Xavier Ateneo delegates take a photo with Dr Lisa Law of Hong Kong Baptist University’s Center for Holistic Teaching and Learning. Supplied photo.
The College of Arts and Sciences of Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan held its first international benchmarking activities from April 2 to 5 with two of Hong Kong’s leading universities — Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU).
The delegation, organized and headed by Arts and Sciences dean Dr Juliet Q Dalagan and assistant dean Marichu Obedencio, was composed of department chairpersons, faculty members, and staff of CAS: Analyn Asok of Chemistry Department, Lilia Cotejar of the Department of English Language and Literature, Diana Jane Limjap of Math Department, Johanna Mocorro of Psychology Department, Caroline Laarni Saarenas of Economics Department, Judy Sendaydiego of Biology Department, Don Antonio Velez of Sociology Department, Jane Gallamaso of Philosophy Department, Belinda Calibo and Napoleon Joyo of Religious Studies Department, Hobart Savior of Xavier Center for Culture and the Arts, and Christie Maandig of the admin office of College of Arts and Sciences.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong welcomed the XU-CAS delegates with a campus tour and a formal reception hosted by Academic Links director Shally Fan, who gave a comprehensive presentation of the significant features of CUHK.
The group was also invited into a focused discussion and lecture-presentation apportioned in three clusters. Prof Lai Pan Chiu, associate dean for arts at CUHK, facilitated the discussion for the arts and humanities, Prof Tong Yuying for social sciences, and Prof Wong Hoi Ying for natural sciences. The cluster meeting highlighted their best practices in research, innovative programs, and faculty exchanges.
The Xavier Ateneo group paid a visit to the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia (UB-CHEA) where executive director Ricky Cheng and vice-president for programs Dr Wai Ching Wong accommodated them with a brief rundown of its projects and mission, an invitation to participate in its manifold projects, and some picture-taking.
Their final stop at CUHK was a visit to the office of Prof Leung Mei Yee, the university's director for general education. Yee and her staff shared on interdisciplinary GE curriculum, co-teaching, and tutorial classes. The event at CUHK was capped with a lunch treat by Yee.
The Hongkong Baptist University, a leading liberal arts university in Asia, also accorded the XU-CAS delegation with a warm welcome led by Dr Eva Wong, the director of their Center for Holistic Teaching and Learning (CHTL).
Dr Lisa Law, senior teaching and learning officer of CHTL, gave a presentation on “Nurturing Whole Persons for the 21st Century: Learning and Teaching HKBU” which focused on Outcomes-Based Teaching and Learning (OBTL).
The group was then ushered to the HKBU Academy of Visual Arts and Academy of Film where asst professor Kingsley Ng and acting director Shu Sum introduced the XU delegates to their cutting-edge technologies and state-of-the-art facilities on film and visual arts. The academy also showed their laboratories, classes, and exhibit spaces.
This international benchmarking of XU-CAS provided an opportunity to obtain insights on the functions and programs of the two Hongkong universities in the hopes to replicate them at Xavier Ateneo. The delegates also gained invaluable lessons from this experience, particularly from exchanges with fellow arts and sciences educators.∎
The XU-CAS team visits the office of Prof Leung Mei Yee, the university's director for general education. Supplied photo.
XU delegates take a photo with Prof Lai Pan Chiu of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Supplied photo.
XU delegates take a photo with Prof Wong Hoi Ying of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Supplied photo.
The Xavier Ateneo delegation takes a photo with the United Board staff. Supplied photo.
XU delegates with Prof Tong Yuying, associate professor of sociology at CUHK. Supplied photo.
XU delegates with Christina Chan of HKBU International Office. Supplied photo.
The XU delegates visit HKBU’s news studio. Supplied photo.