Let the Tigers Roar!
By : Michael Gibb
The guiding principle for the next 25 years at CityU is to advance knowledge, improve lives, sustain livelihoods, and strengthen the societies we serve. Building on past achievements, our ambition is to be a leader in interdisciplinary research and education at both regional and global levels.
Accordingly, a newly launched initiative called HK Tech Tiger aims to give the best of the best a more challenging curriculum through high quality, technology-driven professional education that will nurture student talent and transform them into future leaders.
HK Tech Tiger helps students attain their goals for future careers and further studies, says President Kuo. The programme meets the challenges arising from technological change, the globalisation of higher education, and the impact of Covid-19. The enriched HK Tech Tiger curriculum targets highly motivated students determined to play leadership roles in tomorrow’s rapidly changing, hi-tech world.
“HK Tech Tiger allows brilliant young students to benefit from the University’s highly interdisciplinary, technology-enriched courses, which will ensure their success in attaining their career goals and aspirations for further studies,” says President Way Kuo, who welcomed the new Tigers at a ceremony in September.
Professor Chan Chi-hou, Director of CityU’s Talent and Education Development Office, which is overseeing the development of the initiative, says HK Tech Tiger aligns with CityU’s mission to develop student talent, create applicable knowledge for social and economic advancement, and instil an entrepreneurial spirit.
“Hong Kong is transforming into a knowledge-intensive society that demands multi-disciplinary talent. In the long run, we hope HK Tech Tiger will be the signature programme in CityU for gathering highly skilled young people and building a network of future leaders in CityU and society,” says Professor Chan, who is concurrently Chair Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Director of the State Key Laboratory of Terahertz and Millimeter Waves.
Enriched learning
HK Tech Tiger targets academically gifted Year 1 students and outstanding Year 2 students with a number of programme options (see The Five Programme Options for HK Tech Tiger). As of 2 November 2021, 166 students had joined the programme as Year 1 students, and 206 in Year 2. Eligible students have to prove they can cope with the rigours of the Tiger options (see Eligibility — Application by Invitation).
“They can choose from among a variety of interdisciplinary programmes, such as joint bachelor’s degree, bachelor’s and master’s combination degree, and double degrees,” says Professor Julie Li Juan, Associate Provost (Academic Affairs).
Co-curricular programmes include experiential learning through internships, exchanges, and competitions, one-on-one mentorship on students’ studies and career goals. Dedicated classes, or separate tutorial and laboratory sessions, present smaller classes that encourage greater interaction between professors, tutors and students.
Moreover, Tigers are invited to exclusive workshops on interview techniques, presentation skills, entrepreneurship, leadership, developing core competencies, new areas of technological development plus monthly talks and sharing sessions with representatives from start-ups as well as other enriching activities arranged exclusively for the Tigers.
Tomorrow’s leaders
Abby Yu Yan-ting, a Year 2 in the Department of English, says she was attracted to the different features on offer. “As well as the one-to-one mentoring, the joint degree programmes really interest me. Two bachelor’s degrees would give me the opportunity to broaden my horizons and discover more about another country’s culture,” Abby says.
Asked what the best aspect of the programme was, Abby mentioned the interview/ presentation workshops and entrepreneurship talks, saying they touch on different desires in learning among those on the HK Tech Tiger initiative.
Joscelin Hana Adam, a Year 1 student in the Department of Accountancy, sees this programme as a great opportunity to develop herself. “I am most interested in the double major programme because it will help me to expand my knowledge and attract more career opportunities,” she says.
(From left) Joscelin, Elina, Gaby and Abby. Gaby Graciela, also a Year 1 student interested in the double major feature and based in the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, hopes to major in civil engineering. So far she has gained a lot from the input from experts at the various tailored-gatherings. “The best aspect of this programme is the inspiring workshops where I can listen to great talks by great speakers,” Gaby says.
Meanwhile, Elina Li Ching-hin, a Year 2 student majoring in politics in the Department of Public Policy, sees the HK Tech Tiger programme as a wonderful resource for absorbing more diverse knowledge and a terrific platform for meeting interesting people.
“You can see how much hard work has gone into building up these programme options. It shows how the University really cares about its top students,” Elina says.
