Living in is all about taking part

Orientation ceremonies at Lingnan University come and go every year, as in other public tertiary institutes in Hong Kong, but this year's was a bit different - it was the last time president Edward Chen Kwan-yiu addressed eager new faces before stepping down next year.

At the opening ceremony on Monday, Professor Chen spelled out the liberal arts rationale. It did not accommodate extra-curricular activities, he said, but encourage 'intra-curricular' activities - every activity that students participated in at the university would be a part of their education. He hoped that freshmen at Lingnan would be 'happy and participatory'.

The president added that he hoped to raise the percentage of students living in hall residences from 75 per cent to 85 per cent and that students would have a taste of hostel life for at least one year during their three years at Lingnan.

As he had said on previous occasions, hostel life was as an essential part of education at Lingnan. The liberal arts college had maintained a balance between academic work and campus life.

For Professor Chen, living in hall residences allowed students to learn how to share and care about others and take an active part in various activities. Participation in university affairs through committee representation and community services also provides a great learning opportunity for students.