Co-curricular (Abroad)
Fostering National and International Engagement among Students on Global Heath Aspects: Prosthetic and Orthotic (P&O) Community Service Project for Underprivileged People with Physical Disabilities – Dr. MS Wong (HKPU)
Case summary: Students lack intercultural competence to share, articulate, and interpret with others in the midst of complex cultural differences may impede the quality of clinical service. In this study, an intervention mixed-method approach was adopted and reported on how a community service programme run by a local university in collaboration with two American universities could assist in raising students’ intercultural awareness and facilitate meaningful interactions while providing prosthetic and orthotic (P&O) services to the children with cerebral palsies in Yangjiang, Mainland China. A guideline on the formation criteria of the intercultural mixed group and group management strategies were formulated. Pre- and post-surveys were conducted with all participating students from the three universities using questionnaires that had close and open-end questions. Survey data collected will be utilized to evaluate project impact in alignment with the prescribed project goals. Four focus-group interviews were conducted with eighteen students towards the end of the programme. Statistical analyses were carried out on the quantitative data. Open-end comments and interview data were coded and analysed. Five themes were identified from the interview data: “intercultural awareness”, “intercultural understanding”, “intercultural communication”, “openness to work/socialize with people from other cultures”, and “virtual teaching and learning interventions”. This study conducted a preliminary exploration of adopting the transnational community service approach as an intervention to promote intercultural understanding and communication among students and service recipients from different cultures in the clinical environment. The findings provided evidence that a transnational community service programme can initiate positive changes in terms of student’s intercultural awareness and communication capability.
Cross-Cultural and Inter-Disciplinary Studies of Infrastructure Projects in Cities of the Belt and Road Initiative: A Pilot Programme – Prof. Geoffrey SHEN (HKPU)
case summary: Infrastructure projects in countries of the B&R initiative involve multi-disciplinary professionals with diverse cultures, nationalities, and languages. Cross-cultural interdisciplinary communications and collaborations are needed for resolving the issues in these projects. This project aimed to develop a series of activities for the enhancement of cross-cultural and interdisciplinary competence. Through involving students from different cultural and disciplinary backgrounds to conduct projects collaboratively and discuss related issues under the B&R initiative, the project integrated experiential teaching and learning activities including project-based studies, workshops, and study trips in order to improve students' cross-cultural and interdisciplinary competence. Students presented their papers in the conference "CHANGING CITIES: Spatial, Design, Landscape & Socio-economic Dimensions" in June 2019, Greece. Observations proved that the development of students' intercultural communication and interdisciplinary collaboration ability. Students learned the significance of creating new knowledge and think deeper about their proposed topics.
Strengthening Partnerships with Leading Mainland Universities through Academic Visits – Prof. Jiangyong Wu (HKPU)
Case summary: Raising students’ inter-cultural activity engagement, and improving linguistic and communication competency in English/ Putonghua become more important in universities. To deliver such importance to students and get their involvement are critical for program leader. The project aimed to enhance students’ non-local learning experience and engagement with the nation. The program provided students a short-term academic visit to Jiangnan University. During the visit, Hong Kong PolyU students exchanged with the research students of the host Jiangnan University through various activities, such as visiting industrial factories and cultural sites, performing laboratory work, and conducting group presentations. Pre- and post- surveys were conducted with all participating local (PolyU) students using questionnaires that had close and open-end questions. Significantly higher scores were seen in post-survey than pre-survey for ability communication (Mean score 4.00 vs. 3.43 in Pre-survey) and understanding for customs of people (Mean score 3.93 vs. 3.54 in Pre-survey), in which indicated that the program had enhanced students’ intercultural communication skills. Qualitative analysis of data extracted from reflective journals submitted by students after joining the programme. Outcomes of the proposed project were shared via a symposium where it may become an internationalisation practice inclusive in the virtual resource centre to all the UGC-funded institutions.
