Page 18 - HKU Nursing 25th Anniversary Booklet

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S T UD E N T E N R I C HME N T

“He that travels far knows much”

Traditional didactic education cannot satisfy students’ needs and nourish an all-round nurse. Moreover, our
approach should not simply focus on nursing knowledge and skills. We believe a multi-dimensional approach is
essential to develop students’ global perspectives and enhance their empathy, resilience and problem-solving
abilities. Although the current student exchange programmes are very popular with students, there are other
opportunities for enhancement. Not only do students attend classes and visit hospitals during the exchange
period, but they also can seize the opportunity for personal development and to contribute what they have learned
to events, projects or activities to a community outside Hong Kong.

The School of Nursing has integrated the “Life Enrichment Learning” course into the new Bachelor of Nursing
(Full-time) curriculum since 2019. The course consists of five main components and allows our nursing students
to tailor-make the individual components. Students can design their life enrichment plan, including but not limited
to short-term study, a short-term trip, practical and/or service activities and a research attachment. To broaden
their horizons, the activities are not necessarily discipline-related but must last at least two to three weeks outside
Hong Kong, for instance, taking up practical or service activities in Vietnam, Myanmar, Philippines and Egypt, or
undertaking a short-term study in Thailand, Sweden and Canada, among other places.

In 2019 summer, the School also conducted a pilot study of 36 students who participated in short-term study,
a short-term trip or service activity. Some students had attended short-term study programmes related to Health
Policy and Language at Jönköping University in Sweden and Jeju National University in South Korea. Further
opportunities were available for students at a university in Taiwan on a short trip serving a local community.
Students also participated in service-learning experiences through the Wu Zhi Qiao programme in China and
travelled further afield to carry out Watoto Volunteer work in Africa.

Overall, our students gave excellent feedback about their experiences. Students said they enjoyed forming new
friendships with others and that cross-cultural life was interesting. We are looking forward to seeing the Life
Enrichment Learning course operating in full swing.