting. Some of the students' work was showcased on WWF-Hong Kong’s “Sustainable Living for the health of people and planet” project website, and selected students were invited to turn their ideas into reality though Summer Internships.
Semester 1 (AY2023/24)
Theme: Sustainable Clothing
Instructor: Dr. Glos HO
Course Highlights: In this semester, students were introduced to the topic of Sustainable Clothing through guest seminars and fieldwork, enabling them to independently evaluate and address issues. Subsequently, students conducted interviews with 12 faculty members from diverse disciplines. As part of the assessment, students were set up 22 booths on the HKBU campus to educate the university community and foster transdisciplinary collaborative to enhance sustainable clothing practices.
Semester 2 (AY2023/24)
Theme: Sustainable Eating
Instructor: Dr. Daisy TAM
Course Highlights: In this semester, students examined our complex food system and explored sustainable solutions - from production, distribution to consumption and waste and offered knowledge input from multiple disciplines. With hands-on experience with local charity Breadline, exchanged ideas with overseas universities and shared their learnings with local secondary school students, our students collaborated to create posters envisioning sustainable food futures for Hong Kong. These posters were featured in HKBU campus canteens and on WWF-Hong Kong’s “Sustainable Living for the Health of people and Planet” project website.
Theme: Sustainable Living and Commuting
Instructor: Dr. Kevin LO
Course Highlight: In this semester, students explored sustainable cities and communities through conducting fieldwork on various districts in Hong Kong. Their goal was to understand the strengths and limitations of each district and establish practices to promote urban sustainability. Collectively, they developed a series of collaborative sustainable guidebooks for WWF-Hong Kong to circulate with and inspire the public to re-explore their neighbourhoods.
This course also integrated a cross-border element allowing students to immerse themselves in the intricacies of daily life with an open-minded perspective, enhancing their ability to comprehend and address global challenges. The students participated into a 3 days study tour in Zhuhai, where they partnered with 40 students from Beijing Normal University & Hong Kong Baptist University United International College (UIC) to collaboratively produce videos advocating for cross-border urban sustainability. The videos were showcased in HKBU campus.