Source:
https://scmp.com/article/190820/hku-eyes-new-credit-system

HKU eyes new credit system

Curriculum reforms could see the University of Hong Kong adopting a subject credit system widely used in Europe.

Deputy academic registrar Henry Wai Wing-kun said the university's Senate had passed, in principle, a bill paving the way for the reforms.

A task force of 14, including Vice-Chancellor Cheng Yiu-chung, faculty representatives and two students, was set up last month to study the proposed European Credit Transfer System.

According to Mr Wai, the system, used by more than 170 institutes around the world and tested over six years in 145 higher education institutions in Europe, 'the emphasis is on its [international] transferability'.

He said while credits may not be directly accepted by all foreign institutes, as the system was different to the American Grade Point Average system, 'the Americans know about it and the grades can be converted to a standard numerical value'.

'The advantage of a standard unit grading system is that it allows people at other institutions to recognise the student's workload easily upon reading the transcript,' said Mr Wai.

If the credit system is adopted, students will have to obtain 60 credits each year to graduate.

Ten to 20 per cent of credits will be allocated to subjects deemed general education, cross-disciplinary studies and English and Chinese enhancement.

First-year students during the 1998-99 school year will be the first batch involved.

The university's reforms are set to be completed by the end of 2001.