FLASS graduates celebrate their hard-earned achievements on a festive campus

In November and December, a festive atmosphere filled the Tai Po campus of EdUHK as students celebrated their accomplishments. This year, the times of celebration were kicked off with the first graduation ceremony held by the Faculty of the Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (FLASS) on 19 November. There were a total of four in-person, on-campus ceremonies held for graduates of undergraduate and master programmes, as well as the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) provided by FLASS. The faculty is proud of all our graduates for what they have achieved, and is delighted to now count them among our esteemed alumni.

A total of 1,444 students graduated from 31 programmes offered by FLASS, including 11 taught postgraduate programmes, two PGDE and 18 bachelor’s degree programmes, in the academic year of 2021/22. This year, 13 students from FLASS were included on the President’s Honour List to acknowledge their outstanding academic achievements attained during their studies. Around 800 graduates attended the in-person, on-campus ceremony sessions. Each graduate received a commemorative ballpoint pen as a graduation souvenir.

Professor Li Wai-keung, Dean of FLASS, together with other presiding professors, oversaw the four in-person ceremony sessions, including two held on 19 November and two on 26 November. While congratulating all students receiving their bachelor’s, master’s and professional degrees, Professor Li said he hoped that the education students received at FLASS had not only equipped them with knowledge, but had also opened their minds and broadened their perspectives. He said in his graduation speech: “I hope that we have managed to unleash your curiosity, and that this curiosity will propel you to continue to explore both yourself, and your society, in the years to come.” 

Sam Ng Hok-yu, a graduate of Bachelor of Education (Honours) (Business, Accounting and Financial Studies) (BEd(BAFS)) from the Department of Social Sciences, is one of the 13 recipients of the President’s Honour accolade. Now teaching business, accounting and financial studies at a secondary school, Sam said he was particularly enriched by EdUHK’s signature leadership development and enhancement programme. “Under the leadership programme, I went to Nepal for 14 days as a volunteer, teaching in local schools and organising extracurricular activities for Nepalese children. I think the BEd(BAFS) programme is really fascinating. It trained me to become a more all-rounded person and equipped me with the necessary professional knowledge to become a secondary school teacher,” Sam said.

Hailing from the province of Guangdong, Nicole Guan Yanxi is a graduate of the Bachelor of Social Science Education (Honours) (Greater China Studies) programme from the Department of Asian and Policy Studies (APS). Nicole has long had a strong interest in research. She thanked professors from her own department and other departments of FLASS for giving her many opportunities to help in research projects throughout her four years of study.

“While I took up a peripheral role in research work when I was a first-year student, I took on increasingly major roles in research projects as I moved towards my final year of study. I also want to thank the Student Affairs Office for helping to arrange an internship at the Singapore-based regional organisation Pacific Economic Cooperation Council. Although it was only a virtual internship because of the pandemic, it was incredibly eye-opening,” Nicole said. She is now working as a research assistant at the university and is planning to pursue further studies in future.

Brian Kwok Siu-lun is a graduate of the Bachelor of Music in Education (Honours) (Contemporary Music & Performance Pedagogy) programme from the Department of Cultural and Creative Arts (CCA). As a lover of jazz music since secondary school, EdUHK – the only university in Hong Kong that offers a course in jazz music – was the perfect choice for him. “I really want to thank CCA for arranging an internship at a music studio for me. There, I learnt how to arrange music for commercials and professional singers. At EdUHK, there is no lack of music groups and activities that students can join. I particularly enjoyed taking part in the jazz and modern music ensembles,” Brian said.

The ceremony officially marked the completion of the studies of our graduates, following years of hard work at EdUHK. While 19 November was sunny day, it was drizzling on 26 November. Regardless of the weather, however, the smiles on our graduates’ faces were equally joyous under rain or shine. There was laughter, excited chatter and hugs galore as graduates stepped out of the ceremony venue and took photos with their classmates, teachers, friends and family members. Many of them followed the tradition of throwing their graduation caps in the air as a symbolic act to end the chapter of their academic life at EdUHK and FLASS.

EdUHK President Professor Stephen Cheung Yan-leung came to meet FLASS graduates after the official ceremony too. He took photos with FLASS graduates and spoke warmly with them, as well as their family and friends. The President said that learning is a lifelong endeavour, and added that graduates should value what they have learnt at the University and make positive contributions to the community upon graduation. He particularly encouraged students majoring in education to uphold professionalism and prepare themselves for becoming professional teachers.

A total of 20 elite athletes completed their studies at EdUHK this year, enrolled in either the Bachelor of Health Education (Honours) (BHE) or the Master of Social Sciences in Sports Coaching and Management programmes offered by the Department of Health and Physical Education (HPE). Some of them came back to the campus to meet and play table tennis with Professor Stephen Cheung. Among them, Christine Li Ching-wan, a BHE graduate with first-class honours and a bronze medalist of table tennis at the Asian Games, sets an example as a model student in the dual career development pathway programme for elite athletes. EdUHK has appointed her as this year’s Elite Athlete-Friendly University ambassador, hoping that her ambassadorship will help promote the holistic development of local athletes.

Professor Li Wai-keung said that while these graduates’ studies at EdUHK may have come to an end, their memories of studying here will last a lifetime, and their ties with FLASS and EdUHK will remain strong. He wished all graduates a fascinating career and a rewarding journey of continuous discovery, and promised that FLASS and EdUHK will continue to support their endeavours for years to come.