Global business students at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology will be required to study social ethics in the coming term. They will be taking a pilot course exposing them to global issues; from cloning, abortion, Aids and homosexuality to euthanasia. Rather than taught by HKUST staff, it will be provided by a liberal arts advocate, Ronald Teng Wen-ching, who has delivered lectures at universities. 'I will involve students in discussions on the ethical dilemmas faced globally. Students overseas have debated these issues intensely, but here they don't seem to know much about them,' Mr Teng said. Professor Tam Kar-yan, associate dean and director of undergraduate programmes at HKUST Business School, said the course might be offered to other business majors later. It would help broaden students' international outlook. 'People in the business world need to know about not just business trends but what is happening around the world as well,' he said. The global business programme has the highest admission grades of the various majors offered by the business school. About 30 per cent of its annual intake is recruited through the non-Jupas category, including graduates from international schools. A survey by the university's School of Business and Management showed that the first batch of graduates from its Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Global Business (GBUS) programme, set up in 2001, were making an average monthly income of $18,500. There were 26 graduates. Most had been hired in the banking and finance sectors. Others had taken up a variety of positions in multinational companies, including management trainee and assistant brand manager level. All enrollees in the programme have to take part in an international exchange programme and study for one-semester at an overseas university. The school also arranges a series of enrichment activities, such as the business mentoring programme, international case competition and summer internship, to improve communications skills and enhance their work experience. It is planning to increase its intake for the programme to about 35 next year.
