Looking Outwards to the Global World: The Drive for Internationalizing Universities in Hong Kong and Asia

Abstract

The rise of the knowledge-based economy has considerably transformed higher education systems as well as the underlying values and design of curricula in higher education. In order to enhance the global competence of university graduates, universities across different parts of the globe have begun comprehensive reviews of their curricula and introduced new strategies for transforming their teaching and learning approach from teacher-centered to student-centered. Universities in the East and West have also acknowledged the growing need to better prepare students for living and working in an increasingly culturally diverse and socially complex world by developing new teaching and learning strategies to promote multiculturalism and internationalization of curricula.

In this context, this presentation examines what major values underly the design of new curricula in coping with globalization challenges and the major curriculum changes that have been made at the University of Hong Kong and its counterparts in other Asian societies. The presentation will conclude with a critical reflection on globalization and curriculum changes.