Professor Li Wai-keung discusses liberal arts education on a radio programme
Professor Li participates in a radio programme hosted by Mr Lam Wai-man (left) and Mr Yuen Tak-wai (right).
Professor Li encourages science students to take courses in social sciences, humanities, and literature to broaden their perspectives.
On 4 July, 2023, Professor Li Wai-keung, Dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (FLASS), appeared on an information programme on Metro Radio to share his views on liberal arts education. He introduced EdUHK’s artificial intelligence and educational technology programme to the audience.
The following transcript is based on the radio interview and Professor Li’s further elaborations on several of his points after the interview.
Professor Li: The idea of liberal arts education (博文教育 or 博雅教育 in Chinese) is popular in the United States, where many liberal arts colleges teach the sciences, social sciences, fine arts, or even physical education. Modern society is very diverse, with many interlinking issues. We often need to employ a cross-disciplinary approach to address a problem, and those with well-rounded personalities and knowledge in a range of areas are in great demand. Liberal arts education is, essentially, a comprehensive education that teaches students what they need to learn in the modern world. Through liberal arts education, we teach our students not only how to learn, but also how to think, create and communicate with both themselves and others.
Professor Li: Although liberal arts education covers a wide variety of subjects, our faculty has its own focus with liberal arts-related programmes. For instance, our university has recently launched a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Artificial Intelligence and Educational Technology (BSc(Hons) AI&EdTech) programme, an undergraduate programme managed by FLASS. The philosophy of liberal arts encourages students to learn beyond their vocational needs. We encourage science students to take elective courses in humanities, literature, visual arts, social sciences and physical education to expand their horizons and learn from disciplines outside their major subjects.
What students learn should not be restricted to their own programmes. University studies should not be limited to the acquisition of vocational and technical skills; they should also delve into different domains of fundamental knowledge. Through this approach, we can cultivate talents equipped with well-rounded knowledge about other disciplines on top of what they need to know for their targeted profession.
Professor Li: That’s right. In the past, university courses were more specialised in one particular area. If you studied mathematics or physics three decades ago, you were seldom required to learn other subjects outside of your main discipline. That is no longer the case today. For instance, the BSc(Hons) AI&EdTech programme mentioned above combines studies in artificial intelligence and educational technology. Times have changed, and people have realised that a narrow focus limits the possibilities and areas of learning for students. Today’s educators believe that a university education should not be confined to learning the technical skills or knowledge required for a single profession. It should also foster the personal growth of students through a broader spectrum of learning, including social sciences, humanities, and literature. A well-rounded person should know things in different areas. That is what holistic education should be about. That approach has become a major trend.
Professor Li: Big data has become quite a phenomenon today, entering even casual conversation between laymen. People consider big data a major technological breakthrough that can make predictions more accurately and effectively. Back when computers didn’t exist, people lacked an effective means to collect massive amounts of information. Before the appearance of computers, people collected data through questionnaires, face-to-face interviews, or telephone interviews. As society continues to develop, there is a burgeoning need for more precise, detailed and large-scale data to help us improve our commercial, financial, management, and even political decisions. The people of our generation have an ever-present and insatiable craving for big data.
EdUHK boasts a very long tradition in teacher education. The Hong Kong Institute of Education, the predecessor of EdUHK, was established in 1994 through the merger of several teacher training schools. The image depicts the July 1969 issue of the Northcote College of Education bulletin edited by the Northcote Training College Editorial Board (Hong Kong), published by the Northcote Training College Students Association. Northcote College of Education, which dates back to 1939, was one of the teacher training schools that founded EdUHK.
Professor Li: The long history of EdUHK has led us to attain such high achievements. The Hong Kong Institute of Education, the predecessor of EdUHK, was formed through the merger of several renowned teacher training schools in Hong Kong, such as the Northcote College of Education, which dates back to 1939. In other words, EdUHK had a very early start in the field of education compared to other universities in the world, with a long and solid foundation in nurturing teaching talents. Today’s EdUHK offers a wide selection of education programmes, including early childhood education, special needs education, international education, applied psychology, curriculum studies, and so forth. Our university essentially offers programmes and courses in all fields in the education discipline. We perform reasonably well in all of these fields at a minimum, and rank very high for some of them.
Professor Li: It is commonly believed that The Education University of Hong Kong excels primarily in teacher training, but our strengths lie in more than just that. The university has outstanding performance in other disciplines as well. For instance, our research in the field of environmental studies is strong. Our faculty has several renowned professors in environmental studies. These include Professor Jim Chi-yung, a leading figure in conservation and in creating and refining nature in cities; Professor Wong Ming-hung, an outstanding academic and leader in environmental science and ecology; and Professor Rudolf Wu Shiu-sun, an expert in the responses of marine animals and ecosystems to environmental stresses. All of these world-class environmental scientists are on the Stanford University’s list of the world’s top 2% most cited scientists, having made significant contributions to academic research in the field. In total, FLASS has nearly 20 scholars who have been included in Stanford University’s list of the world’s top 2% most highly cited scientists in various disciplines.
Professor Li: These days, I would say that our graduates with a bachelor’s degree in education can expect a starting salary of over HK$30,000 if they are hired as a Graduate Master/Mistress, which is a very good start for young graduates. Hong Kong is experiencing a severe shortage of teachers. The considerable demand for new teachers is likely to continue over the next few years. I have heard that local schools are scrambling for outstanding graduating students, approaching them before they even graduate. I believe our students are indeed benefitting from such a situation.
Professor Li: As there is a huge demand for teachers, we believe our university can contribute to teacher training in the Greater Bay Area. We are striving to make every effort to assist in this aspect and are actively exploring the opportunity to provide teacher training courses that cater specifically to the GBA market.
The Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Artificial Intelligence and Educational Technology programme teaches students the fundamental knowledge and skills in the fields of artificial intelligence and educational technology, and develops their ability to apply the knowledge of these two subject areas to teaching and learning.
The Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Integrated Environmental Management programme teaches students the necessary skills for conducting environmental research and conservation works. The GBA has been harbouring a growing demand for such talents alongside the rise of its standards of living.
Professor Li: There are dozens of highly-acclaimed Bachelor of Education (BEd) programmes offered by FLASS and two other faculties at EdUHK. Besides these BEd programmes, students can apply to a variety of programmes at FLASS. All our programmes help our graduates to explore job opportunities in the GBA if they so wish.
One such programme is the aforementioned BSc(Hons)AI&EdTech programme. AI involves an extensive range of subjects, covering a large area of knowledge and skills. Our programme focuses on the application of AI in education, a distinctive feature that sets our curriculum apart from similar programmes offered by other universities in Hong Kong.
Another programme I’d like to recommend is the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Integrated Environmental Management. With society’s increasing emphasis on environmental protection and sustainable development, there is a mounting demand for corporations to meet Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) requirements, in many cities over the wide stretch of the GBA. As such, the region has a growing demand for talents who have a strong background in environmental research and conservation.
To listen to the radio programme, click here.
