From Chester to Liverpool, FLASS Students Bring Global Citizenship Home
All students pictured with Dr Kristy Yip, far left, in front of the University of Manchester.
Students pictured with Dr Emmy Yeung, second from right, front row, and Dr Kristy Yip, far right, front row, at Attingham Park, holding a course banner. A Grade I listed building located in Shropshire, England, near the border with Wales, the Park is one of England’s finest Georgian mansions.
A group photo taken at Beeston Castle, an ancient monument and Grade I listed building dating back to the 13th century.
As a global financial and business hub and a renowned tourist destination, public awareness of heritage conservation and global citizenship is central to Hong Kong’s continued success. To nurture these values, 18 studmes taking the “Overseas Field-based Learning: Exploring Cultural Heritage and Global Citizenship” course (SSC 2358) went on a study tour to the UK in late May. Through worents from six different programkshops, fieldwork, and visits, students gained a deeper understanding of cultural heritage preservation and what it means to be a responsible global citizen.
Dr Yip briefs students before the experiential learning fieldwork in Chester.
SSPS students conduct a street interview with a local resident in Chester.
The eleven-day tour between 19 and 29 May covered lectures, visits, and field observations in Manchester, Chester, and Liverpool. Its centrepiece was a five-day intensive workshop at the University of Chester, where students deepened their knowledge of conservation and global citizenship through lectures, group discussions, and interactive activities led by faculty. “These sessions bridged academic theory with real-world issues,” said Dr Kristy Yip So-king, the course coordinator of SSC 2358 and tour leader. Beyond classroom learning, students conducted supervised fieldwork in Chester, including street interviews with locals about cultural heritage, identity, and community life. These activities honed their communication skills and data collection techniques.
SSPS students and staff pictured with students and staff from the University of Chester at the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in North Wales. For some of the Hong Kong students, it was their first time interacting with peers from other countries; they learnt that local students see heritage conservation as closely tied to supporting tourism.
In addition to the five-day workshop, the group visited sites of significance across North West England and North Wales. They saw UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Jodrell Bank Observatory, as well as castles, museums, markets, cathedrals, galleries, and designer outlets. Among all the visits, Liverpool’s Maritime Mercantile City deserves particular mention.
Students visit Liverpool’s Maritime Mercantile City to observe heritage conservation in practice. In the background is Tate Liverpool, housed in a Grade I listed maritime warehouse within the Royal Albert Dock complex.
“Once designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a prime example of a commercial port at Britain’s global peak, the Mercantile City was removed from the list in 2021 due to irreversible damage to its historic integrity caused by developments like the 27-storey Mann Island towers and Liverpool Waters skyscrapers. These visits taught students that development policy requires a balance between heritage conservation, urban development, and commercialisation,” Dr Yip of the Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies (SSPS) explained.
As most participating students are from BEd programmes and will become teachers after graduation, the tour incorporated various learning and observation tools such as Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory, the 5E Instructional Model, and the AEIOU observation framework. "The tour provided an opportunity for students to practise using these tools for field observations and reflection assignments. Their skills in observation, exploration, and critical thinking were refined through reflection and discussion. Many told me they now feel more confident planning study tours and experiential lessons for school learners in their future teaching roles,” Dr Yip said.
In her lecture about Global Citizenship, Ms Fiona Warburton of the University of Chester says that by consuming fair-trade bananas, consumers can ensure that farmers in the Global South receive fair wages.
Ms Fiona Warburton of the University of Chester delivers a lecture titled "The Responsibility of Trying to Belong to Everywhere: The Relationship between Tourism and Global Citizenship," exploring the ethical duties that come with global citizenship.
Dr Emmy Yeung of the University of Chester lectures on the various threats that heritage sites face.
Dr Tim Brown, Acting Head of Chester Business School, briefs students on the history and academic focus of the university and the school.
The tour also led many students to revise their understanding of heritage conservation, global citizenship, and tourism. “Before joining the trip, I thought heritage mainly referred to old architecture, physical objects, and traditions and values passed down through generations. My understanding was challenged when I learnt that Jodrell Bank Observatory is a UNESCO heritage site because of its contributions to radio astronomy. Now I realise that heritage is a much more complex concept than I had assumed. It includes cultural and historical legacies as well as scientific achievements,” said Janice Wong Peck-hay, a student from the Bachelor of Education (Honours) (Business, Accounting and Financial Studies) (BEd(BAFS)) programme. When Janice saw people in Chester dressed differently from those in Hong Kong, she reflected on how cultural backgrounds influence perceptions and choices in fashion and other aspects of life.
Throughout the tour, there were many episodes from which we took away valuable life lessons.
Dr Yip believed the UK study tour successfully achieved its aims through both planned learning activities and unexpected real-life experiences. “Throughout the tour, there were many episodes from which we took away valuable life lessons. One happened during fieldwork in Liverpool on Day 8, when a group of students came across a Western lady who had fallen on the street and injured her nose. One of them, who had received first-aid training, used first-aid supplies to stop the bleeding, clean and disinfect her wounds, and cover them with bandages. This incident showed global citizenship in action: a global citizen acts responsibly across borders by responding to others’ needs, regardless of nationality or background,” Dr Yip said.
SSPS students pictured with Dr Maeve Marmion, centre, Associate Dean of Education and Student Success in the Faculty of Science, Business and Enterprise at the University of Chester. Churchill House, one of the university’s landmark buildings, is visible in the background.
Dr Yip thanked the University of Chester for hosting the five-day workshop, with particular appreciation for Dr Emmy Yeung’s organisational work and care, and for the engaging seminars delivered by faculty members Dr Maeve Marmion, Mr Colin Potts and Ms Fiona Warburton. “Through inspiring lectures and visits to places of historical and cultural significance, participating students broadened their understanding of different cultures and their respect for diversity. They became more aware of global issues and more sensitive to the impact of their actions on the world. I am confident that the study tour will benefit both their academic studies and their future teaching careers,” she said.
Click here to read related stories about unexpected takeaways from the UK tour.
