The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology will offer undergraduate students more interdisciplinary and general education programmes to enrich their academic knowledge and learning experience.
Tam Kar-yan, dean of undergraduate education at the university, said students were faced with a tight learning schedule under the existing three-year degree system and the conversion to a four-year system would give them more time for a better learning experience on the campus.
He said the university would introduce more interdisciplinary programmes to meet the needs and challenges of modern society.
'For instance, bioengineering involves a combination of subjects such as chemistry, physics, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering,' he said. 'In coming years, we will introduce several new programmes including risk management and business intelligence, bioengineering and environmental science. These will be in place to tie in with the four-year undergraduate system by 2012.'
Professor Tam said the new degree system also opened up an opportunity to enhance general education. 'Students are left with little time to pick up other subjects under the existing system,' he said. 'We hope to strengthen general education for them with the introduction of more programmes such as arts and performance. Students can expose themselves to different subjects before making up their minds on the programme they would like to major in.'
He said the HKUST would expand the undergraduate research opportunities programme to encourage participation in research projects in order to develop students' critical thinking and creativity.